(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/4
Image Reference:0076
[This Document is the Property of His-Britannic Majestys Government.]
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
December
1917'.
SECRET.
86
WAR
CABINET, 3 0 2 .
Minutes of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 , Downing Street,
on Wednesday, December 1 9 , 1 9 1 7 , at 1 T 3 0 A M .
S.W.,
Present:
T h e PRIME MINISTER (in the
T h e R i g h t H o n . t h e E A R L CURZON OE
KEDLESTON, K . O . , G . C . S . I . , G . C . I . E .
T h e R i g h t H o n . t h e VISCOUNT MILNER,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
Chair).
T h e R i g h t H o n . G . N . BARNES, M . P .
The Right
M.P.
H o n . Sir E .
CARSON,
K.G.,
T h e R i g h t H o n . A . BONAR L A W , M . P ,
T h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e also p r e s e n t : —
T h e R i g h t H o n . t h e E A R L OE DERBY, K . G . ,
G . C . V . O . , O . B . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
War.
T h e R i g h t . H o n . S I R E . GEDDES, G . B . E . ,
K.C.B.,
M.P., First
Lord
of
the
Admiralty.
G e n e r a l S i r W . R . ROBERTSON, G . C . B . ,
K . C . V . O . , D . S . O . , C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l
G e n e r a l Staff (for M i n u t e s 1 t o 1 0 j .
A d m i r a l S I R J . R . JELLTCOE, G . C . B . ,
C M . , G.C.V.O., First Sea Lord and
C h i e f of t h e N a v a l Staff (for M i n u t e s
1 to 10).
T h e R i g h t H o n . LORD ROBERT CECIL, K . C . ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of B l o c k a d e (for M i n u t e s
6 a n d 11 to 13).
L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l S i r M. P . A . HANKEY, K . C . B . ,
F l e e t - P a y m a s t e r P . H . R o w , R . N . , Assistant
C o l o n e l E . D . SWINTON, C . B . , D . S . O . , Assistant
C a p t a i n C . JONES, Assistant
The Western
Front:
T h r e a t e n e d Attack.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
1 . T h e C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l S t a f f r e p o r t e d t h e r e c e i p t
of i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m v a r i o u s q u a r t e r s , i n c l u d i n g S S p a n i s h s o u r c e s , t o
t h e effect t h a t h e a v y a t t a c k s on t h e W e s t e r n f r o n t w e r e t h r e a t e n e d
great
b y t h e enetny within t h e n e x t few weeks, a n d t h a t
concentrations were b e i n g m a d e .
I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h e C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l S t a f f
r e p o r t e d t h a t , d u r i n g h i s r e c e n t v i s i t to F r a n c e , h e h a d m a d e
enquiries r e g a r d i n g t h e situation on t h e W e s t e r n front, a n d h a d
f o u n d t h a t i t w a s n o t so s e c u r e a s c o u l d b e d e s i r e d .
The defences
o n o u r front w e r e n o t a s g o o d a s t h e y s h o u l d b e i n o r d e r t o
withstand a heavy a n d determined attack, a n d t h e y were n o t a s
good as t h e G e r m a n defences w e have captured.
B u t it h a d t o b e
r e m e m b e r e d t h a t o u r t r o o p s h a v e b e e n e n g a g e d on t h e offensive f o r
t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e year, a n d therefore h a v e n o t h a d m u c h t i m e
B
302]
to d e v o t e t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of d e f e n c e s ; a n d , f u r t h e r , w e h a v e
b e e n c o n t i n u a l l y p u s h i n g o u r line f o r w a r d d u r i n g t h e y e a r a n d t h u s
h a v e h a d n e w defences to m a k e .
T h i s h a d b e e n e s p e c i a l l y difficult
t o d o in t h e d e v a s t a t e d a r e a , w h e r e , i n a d d i t i o n t o m a k i n g n e w
defences, w e h a v e h a d t o m a k e r o a d s a n d r a i l w a y s , a n d b u i l d
a c c o m m o d a t i o n for t h e t r o o p s . W h i l e w e h a v e h a d t o m a k e n e w
defences a s w e h a v e a d v a n c e d , t h e G e r m a n t r e n c h e s w e h a v e
c a p t u r e d w e r e t h e w o r k of y e a r s , a n d t h e y a r e a b l e t o m a k e n e w
defences b e f o r e h a n d r e a d y for t h e m w h e n t h e y fall b a c k , a n d t h e y
h a v e m u c h civil a n d p r i s o n e r l a b o u r t o a s s i s t t h e m . T h e F r e n c h
defences a l s o w e r e n o t in g o o d o r d e r , a s t h e C a b i n e t h a d h e a r d
on t h e p r e v i o u s d a y .
H e h a d been informed t h a t
General
Petain' had asked the French W a r Cabinet last week to give
h i m 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 m e n for w o r k on t h e d e f e n c e s . T h e P o r t u g u e s e ,
i n s t e a d of b e i n g a h e l p t o u s , w e r e p r a c t i c a l l y a d a n g e r , a n d w e h a d
t o k e e p a d i v i s i o n on e a c h of t h e i r flanks, a s i t w a s felt t h a t t h e y
could not be relied upon.
I t w a s also d o u b t f u l w h e t h e r t h e B e l g i a n s
would s t a n d a h e a v y attack.
Further, t h e enemy was continually
b r i n g i n g o v e r m o r e a r t i l l e r y , a n d w e m a y e x p e c t t h a t h e will b r i n g
over a g r e a t d e a l m o r e . O u r t r o o p s w e r e n e w , a n d i t r e m a i n e d t o
be s e e n t o w h a t e x t e n t , t h e y w o u l d s t a n d t h e b o m b a r d m e n t t o w h i c h
t h e y m a y b e s u b j e c t e d . I t m u s t also b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t o u r t r o o p s
couid n o t be. e x p e c t e d t o f i g h t a s well on t h e defence a s on t h e
offence. T h e y a r e n e w , a n d so a r e m o s t of t h e officers, a n d i t h a d
b e e n f o u n d n e c e s s a r y , a s i n t h e case of all n e w a r m i e s , to g i v e specific
i n s t r u c t i o n s b e f o r e h a n d for t h e a c t i o n t h e y w a r e t o t a k e w h e n
fighting.
