J^ 17192' THE RUSSIAN STATE$|BRARY A Description of the various Political Units existing on Russian Territory [WITH TWO MAPS] COMPILED FROM MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY THE BRITISH TRADE MISSION IN MOSCOW LONDON : PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H-M STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses : Imperial House, Kingsway, London W.C. 2, and 28 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.I; 37 Peter Street, Manchester; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff ; or 23 Forth Street, Edinburgh. 1922 Price 9d. net. •YAKJE-'VMVEISSinnf- • iLniBiaasrar - 1923 THE RUSSIAN STATES A Description of the various Political Units existing on Russian Territory [WITH TWO MAPS] COMPILED FROM MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY THE BRITISH TRADE MISSION IN MOSCOW LONDON : PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY" HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses : Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C. 2, und 28 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.I; 37 Peter Street, Manchester; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; or 23 Forth Street, Edinburgh. 1922 Price 9d. net. THE RUSSIAN STATES. The territory of the former Eussian Empire which remains after the severance of Poland, Finland and the Baltic States, now embraces a collection of States which fall into two categories, namely, those which form part of the federation, of which the Eussian Socialist Federal Soviet Bepublie is the centre, and those which are them selves, at least nominally, independent, but are bound either by treaty or by an informal working arrangement to the Moscow Government. A further sub-division has been effected by the concession of rights of self-government, .on the principle of self-determination, to certain districts remaining within the confines of Soviet Eussia which have a more or less allogeneous population. 1. The following ; autonomous republics, owing their origin to decrees of the Eussian Socialist Federal Bepublie, form together the federation which owns the Moscow Government as its parent : — Bashkir Eepublic, created by decrees of 1919 and May 27, 1920. Tartar Eepublic, created by decree of May 27, 1920. Kirghiz Eepublic, created by decree of August 26, 1920. Daghestan Eepublic, created by decree of January 20, 1921. Gorsky Eepublic, created by decree of January 20, 1921. Turkestan Eepublic, created by decree of April 20, 1921. Crimean Eepublic, created by decree of October 18, 1921. All these States are described as " Socialist Soviet Republics," except the Bashkir Eepublic, which is soviet but not socialist. They are represented in Moscow by missions attached to the Commissariat of Nationalities. Their administrative system is modelled on that of the Eussian Eepublic, but in some cases it is still embryonic (Daghestan, Crimea) and actually is in the hands of temporary Revolutionary Committees. In due time they will all have their own Central Executive Committees and Soviets of People's Commissars. On the first of these bodies the Moscow Government will be repre sented by an official from the Commissariat of Nationalities, with the right to participate in the discussions of the committee, but having ' no vote. The financial and technical needs of the autonomous republics are supplied by the Central Government. The following commissariats exist, or are to be created, in each case : Interior, Justice, Education, Health, Social Welfare, Agricul ture, Food, Finance, National Economy, Workmen's and Peasants' Control, Labour. There are in some of the republics Commissariats of Ways and Communication and Posts and Telegraphs. Generally, these branches of administration are handled by special department's of one or other of the commissariats mentioned above. The commissariats in tbe federal republics enjoy only a very small measure of authority. Those of Food, Finance, National Economy, Workmen's and Peasants' Control ' and Labour are generally subordinated to the corresponding organisations of 'the Central Government; those of the Interior, Justice, Education, Health, Social Welfare and Agriculture have some freedom of action, but are responsible to the All-Eussian Executive Committee. Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and War are in all cases declared to be in the competence of the E.S.F.S.E., while the military forces l.or internal service are throughout all these States under the orders of the All-Eussian Extraordinary Commission. The Turkestan Bepublie enjoys a somewhat larger measure of independence than the other federal States. It has a legislative body m the shape of the Congress of Soviets. When this Congress is not sitting, its legislative functions are exercised by the Central Executive Committee. A further peculiar feature in the case of Turkestan is that only Commissariats of Ways and Communication, Posts and Telegraphs, Finance, National Economy and Food are subordinated to organisations of the Central Government, the other administrative departments being responsible to the Turkestan Government. A special " Turkestan Commission," appointed by the Moscow Government, has its headquarters in Tashkent, and represents the central authority in the country. Bashkir Republic. Its southern frontier runs with the northern boundary of the Kirghiz Eepublic. It extends northwards nearly to Ekaterinburg. The capital is Sterlitamak. Tartar Republic. Takes in a large part of the Kazan government, the Menzelinsk " uyezd-" of the Ufa government and portions of the Samarai Viatka and Simbirsk- governments. Jts exact frontiers are still under discussion. The capital is Kazan. Kirghiz Republic. Embraces the Semipalatinsk, Akmolinsk, Turgai and Uralsk provinces almost in their entirety, as well as part of the Trans- caspian province and the Astrakhan government. Its confines, where they run with those of Turkestan, are not yet defined. The capital is Orenburg. Daghestan Republic. This State occupied the territory of the former Daghestan province. There are some questions of detail in the matter of frontiers which have yet to be settled with the border States. The capital is Derbent. Gorsky ("Mountain") Republic. Includes the following districts (" okrugi ") : Tchetchen, Nazran, Vladikavkaz, Balkar, Karatchaef. Its exact frontiers have not yet been delimitated. Kabarda, which originally formed part of the territory of this republic, has recently been declared an autonomous province. The capital is Vladikavkaz. ' Wt. 8398/394. 500 8/22 F.O.P. [8786] b i Turkestan Republic. This is formed of the following provinces : Syr-Dana, emire- tchensk, Fergana, Samarkand, Transcaspia, Amu-Dana, ine p is Tashkent. Crimean Republic. The territory consists of the Crimean peninsula to the line Perikop-Genitchesk, which forms the southern boundary ol me Ukraine. The capital is Simferopol. 1 (a). The provinces which have been conceded autonomy by the Moscow Government are the following : — German Volga province, created by decree of October 19, 1918. Karelian labour commune, created by decree of June 8, 1920. Tchuvash province, created by decree of June 24, 1920. Votyak province, created by decree of November 4, 1920. Kalmuick province, created by decree of November 4, 1920. Marinsk province, created by decree of November 4, 1920. Ziriansk province, created by decree of May 5, 1921. Kabarda province, created by decree of September 1, 1921. Buryat Mongol province, in course of formation. Yakut province, in course of formation. These districts are administered by provincial executive com mittees elected by a congress of provincial Soviets. The Commissariat for Nationalities has its representative on these committees, as in the case of the autonomous republics, while each province or com mune has a representative attached to the Commissariat for Nationalities in Moscow. The Kabarda province is still administered by a Eevolutionary Committee. The boundaries of these autonomous districts are, as a general rule, ill-defined so far, but a variety of commissions are engaged on the work of delimitation. The German labour commune on the Volga has Markstadt as its capital. Its territory covers the settlements of the German colonists transferred to this region in the time of Catherine the Great. The Karelian labour commune includes a number of districts in the Archangel and Oionetsk governments, in which the Karelian race is predominant. The capital is Petrozavodsk. The Tchuvash province is a small State formed out of portions of the Kazan and Simbirsk provinces. The capital is Tcheboksarakh. The Votyak province is formed from a portion of the Vyatka government and extends northwards to Glazof and southwards to Malmyish and Yelabuga. Its frontiers where it joins the Tartar Republic are not yet defined. The capital is Ijevsk. The Kalmuick province takes in portions of the Astrakhan Tsaritsin and Stavrople governments and of. the Don and Terek provinces. The capital is Astrakhan. The Marinsk province comprises parts of Nizhni Novgorod and Vyatka governments. Its capital is Krasnokokshaisk. Its frontier where it touches the Tchuvash territory, is not yet fixed The Ziriansk province occupies territory in the basin of the river Vyitchegda, flowing into the Northern Dvina. The capital is Ustsysolsk. The Kabarda province is a new autonomous unit constituted out of districts of the Gorsky Eepublic, inhabited by the Kabardine tribes. The capital is Naltchik. The Buryat Mongol province will be formed in the near future. It will cover the southern part of the Irkutsk province, where there is a predominant Buryat population. 