T h i s c o u l d b e d o n e i n offensive o p e r a t i o n s , a n d h a d b e e n
d o n e . I n t h e d e f e n c e , how ever, i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o g i v e t h e s e
specific i n s t r u c t i o n s i n t h e s a m e d e t a i l , a s t h e e n e m y s e t t h e t u n e ,
r
' a n d i t r e q u i r e d officers w e l l v e r s e d in t a c t i c s t o k n o w h o w t o m e e t
q u i c k l y a n d p r o p e r l y a n y n e w s i t u a t i o n w h i c h m i g h t arise. W e h a d
n o t g o t s u c h officers a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . T h e y w e r e q u i t e different
from t h e officers w e h a d w h e n w e w e r e fighting o n t h e d e f e n s i v e in
1 9 1 4 , a n d G e n e r a l R o b e r t s o n l e a r n e d from d i v i s i o n a l c o m m a n d e r s
t h a t t h e y w e r e a n x i o u s a s t o h o w far o u r officers w o u l d s h o w t h e m ­
selves able to m e e t a g r e a t a t t a c k .
H e had heard t h e best accounts
of t h e m e n , b u t of c o u r s e t h e y r e q u i r e d c o m p e t e n t s u b o r d i n a t e
leaders.
A n o t h e r r e a s o n for a n x i e t y in r e g a r d to o u r b e i n g
on t h e d e f e n s i v e w a s t h a t
strategically we were in a b a d
p o s i t i o n , as t h e r e w a s v e r y l i t t l e d e p t h b e h i n d o u r defences, a n d
therefore we h a d little room to manoeuvre.
W h e n Hindenburg
g o t i n t o difficulties as a r e s u l t of t h e S o m m e fighting, h e r e t i r e d
p a r t of h i s l i n e s o m e 2 0 t o 3 0 m i l e s .
W e could not do this.
D u n k i r k w a s a l r e a d y w i t h i n r a n g e of . t h e enemy'"s g u n s , a n d a s h o r t
a d v a n c e b y t h e e n e m y w o u l d b r i n g h i m w i t h i n r a n g e of C a l a i s a n d
' B o u l o g n e . A r e t i r e m e n t for e v e n a few m i l e s w e s t w a r d m i g h t t h e r e ­
fore b e d i s a s t r o u s . R e t i r e m e n t in a n y o t h e r d i r e c t i o n w a s i m p o s s i b l e .
F u r t h e r , in t h e a r e a o c c u p i e d b y u s t h e r e w e r e c e r t a i n places n e a r t o
t h e f r o n t line w h i c h w e r e of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e F r e n c h , w h i l e
t h e s e c u r i t y of t h e c o a s t b o r d e r i n g o n t h e S t r a i t s of D o v e r V, as v i t a l
t o o u r s e a p o w e r , u p o n w h i c h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t i n u i n g t h e w a r
depended.
G e n e r a l R o b e r t s o n s t a t e d t h a t i t w a s fully r e a l i s e d byS i r D o u g l a s H a i g t h a t w e m u s t a c t on t h e d e f e n c e for s o m e t i m e t o
c o m e , a n d h e h a d n o offensive p l a n s in m i n d a t p r e s e n t .
He had
t h e r e f o r e g i v e n o r d e r s for t h e A r m i e s t o g o d e f i n i t e l y o n t h e d e f e n s i v e ,
a n d t o t a k e a t o n c e all a d d i t i o n a l d e f e n s i v e m e a s u r e s possible.
Fie
w o u l d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y fight a d e c i s i v e b a t t l e o n h i s p r e s e n t f r o n t l i n e ,
a s t h e r e w e r e c e r t a i n s a l i e n t s a n d o t h e r p o r t i o n s of t h e l i n e w h i c h
w e r e t a c t i c a l l y q u i t e u n s u i t a b l e for t h i s . W h e r e t h i s w a s so h e
w o u l d fight o n h i s f r o n t l i n e j u s t sufficient t o w e a r o u t a n d b r e a k u p
t h e e n e m y ' s a t t a c k a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e before t h e e n e m y c o u l d r e a c h
t h e m a i n d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n . A l l t h e m e n t h a t could b e t a k e n f r o m
t h e r o a d s a n d o t h e r w o r k i n t h e r e a r w e r e b e i n g s e n t t o t h e front t o
w o r k on t h e defences.
A t t h e p r e s e n t time t h e r e were 2 2 divisions
:
A c c i d e n t to Leave
Train from I t a l y .
. ' i n r e s e r v e ' a n d it w a s h o p e d t h a t , of' t h i s n u m b e r , 8 w o u l d b e p l a c e d
in G e n e r a l R e s e r v e d i r e c t l y u n d e r t h e F i e l d - M a r s h a l .
T h i s would"
b e a s t r a t e g i c P r e s e r v e , a n d ' a v a i l a b l e to-, reinforce e i t h e r o u r o w n
f r o n t : o r . t h e " F r e n c h front, if t h a t w e r e a t t a c k e d .
Similarly, it
w a s e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e F r e n c h w o u l d h a v e a r e s e r v e of t h e s a m e
n a t u r e to a s s i s t u s if n e c e s s a r y . T h e F i e l d - M a r s h a l s a w G e n e r a l
P e t a i n t h e p r e v i o u s d a y , w i t h a view of c o m p l e t i n g a definite
a n d combined defensive plan.
I f o u r t r o o p s c o u l d g e t t w o or
t h r e e m o n t h s ' r e s t , a n d m e a n w h i l e w e could f i n d . a d d i t i o n a l l a b o u r for
w o r k o n t h e d e f e n c e s , t h e s i t u a t i o n , s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r a b l y i m p r o v e d .
T h e r e w o u l d , h o w e v e r , s t i l l b e t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e g r e a t a m o u n t of
a r t i l l e r y a n d o t h e r r e i n f o r c e m e n t s t h a t t h e e n e m y c o u l d b r i n g over.