2. The following independent republics, occupying parts of what was formerly Eussian territory, have been recognised by Soviet Eussia as sovereign States: — The Ukraine Socialist Soviet Eepublic. The Khorezm (Khiva) People's Soviet Eepublic. The Bokhara People's Soviet Eepublic. The Georgian Socialist Soviet Eepublic. The Armenian Socialist Soviet Eepublic. The Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Eepublic. The White Eussian Socialist Soviet Eepublic. The Far Eastern Eepublic. Ukraine. — A treaty between the Ukraine and Eussian Govern ments was signed at Moscow on the 28th December, 1920. This treaty affirms the sovereignty and independence of both countries and constitutes a " military and economic alliance." In accordance with its provisions, the two States are to have joint Commissariats of War and Marine, National Economy, Foreign Trade, Finance, Labour, Ways and Communication,. Posts and Telegraphs. These joint commissariats are in Moscow, having representatives on the Ukraine Soviet of People's Commissars. The other Govern ment departments, including the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, remain separate. The Ukraine Government is represented in Moscow by Z. M. Rotzubinsky, who is styled " President of the Ukraine Diplomatic Mission." It has at present no other representatives abroad, but it is on the point of appointing a mission in Warsaw and will soon be represented in the Baltic States. It has a commercial mission in Czechoslovakia. The Russian Government has not a diplomatic repre sentative in the Ukraine, but is likely to appoint one. The capital of the Ukraine is Kharkof, and the population is estimated at 35,000,000.' The President of the Soviet of the People's Commissariats is C. T. Eakovsky, who is at the same time Commissar for Foreign Affairs. The representatives of the Eussian Government in foreign countries are empowered to viser the passports of persons wishing to visit the Ukraine, but holders of such visas who may pass through Russian territory should apply to the Ukraine Mission in Moscow for confirmation of their visas. The frontiers of the Ukraine are still under discussion, the principle of self-determination being taken as a basis for delimitation. |8786] b 2 This is one of the subjects now being dealt with by a commission now sitting at Kharkof for the purpose of revising the relations between the two countries. The frontier, as at present established, follows, with some modifications, the southern boundaries of the Minsk, Moghilef, Orel, Kursk and Voronesh governments; but the Ukraine have ceded to Eussia the northern part of Volhynia and of the Tchernigof government, and the line runs through Ovrutch Mozir, thence it passes some seven versts to the south of Gomel Starodub and Trubtchevsk. From Glukhof it skirts Putil to the south and passes through Konotop ; thence a few versts south of Valuiki to Millerovo and Alexander-Grushebskoy. From the last-named place it turns south-west, passing to the north of Eostof and Novo-Cherkavsk and striking the Black Sea immediately to the east of Taganrog. The territorial concessions made by the Ukraine are compensated for by -the concession of Taganrog. The boundary of the Ukraine territory is formed to the south by the line Perikop-Genitchesk. On the eastern side the Ukraine claims from Eoumania Bessarabia, along the line of the Pruth to Khotin. It is to be noted that the Ukraine Government has not found satisfactory the measure of independence assured to it by the treaty of December 1920, which it already regards as obsolete. It has found that the arrangement which subordinates the most vital departments of its administration to organisations of the Moscow Government does not correspond with its needs. ' It has already broken loose to some extent from the tutelage of the Eussian Commissariat for War, though its troops are still placed under the Eussian High Command. It also claims freedom to deal inde pendently with its own foreign trade and has established its own economic fund. This does not, as far as can be seen, mean there is any definite desire on the part of the Ukraine to break away from Moscow, with which it is bound by community of interests, bmV that it finds it advisable for practical purposes of administration to have the working centre of the various departments of the Govern ment in Kharkof. Khoresm.— The treaty between Eussia and the national Soviet Eepublic of Khorezm (formerly the khanate of Khiva) was concluded in Moscow on the 30th September, 1920. The object of this treatv is defined as the establishment of a " firm alliance." It affirms the complete independence of the Eepublic of Khorezm, annuls all agreements made between former Eussian Governments and the khanate, agrees the frontiers previously existing, prohibits both sides from allowing their territory to be used as a base for hostile move ments directed against either party, and promises assistance to Khorezm in the matter of education, technical appliances and a subsidy. It stipulates also that Khorezm will accord to no States other than Soviet republics the right to organise industrial mining, agriculture, transport or other similar enterprises within its boundaries. Khorezm, like all the other independent States, has in Moscow a plenipotentiary representative. liokhara.