General Robertson t h o u g h t t h a t t h e enemy w a s equal to us now,
a n d if h e c o u l d find a m m u n i t i o n for all t h e a r t i l l e r y h e w a s l i k e l y t o
s e n d t o t h e W e s t e r n front, o u r t r o o p s m i g h t b e s u b j e c t e d t o a v e r y
formidable attack.
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r d r e w a t t e n t i o n to i n f o r m a t i o n r e c e i v e d
t h r o u g h t h e R u s s i a n E m b a s s y , t o t h e effect t h a t t h e n a v a l a t t a c h e
a t S t o c k h o l m h a d b e e n t a l k i n g of t h e G e r m a n i n t e n t i o n t o a t t a c k
on t h e W e s t e r n f r o n t in t h e i m m e d i a t e f u t u r e .
T h e fact t h a t t h e
G e r m a n s a r e t a l k i n g so freely s u g g e s t e d d o u b t w h e t h e r t h e y r e a l l y
i n t e n d t o a t t a c k , o r w h e t h e r t h e y a r e m a k i n g p r e p a r a t i o n s for
a t t a c k elsewhere.
2. W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o W a r C a b i n e t 2 9 9 , M i n u t e 1, t h e C h i e f of
t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e l a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n
showed t h a t t h i s accident was m o r e serious t h a n w a s originally
reported.
Of 9 8 5 m e n , o n l y 3 5 9 w e r e u n i n j u r e d .
I t was probable
t h a t t h e a c c i d e n t w as a c a s e of s a b o t a g e .
r
T h e I n v a s i o n of
Italy.
3 . T h e Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff r e p o r t e d t h e r e c e i p t
of a t e l e g r a m from G e n e r a l Dekne-RadclifFe, r e c e i v e d o n t h e
1 9 t h D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 7 , t o t h e effect t h a t t h e e n e m y h a d a t t a c k e d ,
after h e a v y b o m b a r d m e n t , on t h e front Ca' d ' A n n a - M o n t e Asolone,
a n d succeeded in c a p t u r i n g both objectives. A n Italian division h a d
been ordered t o m a k e a counter-attack, b u t the result was not yet
known.
T h e s e r i o u s r e s u l t w a s t h a t t h e o n l y r o a d for. w h e e l e d
traffic u p t h e G r a p p a w a s t h r e a t e n e d b y t h e c a p t u r e of M o n t e
Asolone.
B a t t l e of
Enquiry.
4. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 2 9 9 , M i n u t e 8, - t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r r e p o r t e d t h a t , o w i n g t o a fall of s n o w
i n F r a n c e , i t h a d n o t b e e n possible t o o b t a i n all t h e r e p o r t s r e q u i r e d .
A s u m m a r y , however, h a d been telegraphed, a n d L o r d D e r b y
undertook to provide t h e Prime Minister with t h e necessary material
for h i s s t a t e m e n t on t h e s u b j e c t in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s on t h e
following d a y .
Cambrai:
B u s s i a n IceBreaker.
'
The Position of
Norway.
5- T h e F i r s t S e a L o r d r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e A d m i r a l t y h a d
requisitioned a R u s s i a n icebreaker built in t h i s c o u n t r y . I t w a s
proposed to send t h i s icebreaker t o t h e W h i t e Sea, to be used t h e r e
: i n case t h e R u s s i a n s fail t o g i v e u s t h e n e c e s s a r y a s s i s t a n c e .
6. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e p o s i t i o n of
N o r w a y , as s e t o u t in p a p e r G . - 1 8 4 , a n d a d o p t e d t h e . r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s
contained therein, and requested—
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs t o t a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y
d i p l o m a t i c a c t i o n as r e g a r d s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t
a n d t h e B r i t i s h M i n i s t e r s in S t o c k h o l m a n d C h r i s t i a n i a .
The Supreme W a r
Council.
7. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d b e f o r e ' t h e m a j o i n t n o t e t o t h e
S u p r e m e W a r Council, submitted by i t s P e r m a n e n t
Military
Advisers (Paper W . P . 6 9 ) (Appendix I).
T h e C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l S t a f f e x p r e s s e d g e n e r a l
concurrence in t h e R e p o r t , which was a s s e n t e d to by t h e W a r
Cabinet.
The Transport
Problem.
8. W i t h reference t o W a r Cabinet 2 9 1 , M i n u t e 2 , a n d t o
p a r a g r a p h 1 (c) of t h e j o i n t n o t e r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e p r e v i o u s M i n u t e ,
t h e r e w a s s o m e discussion a s t o t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
a n officer t o e x a m i n e a n d r e p o r t u p o n t h e w h o l e o f t h e t r a n s p o r t
a r r a n g e m e n t s of t h e A l l i e s a s a p p r o v e d a t t h e M e e t i n g o f t h e
S u p r e m e W a r Council held a t Versailles, on S a t u r d a y , t h e 1 s t
December, 1 9 1 7 .
I t w a s g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t , as S i r E r i c G e d d e s c o u l d n o t b e
s p a r e d , G e n e r a l N a s h w o u l d b e t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e s e l e c t i o n for t h e
post.
T h e W ar Cabinet decided that—r
This should be pressed b y t h e P r i m e Minister
m e e t i n g of t h e S u p r e m e W a r C o u n c i l .
T h e "Western
Front:
E x t e n s i o n oi t h e
B r i t i s h Line.
9. W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o W a r
Cabinet decided t h a t —
Cabinet
3 0 1 , Minute
at
the
next
8 , t h e W^ar
D u r i n g t h e discussions b y t h e P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y A d v i s e r t o
t h e S u p r e m e W a r C o u n c i l on t h e s u b j e c t of t h e e x t e n s i o n
of t h e B r i t i s h l i n e , i t w as d e s i r a b l e t h a t a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of
t h e Field-Marshal Commanding-in-chief,
British E x p e ­
d i t i o n a r y F o r c e , s h o u l d be in a t t e n d a n c e a t V e r s a i l l e s t o
a n s w e r a n y p o i n t s r a i s e d b y t h e F r e n c h G e n e r a l Staff.
r
T h e C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff u n d e r t o o k t o i n i t i a t e
the necessary action.
10. T h e Secretary informed the W a r Cabinet t h a t t h e FieldMarshal C o m m a n d i n g the H o m e Forces had n o t h i n g to a d d to t h e
c o m m u n i q u e w h i c h h a d b e e n c i r c u l a t e d t o t h e m e m b e r s of t h e W a r
Cabinet.
T h e Secretary added t h a t he h a d received information
from t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for H o m e Affairs t h a t t h e w h o l e of t h e
"police r e p o r t s h a d n o t y e t b e e n r e c e i v e d , b u t t h a t it a p p e a r e d t h a t
t h e casualties in London were approximately 8 killed a n d b e t w e e n
6 0 a n d 7 0 i n j u r e d , a n d t h a t t w o l a r g e fires h a d b r o k e n o u t a s w e l l
as s e v e r a l s m a l l e r "conflagrations.
In addition to bombs being
d r o p p e d i n L o n d o n , b o m b s h a d b e e n d r o p p e d a t M a r g a t e , a n d also i n
other p a r t s of K e n t , a n d in E s s e x .
T h e F i r s t S e a L o r d r e p o r t e d t h a t one of t h e G o t h a s t h a t t o o k
p a r t in t h e raid had been towed into Folkestone, b u t had s u n k as
t h e r e s u l t of a u explosion. T w o of t h e c r e w w e r e c a p t u r e d .
Eussia.
1 1 - The P r i m e Minister reported a conversation he had h a d
w i t h a Mr. T h o m p s o n — a n A m e r i c a n t r a v e l l e r a n d a m a n of c o n s i d e r ­
a b l e m e a n s — w h o h a d j u s t r e t u r n e d from R u s s i a , a n d w h o h a d g i v e n
a s o m e w h a t different i m p r e s s i o n of affairs in t h a t c o u n t r y from w h a t
was generally believed.
T h e g i s t of h i s r e m a r k s w a s t o t h e effect
t h a t t h e R e v o l u t i o n h a d come t o s t a y ; t h a t t h e A l l i e s h a d n o t s h o w n
t h e m s e l v e s sufficiently s y m p a t h e t i c w i t h t b e R e v o l u t i o n ; a n d t h a t
M M . T r o t z k i a n d Lenin were n o t in G e r m a n pay, t h e l a t t e r being a
f a i r l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d Professor.
Mr. Thompson h a d added t h a t h e
c o n s i d e r e d t h e A l l i e s s h o u l d c o n d u c t in R u s s i a a n a c t i v e p r o p a g a n d a ,
c a r r i e d o u t b y s o m e form of A l l i e d C o u n c i l c o m p o s e d of m e n e s p e c i a l l y
2 0n f­3
. s e l e c t e d for t h e p u r p o s e ; f u r t h e r , t h a t , o n t h e w h o l e , h e c o n s i d e r e d ,
h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e de facto R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t ,
t h e several Allied G o v e r n m e n t s w e r e n o t suitably r e p r e s e n t e d in
Petrograd.
I n M r . T h o m p s o n ' s o p i n i o n , i t w a s n e c e s s a r y for t h e
A l l i e s t o r e a l i s e t h a t t h e R u s s i a n a r m y a n d people w e r e o u t of t h e
w a r , a n d t h a t t h e A l l i e s w o u l d h a v e t o choose b e t w e e n R u s s i a a s a
f r i e n d l y or a h o s t i l e n e u t r a l .
T h e question w a s discussed as t o w h e t h e r t h e Allies o u g h t n o t
t o c h a n g e t h e i r policy in r e g a r d t o t h e de facto R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t ,
the.Bolsheviks being stated b y Mr. Thompson t o be anti-German.
I n t h i s connection L o r d R o b e r t Cecil d r e w a t t e n t i o n t o t h e
c o n d i t i o n s of t h e a r m i s t i c e b e t w e e n t h e G e r m a n a n d R u s s i a n a r m i e s ,
w h i c h p r o v i d e d , inter alia, for t r a d i n g b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s ,
a n d for t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a P u r c h a s i n g C o m m i s s i o n in O d e s s a , t h e
whole a r r a n g e m e n t being obviously d i c t a t e d by t h e G e r m a n s .
Lord
R o b e r t Cecil e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t t h e G e r m a n s w o u l d e n d e a v o u r
to continue t h e armistice until t h e Russian a r m y had melted away.
Sir E d w a r d Carson read a communication, signed b y M . Trotzki,
w h i c h h a d b e e n s e n t t o h i m b y a B r i t i s h s u b j e c t , t h e m a n a g e r of t h e
R u s s i a n b r a n c h of t h e V a u x h a l l M o t o r C o m p a n y , w h o h a d j u s t
r e t u r n e d from R u s s i a ( P a p e r G . T . - 3 0 4 0 ) ( A p p e n d i x I I ) . T h i s r e p o r t
i n d i c a t e d t h a t M. T r o t z k i ' s p o l i c y was, o s t e n s i b l y a t a n y r a t e , o n e of
h o s t i l i t y t o t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f civilised s o c i e t y r a t h e r t h a n p r o German.
On t h e other hand, it was suggested that a n assumed
a t t i t u d e of- t h i s k i n d w a s b y n o m e a n s i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h T r o t z k i ' s
b e i n g a G e r m a n a g e n t , w h o s e o b j e c t w a s t o r u i n R u s s i a in o r d e r t h a t
G e r m a n y m i g h t do w h a t s h e desired in t h a t country.
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e b e s t p l a n w a s t o c o n t i n u e
t h e p r e s e n t policy of r a l l y i n g t o t h e A l l i e s , a n d a s s i s t i n g a l l t h o s e
e l e m e n t s in S o u t h R u s s i a t h a t were resisting t h e Bolsheviks, a n d
s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d r e c e i v e d i n f o r m a t i o n from J e w i s h s o u r c e s t h a t t h e
U k r a n i a n s w e r e p r e p a r e d t o oppose t h e e x i s t i n g R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t .