—A treaty between Eussia and the Soviet Eepublic of Bokhara was concluded in Moscow on the 4th March, 1921. It affirms the complete independence of Bokhara and renounces all rights acquired by the Imperial Government: It is styled h "Military-Political Agreement," the chief clauses being: — (1.) That neither of the contracting parties shall allow its territory to be used as a base for military movements against any other Soviet republic or permit the passage of armies intended for the furtherance of such movements. Mutual assistance shall be rendered in order to protect the independence of either country against attacks from the world bourgeoisie or its agents. (2.) The frontiers previously existing are confirmed. (3.) An Economic Agreement is to be concluded (also signed the 4th March, 1921) under which Eussia is to assist Bokhara by providing materials, machinery, specialists and finance necessary for the country's industrial needs. The Nazir for Foreign Trade and President of the Council of the Soviet of Nazirs is Khodjayef Feyzulla. The plenipotentiary representative in Moscow is Saidjanof-Mukhtar. It has not, so far, appointed any representatives abroad. The representative of the Eussian Government, who has his headquarters in Tashkent, deals also with the Eepublics of Bokhara and Khiva. Georgia. — The treaty between Eussia and the former Georgian Government, which was signed in Moscow on the 7th August, 1920, has not been replaced by any new formal convention. Arrangements have, however, been concluded regarding com munications, finance and commerce, and, generally speaking, relations between Eussia and Georgia are conducted on very similar lines to those which exist between Moscow and the other independent republics. Foreign affairs, as in other cases, remain in the hands of the Georgian Government, while the Georgian military forces are under Eussian control. The territory is administered by a temporary Revolutionary Committee. In com mercial matters Georgia enjoys, with Armenia and Azerbaijan, an exceptional position, for the three States have formed their own Department of Foreign Trade independently of Moscow. Internal trade in Georgia remains free, as it was before the Bolshevik invasion, no State monopoly having been instituted, while foreign firms still continue their operations. The capital- of Georgia is Tiflis. Its territory consists of the former governments of Tiflis and Koutais, together with the Batoum province and the portion of the Soukhoum province known as Abkhasia, the last-named constituting an autonomous province. The population of the country is estimated at about two and a half millions. Georgia, like the other independent republics, has a plenipo tentiary representative in Moscow — Mikhail Tskhakaya — but has no other representative abroad. Tho Eussian Government has its plenipotentiary representative at Tiflis, Legradd, who also represents the Moscow Government ill its dealings with Azerbaijan and Armenia. . The President of the Georgian Council of People's Commissars is M. Divanova. The Commissar for Foreign Affairs is Svanidze^ Armenia.— The situation of Armenia is very similar to that ol Georgia. She has so far not concluded a treaty with the Moscow Government, but has formed working arrangements on the same basis as Georgia, and conducts her foreign trade in close contact with that country and Azerbaijan. The country is administered by a Central Executive Committee. The territory includes the greater part of the former government of Erivan and a portion of the province of Kars. The Natchetchevan province is autonomous. The capital of the State is Erivan. The President of the Armenian Soviet of People's Commissars :s Myasnikof, and the Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Mravyan. Armenia has in Moscow a plenipotentiary representative, Ter- Gabrilyan. It is not represented abroad. Azerbaijan.— A treaty between Russia and Azerbaijan was signed in Moscow oh the 30th September, 1920'. It is stated in the preamble to be directed against the " common enemy— the imperialistic bourgeoisie." It constitutes a close military and financial-economic alliance, and specifies that the following Departments shall be joint: — (1.) Military Organisation and Command. (2.) National Economy and Foreign Trade. (3.) Supply Administration. (4.) Eail and Water Transport, as well as Posts and Telegraphs. (5.) Finance. Separate agreements, regulating the operations of the joint Departments, were signed on the same day as the general treaty. They stipulate that in each instance the operation of the joint commissariats shall be. governed by the principles followed by the Eussian Government, but they allow Azerbaijan to issue its own bonds for commercial operations in the Transcaucasus, Persia and Turkey, and concede to it the privilege of trading with those countries in all articles except petroleum. . The Azerbaijan Depart ment for Foreign Trade can only deal in petroleum by agreement with