I t w a s s t a t e d t h a t M . H u y s m a n s h a d confirmed t h i s s t a t e m e n t ,
a n d h a d u r g e d t h e s e n d i n g of, say , 1 0 0 S o c i a l i s t s t o S o u t h R u s s i a t o
a c t o n o u r behalf.
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil s u g g e s t e d t h a t , i n o r d e r t o r e n d e r o u r p o l i c y
m o r e effective, w e s h o u l d p l a c e f u n d s a t t h e d i s p o s a l of S i r C h a r l e s
M a r l i n g , o u r M i n i s t e r i n T e h e r a n , a n d g i v e h i m a free h a n d t o d o
the best h e can by agents, propaganda, a n d a n y other means, t o keep
t h e people of S o u t h
R u s s i a o n o u r s i d e . L o r d R o b e r t Cecil
m e n t i o n e d t h a t t h e J e w s were v e r y powerful in t h e U k r a i n e , a n d it
m i g h t be possible t o o b t a i n t h e i r support.
A g a i n s t t h i s w a s u r g e d t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y of i n f l u e n c i n g S o u t h e r n
R u s s i a f r o m such a d i s t a n t p l a c e a s T e h e r a n , a n d also t h e difficulty o f
obtaining suitable persons who were conversant with t h e Russian
l a n g u a g e . - I t w a s f u r t h e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t if t h e B o l s h e v i k s s h o u l d
gain t h e u p p e r h a n d a n d eventually achieve complete success, t h e
e v i d e n c e of t h e s u p p o r t w e h a d g i v e n t o t h e i r o p p o n e n t s w o u l d
intensify their irritation a n d t h r o w t h e m even more into t h e hands
of t h e G e r m a n s t h a n t h e y a r e n o w .
T
Stockholm
Conterence.
12. M r . B a r n e s informed t h e W a r C a b i n e t t h a t M r . H e n d e r s o n
b a d called on h i m yesterday, a n d h a d s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d received a
t e l e g r a m from M . H u y s m a n s a s k i n g M r . H e n d e r s o n t o p r e s s for a n
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference a t Stockholm, _ t o counteract
malign
influences.
T h e latter h a d asked Mr. Barnes w h e t h e r it w a s
probable t h a t t h e Government would g r a n t t h e necessary passports
for s u c h a c o n f e r e n c e a t S t o c k h o l m , a n d , o n M r . B a r n e s r e p l y i n g i n
t h e negative, Mr. Henderson h a d stated t h a t he would n o t press
t h e m a t t e r for S t o c k h o l m , b u t w o u l d s u g g e s t s o m e a l t e r n a t i v e p l a c e
for t h e m e e t i n g .
13. T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r read t o t h e W a r C a b i n e t a l e t t e r he
h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m M r . H e n d e r s o n , f o r w a r d i n g a r e s o l u t i o n from t h e
P a r l i a m e n t a r y C o m m i t t e e of t h e L a b o u r P a r t y , d e s i r i n g t h a t t h e
G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d m a k e a d e c l a r a t i o n a s t o t h e w a r a i m s of t h e
A l l i e s for t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e L a b o u r P a r t y C o n f e r e n c e t h a t
will m e e t on 2 S t h D e c e m b e r n e x t .
Mr. B a r n e s s t a t e d t h a t Mr. H e n d e r s o n was a n x i o u s t o consult
w i t h t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r o r t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs *
on t h e subject.
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r i n d i c a t e d his w i l l i n g n e s s t h a t M r . H e n d e r s o n
s h o u l d see M r . B a l f o u r in t h i s c o n n e c t i o n .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t proceeded to have a short discussion as to a n y
a n n o u n c e m e n t of t h e w a r a i m s of t h e A l l i e s , a n d i t w a s p o i n t e d o u t
t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e B a l k a n s w a s p r o b a b l y t h e m o s t difficult t o
set out.
I t w a s stated t h a t it m i g h t be assumed t h a t Russia no longer
m a d e a n y claim to Constantinople, b u t t h a t it was imperative—if
a n y s t a t e m e n t was m a d e t h a t dealt with T u r k e y — t h a t it must be
m a d e q u i t e clear t h a t t h a t P o w e r would n o t be allowed t o exercise
a n y c o n t r o l of t h e w a t e r w a y b e t w e e n t h e B l a c k S e a a n d t h e
Mediterranean.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S^W.,
December 1 9 , 1 9 1 7 .
APPENDIX
I.
W.P.-69.
Joint Note 1.
JOINT NOTK TO THE SUPREME W A R COUNCIL SUBMITTED BY ITS PERMANENT
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES.
Military
Policy.
To t h e S u p r e m e W a r Council.
T H E P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h a v i n g , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e
i n s t r u c t i o n s contained i n M . Clemenceau's a d d r e s s t o t h e S u p r e m e W a r Council on t h e
1 s t D e c e m b e r a n d in t h e r e s o l u t i o n s s u b s e q u e n t l y p a s s e d b y t h e S u p r e m e W a r
C o u n c i l , r e v i e w e d t h e g e n e r a l m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n by t h e l i g h t of t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
f u r n i s h e d b y t h e G e n e r a l Staffs of t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e G o v e r n m e n t s , a n d , t a k i n g i n t o
c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e p o s s i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s of t h e a r m i s t i c e o n t h e R u s s i a n f r o n t , t h e
p r e s e n t position with r e g a r d to m a n - p o w e r in t h e Allied countries a n d t h e necessity
i m p o s e d of f i n d i n g m e n for t h e p r o d u c t i o n of m u n i t i o n s , t h e r e p l a c e m e n t of t o n n a g e ,
a n d t h e i n c r e a s e of d o m e s t i c food p r o d u c t i o n , & c , a r e of o p i n i o n t h a t t h e p o l i c y o u t l i n e d
below should be a d o p t e d b y t h e Allied G o v e r n m e n t s a n d p u t i n t o e x e c u t i o n b y t h e i r
G e n e r a l Staffs w i t h o u t d e l a y :—
1. A d e f i n i t e a n d c o - o r d i n a t e d s y s t e m of d e f e n c e f r o m t h e N o r t h
A d r i a t i c m u s t b e a d o p t e d b y t h e Allies. T h i s will i n c l u d e : —
Sea to
the
( a . ) T b e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of e x i s t i n g l i n e s of d e f e n c e a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of f u r t h e r
a n d successive defensive lines t o check a n a d v a n c e by t h e e n e m y .