the corresponding organ in Moscow. The same restriction applies to any commercial arrangement Azerbaijan may wish to make with other foreign countries. Note. — As mentioned above, Azerbaijan, with Georgia and Armenia, have a joint Department for Foreign Trade independent of Moscow. The Eussian representative in Tiflis deals with Azerbaijan as well as Georgia and Armenia. Azerbaijan has a plenipotentiarv representative in Moscow. The President of the Azerbaijan Council of People's Commissars is Narimanof, and the Gommissar for Foreign Affairs is Gusseynof The capital of the republic is Baku, and its territory embraces the former governments of Baku and Elisavetpol, with a small 9 pprtion oi the Erivan government, the frontiers ~f which are not yet fixed. White Russia. — The independence of White Eussia was recognised by an ordinance of the All-Eussian Central Executive Committee on -the 5th February, 1919. This ordinance declared the readiness of the Eussian Republic to render ' ' every kind of assistance and support to the labouring masses of White Russia in their struggle against domination, exploitation and persecution, and in defence of their freedom and independence from attempts at foreign conquest. ' ' A treaty between the two States was signed on the 16th January, 1921, which constitutes a military and economic alliance. It purports to be in harmony with " the right of self-determination of peoples proclaimed by the great proletarian revolution." It affirms the sovereignty and independence of the contracting parties and stipulates the creation of joint commissariats on the same lines as those followed in the treaty between Russia and the Ukraine. The Government of White Russia has its plenipotentiary repre sentative in Moscow — Mikhail Moroz. It has no representative abroad. Russia has no diplomatic representative in White Russia. The President of the Soviet of People's Commissars is Tchervyakof, who is also Commissar for Foreign Affairs. The territory of the republic is not definitely fixed, it comprises the government of Minsk and will take in such parts of, the Vitebsk and Moghilef governments as have a predominance of White Russians amongst -the population. The capital is Minsk. There is a movement among White Eussians which has as its object the inclusion of the Grodno and Vilna districts within the boundaries of White Eussia, which will break off connection with the Soviet Eepublic and join the Baltic States. Far Eastern Republic. — The Far Eastern Eepublic differs from the other independent republics established on what was formerly Eussian territory in several respects. It has not been created on an ethnological basis ; it has not a soviet form of government, nor is it socialist; also it has its own financial system on a gold and silver basis. . The republic has no treaty with Soviet Eussia, but has entered into an agreement with Moscow on the subjects of railways, water ways, posts and telegraphs. It is styled a democratic republic and has a Coalition Government elected by a National Assembly, which meets twice .a year. Matveyef is now President of the Council of Ministers in place of Krasnostchekof. The Government consists of seven members, Ministers being elected by the Assembly for a period of two years. The Assembly is re-elected every two years on a basis of proportional representation, the whole of the population over the age of 18 having the right to vote. One Deputy is elected for every 15,000 voters. The Far Eastern Eepublic is privileged in that it enjoys freedom of the press and freedom for the expression of opinion in public ; any citizen who is arrested may demand that he be charged within twenty-four hours of his arrest; personal security and the enjoyment 10 of private property are guaranteed. A complete code of laws 1^ now being prepared for the approval of the National Assembly. All male subjects between the ages of 18 and 45 are liable to military service. The supreme command is vested in the Government. The frontier of the Far Eastern Eepublic follows the Selenga to Verkne-Udinsk, and thence along the old " uyezd " boundary line to lake Baikal. It then follows the old boundaries of the Trans- baikal and Amur provinces and the watershed between the Keeran and the Pesmun to the Okhotsk Sea, which it strikes at cape Medjelinda. Northern Sakhalin and the islands to the south of cape Medjelinda are included in its territory. The capital of the republic is Chita. The plenipotentiary representative in Moscow is Joseph G. Kushnariof. The republic has no other representatives abroad, and Eussia has no representative at present in Chita. Moscow, October 17, 1921. Bucharest Explanation International Boundaries ¦¦ m ¦ ¦¦ Boundaries of independent //////. Federated Republics MNMM Boundaries of Autonomous Republics and Provinces wa^aak Railways ,^^^^^_ Scale I:JO,000.000 0 50 0 100 200 300 *€0 SOO Kilometres ¦ ¦ d m m ¦— mmmt=zzz — ' ' ' ' G.S.G.S. N? 2967. War Office, 19V] Deer, 1921. 3 9002 00827 2685