(6.) T h e u s e t o t h e u t m o s t of all p o s s i b l e m e c h a n i c a l m e a n s i n o r d e r —
(i.) T o p r o v i d e t h e m a x i m u m m o b i l e r e s e r v e .
(ii.) T o afford r e s t a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s of t r a i n i n g for r e s e r v e s .
(c.) T h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e d e v e l o p m e n t of r a i l a n d s e a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n
t h e different s e c t i o n s of t h e f r o n t a n d t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s t o b e m a d e for t h e
m o v e m e n t of t r o o p s b e t w e e n t h e s e d i f f e r e n t s e c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y in r e s p e c t of
t h e I t a l i a n f r o n t , a n d of t h e m e a s u r e s t o be t a k e n i n case of a G e r m a n
a t t a c k through Switzerland.
T h e d e f e n s i v e policy t h u s a d v o c a t e d n e e d n o t p r e c l u d e s u c h m i n o r f o r m s of a c t i v e
d e f e n c e a s a n y C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f m a y t h i n k n e c e s s a r y for m a i n t a i n i n g t h e offensive
s p i r i t of his t r o o p s .
F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e p o l i c y of a s t r o n g d e f e n s i v e n o t o n l y d o e s n o t p r e c l u d e , b u t
a c t u a l l y p r e p a r e s for, a n y offensive m e a s u r e s in a n y t h e a t r e of w a r a s m a y b e d e c i d e d
u p o n for 1 9 1 8 , w h e n t h e p r e s e n t p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n R u s s i a a n d t h e m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n
i n I t a l y a r e m o r e clearly defined.
2. A s i m d a r policy of d e f i n i t e defence m u s t b e a d o p t e d i n t h e B a l k a n s .
In the
e v e n t of s e r i o u s a t t a c k b y t h e e n e m y in t h i s t h e a t r e of w a r , in w h i c h it m i g h t b e
i m p o s s i b l e a d e q u a t e l y t o r e i n f o r c e t h e t r o o p s n o w a v a i l a b l e , i t is n e c e s s a r y t o e n v i s a g e
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a s y s t e m a t i c a n d p r e - a r r a n g e d r e t i r e m e n t from p a r t , a t a n y r a t e , o f
t h e e x i s t i n g front.
T h e c h a r a c t e r a n d d i r e c t i o n of s u c h a r e t i r e m e n t is s o i n t i m a t e l y
c o n n e c t e d w i t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a r i s i n g o u t of B a l k a n p o l i t i c s a n d t h e s u b m a r i n e w a r f a r e
t h a t i t w i l l f o r m t h e s u b j e c t of a s e p a r a t e p a p e r .
3. W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e T u r k i s h t h e a t r e of w a r ( P a l e s t i n e , M e s o p o t a m i a , A r m e n i a ) ,
t h e P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a r e n o t y e t in a p o s i t i o n t o m a k e a n y
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a s t o t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of f u r t h e r d e v e l o p i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g t h e s u c c e s s e s
r e c e n t l y g a i n e d b y t h e A l l i e d forces.
4. T h e c o - o r d i n a t e d d e v e l o p m e n t t o t h e u t m o s t of t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of all w a r
m a t e r i a l is of p a r a m o u n t i m p o r t a n c e , a s is also t h e u s e of t h i s w a r m a t e r i a l s o a s t o
o b t a i n t h e b e s t r e s u l t s from e x i s t i n g f o r m a t i o n s .
This proposal m a y involve changes in
t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n of c e r t a i n e x i s t i n g a r m i e s .
[1365-302
D
5. I n v i e w of t h e p r o s p e c t of a g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d s u p p l y of a e r o p l a n e s of c o n s t a n t l y
increasing power a n d r a n g e in t h e course of 1 9 1 8 , t h e P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a ­
t i v e s w i s h t o d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o t h e n e c e s s i t y for a c a r e f u l s t u d y o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s of a
c o - o r d i n a t e d a i r offensive o n t h e l a r g e s t p o s s i b l e scale.
6. T h e a b o v e a r e t h e p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h s h o u l d b e a d o p t e d f o r t h w i t h , a n d t h e
P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s will s u b m i t r e p o r t s i n d e t a i l o n t h e s e s u b j e c t s a t a
later date.
(Signed)
WEYGAND,
Perm.
Mil.
Rep.,
French Section, Su­
preme War Council.
(Signed) H E N R Y W I L S O N ,
GENERAL,
Perm.
Mil.
Rep.,
British
Section, Su­
jpreme War Council.
13.12.17.
13.12.17.
Versailles,
( S i g n e d ) L. C A D O R N A , .
Perm
Mil.
Rep.,
Italian
Section, Su­
preme War Council.
12.12.17.
December 1 3 , 1 9 1 7 .
A P P E N D I X II.
T H E p o w e r of t h e S o v i e t is t h e p o w e r of t h e w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s a n d s o l d i e r s :
a n d r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e s o l d i e r s a r e s i m p l y t h e s e l f - s a m e w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s . T h i s is
t h e first r e a l l y l a r g e scale t r i a l of G o v e r n m e n t b y t h e l a b o u r i n g m a s s e s .
Till n o w t h e
G o v e r n m e n t o f a c o u n t r y w a s s i m p l y a n i n s t r u m e n t of p o w e r wdelded b y a s m a l l s e c t i o n
w h i c h possessed e v e r y t h i n g over a large p a r t which possessed n o t h i n g .
O u r plan is to
form a G o v e r n m e n t b a s e d o n t h e p o w e r o f t h e l a r g e r m a s s o f t h e p e o p l e , w h i c h l a r g e r
m a s s is n o w f r e e i n g itself from t h e o p p r e s s i o n of t h e s m a l l m a s s . G o v e r n m e n t b y t h e
s m a l l m a s s h a s so f a r g e n e r a l l y c a u s e d p o v e r t y a n d m i s e r y t o t h e l a r g e r m a s s . T h e
S o v i e t is t h e m a i n o r g a n o f t h i s n e w p o w e r i n t h e c e n t r e a n d p r o v i n c e s of R u s s i a .
O u r p r o g r a m m e is d i c t a t e d b y t h e i n t e r e s t s of w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s . P e a c e is
essential t o them.
T h e p o w e r of o u r S o v i e t is a n i n s t r u m e n t for f i g h t i n g for p e a c e .
I n t h i s fight f o r p e a c e w e a r e n o t r e c k o n i n g o h t h e g o o d - w i l l of t h e bourgeois a n d i t s
d i p l o m a c y , ' b u t on t h e p r e s s u r e o f t h e p e o p l e .
N o official o r semi-official p a t r i o t i c lie
c a n s c r e e n t h e fact t h a t t h e l a b o u r i n g m a s s e s i n a l l t h e w a r r i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e r e v o l u t i o n i s e d
t o t h e v e r y d e p t h s b y this disgraceful s l a u g h t e r , which does n o more t h a n show u p t h e
c r i m i n a l c h a r a c t e r of c a p i t a l i s t i c r u l e . T h e m a s s e s i n all t h e c o u n t r i e s h a t e t h e w a r a n d
w h o caused t h e war.
R e v o l u t i o n b r o k e o u t first i n R u s s i a o n l y for t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h e m a c h i n e r y of
g o v e r n m e n t w a s w e a k e r in R u s s i a t h a n in o t h e r countries.
B u t t h e w a r h a s i n all
c o u n t r i e s c a u s e d a n a c c u m u l a t i o n of r e v o l u t i o n a r y y e a r n i n g s in t h e v e r y d e p t h s of
m a n k i n d , a n d r e v o l u t i o n w i l l b r e a k o u t e a r l i e r t h a n is e x p e c t e d b y t h e r u l i n g p a r t i e s
of E u r o p e .
T h e p l a n of o u r u n i v e r s a l p o l i c y i s t o g i v e a p u s h t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e
c e n t r e a n d on t h e w e s t of E u r o p e .
T h i s is t h e r e a l r o a d t o a d e m o c r a t i c p e a c e .
"What a b o u t B e l g i u m ? A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e ? W e d i d n o t a t t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of
t h e w a r b e l i e v e , a n d d o n o t b e l i e v e n o w , t h a t t h e w a r is c a r r i e d o n b y t h e r u l i n g class
for t h e s a k e of g u a r d i n g t h e r i g h t s of w e a k n a t i o n s . N o 1 t h e bourgeois of a l l c o u n t r i e s
a r e fighting f o r p r o p e r t y .
I f i t c o u l d b e i m a g i n e d t h a t t h e w a r will p a s s w i t h o u t
p u n i s h m e n t t o t h e r u l i n g classes, a n d t h a t i m p e r i a l i s m will r e m a i n t h e g u i d i n g h a n d in
p o l i t i c s of s o - c a l l e d civilised p e o p l e , i t w o u l d b e n a i v e t o t h i n k of t h e d e f e n d i n g of w e a k
a n d b a c k w a r d n a t i o n s . I m p e r i a l i s m t o o k e v e r y t h i n g a n d m a d e s l a v e s of e v e r y b o d y .
O n l y t h e . u n d e f e a t e d r e v o l u t i o n of t h e w o r k i n g classes a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m c a n free
B e l g i u m , A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e , a n d all w e a k e r c o u n t r i e s ,
..: W e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e s , w h o a r e n o w s h e d d i n g t h e i r o w n
b l o o d , will n o t allow t h e G e r m a n r u l i n g - c l a s s officers t o a t t a c k r e v o l u t i o n a r y R u s s i a .
W e a r e sure t h e r e will be a t e m p o r a r y peace on all fronts.
B u t if ( t h o u g h w e find i t
impossible t o i m a g i n e this) a g a i n s t o u r s t r a i g h t a n d open proposition of i m m e d i a t e
democratic peace, t h e G e r m a n people remain passive a n d t h e G e r m a n K a i s e r moves his
a r m i e s a g a i n s t u s , o u r a r m y will d e f e n d i t s e l f t o t h e l a s t d r o p of blood, b e c a u s e i t is
n o t n o w a cpuestion o f a n i m p e r i a l i s t i c w a r , b u t i t is t h e q u e s t i o n o f . g u a r d i n g t h e
r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h offers p e a c e t o e v e r y b o d y .
W e h a v e g i v e n o v e r t h e l a n d of R u s s i a f r o m t h e l a n d o w n e r t o t h e p e a s a n t , a n d
t h e p e a s a n t will n o t p a y a n y t h i n g for i t .
W e a r e p l a c i n g a w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l o v e r p r o d u c t i o n , w i t h t h e object o f g r a d u a l l y ­
c h a n g i n g o v e r t h e b a s i s of p r o d u c t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s t i c o n t o socialistic lines.
In
W e a r e n a t i o n a l i s i n g a l l b a n k s , w i t h t h e object of m a k i n g o n e n a t i o n a l b a n k .
t h e s e m a t t e r s w e s h a l l a c t f e a r l e s s l y a n d w i t h o u t p i t y , o v e r c o m i n g t h e r e s i s t a n c e of
l a n d o w n e r s a n d c a p i t a l i s t s w h o d o n o t w i s h t o g i v e u p t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s w i t h o u t a fight.
O u r p l a n s a r e colossal, difficult, g r a n d i o s e , b u t t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e p e o p l e , o p e n e d
u p b y t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w i l l o v e r c o m e all difficulties a n d fulfil i t s ideals.
(Signed)
Smolny
L. T R O T S K Y .
Institute, November 3 ( o . s . ) , 1 9 1 7 .
s
5. I n v i e w o f t h e p r o s p e c t of a g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d s u p p l y o f a e r o p l a n e s o f 3onstantly
i n c r e a s i n g p o w e r a n d r a n g e in t h e c o u r s e o f 1 9 1 8 , t h e P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a ­
t i v e s w i s h t o d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o t h e n e c e s s i t y for a c a r e f u l s t u d y o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s of a
c o - o r d i n a t e d a i r offensive o n t h e l a r g e s t p o s s i b l e s c a l e .
6. T h e a b o v e a r e t h e p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h s h o u l d b e a d o p t e d f o r t h w i t h , a n d t h e
P e r m a n e n t M i l i t a r y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s will s u b m i t r e p o r t s in detail on t h e s e subjects a t a
later date.
(Signed)
WEYGAND,
Perm.
Mil.
Rep.,
French
Section,
Supreme War Council.
(Signed) H E N R Y W I L S O N ,
GENERAL,
Perm.
Mil.
Rep.,
British,
Section,
Supreme War Council.
13.12.17.
13.12.17.
Versailles,
December
(Signed) L. C A D O R N A ,
Perm
Mil.
Rep.,
Italian
Section,
Su­
preme War Council.
12.12.17.
13, 1917.
APPENDIX II.
T H E p o w e r o f t h e S o v i e t is t h e p o w e r of t h e w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s a n d s o l d i e r s :
a n d r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e soldiers a r e s i m p l y t h e self-same w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s .
T h i s is
t h e f i r s t r e a l l y l a r g e s c a l e t r i a l of G o v e r n m e n t b y t h e l a b o u r i n g m a s s e s .
Till n o w t h e
G o v e r n m e n t of a c o u n t r y w a s s i m p l y a n i n s t r u m e n t of p o w e r w i e l d e d b y a s m a l l s e c t i o n
which possessed e v e r y t h i n g over a large p a r t which possessed n o t h i n g .
O u r p l a n is t o
f o r m a G o v e r n m e n t b a s e d o n t h e p o w e r of t h e l a r g e r m a s s of t h e p e o p l e , w h i c h l a r g e r
m a s s i s n o w f r e e i n g i t s e l f f r o m t h e o p p r e s s i o n of t h e s m a l l m a s s .
Government by t h e
small mass h a s so far g e n e r a l l y c a u s e d p o v e r t y a n d m i s e r y t o t h e l a r g e r m a s s . T h e
S o v i e t is t h e m a i n o r g a n of t h i s n e w p o w e r i n t h e c e n t r e a n d p r o v i n c e s o f R u s s i a .
O u r p r o g r a m m e is d i c t a t e d b y t h e i n t e r e s t s of w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s .
Peace is
essential to t h e m .
T h e p o w e r of o u r S o v i e t is a n i n s t r u m e n t f o r r i g h t i n g for p e a c e .
I n t h i s f i g h t for p e a c e w e a r e n o t r e c k o n i n g o n t h e g o o d - w i l l o f t h e bourgeois a n d i t s
d i p l o m a c y , b u t o n t h e p r e s s u r e of t h e people.
Mo official or semi-official p a t r i o t i c l i e
c a n s c r e e n t h e fact t h a t t h e l a b o u r i n g m a s s e s i n a l l t h e w a r r i n g c o u n t r i e s a r e r e v o l u t i o n i s e d
t o . t h e v e r y d e p t h s by this disgraceful slaughter, which does no m o r e t h a n show u p t h e
c r i m i n a l c h a r a c t e r of c a p i t a l i s t i c r u l e . T h e m a s s e s i n a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s h a t e t h e w a r a n d
who caused t h e war.
R e v o l u t i o n b r o k e o u t f i r s t i n R u s s i a o n l y for t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h e m a c h i n e r y o f
g o v e r n m e n t w a s w e a k e r in R u s s i a t h a n in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . B u t t h e w a r h a s in a l l
c o u n t r i e s c a u s e d a n a c c u m u l a t i o n of r e v o l u t i o n a r y y e a r n i n g s in t h e v e r y d e p t h s o f
m a n k i n d , a n d revolution will b r e a k o u t earlier t h a n is e x p e c t e d b y t h e r u l i n g p a r t i e s
of Europe.
T h e p l a n of o u r u n i v e r s a l p o l i c y is t o g i v e a p u s h t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e
c e n t r e a n d on t h e w e s t of E u r o p e .
T h i s is t h e real r o a d to a d e m o c r a t i c peace.
W h a t a b o u t B e l g i u m ? A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e ? W e d i d n o t a t t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of
t h e w a r believe, a n d d o n o t believe n o w , t h a t t h e w a r is carried on b y t h e r u l i n g class
for t h e s a k e of g u a r d i n g t h e l i g h t s of w e a k n a t i o n s .
N o ! t h e bourgeois o f a l l c o u n t r i e s
a r e f i g h t i n g for p r o p e r t y .
If i t could b e i m a g i n e d t h a t t h e w a r will pass w i t h o u t
p u n i s h m e n t t o t h e r u l i n g classes, a n d t h a t imperialism will r e m a i n t h e g u i d i n g h a n d i n
p o l i t i c s of s o - c a l l e d civilised p e o p l e , i t w o u l d b e n a i v e t o t h i n k of t h e d e f e n d i n g o f w e a k
and backward nations.
I m p e r i a l i s m t o o k e v e r y t h i n g a n d m a d e s l a v e s of e v e r y b o d y .
O n l y t h e u n d e f e a t e d revolution of t h e w o r k i n g classes a g a i n s t imperialism can free
B e l g i u m , Alsace-Lorraine, a n d all w e a k e r countries.
W e are convinced t h a t t h e G e r m a n peoples, w h o a r e n o w s h e d d i n g t h e i r o w n
b l o o d , w i l l n o t a l l o w t h e G e r m a n r u l i n g - c l a s s officers t o a t t a c k r e v o l u t i o n a r y R u s s i a .
W e a r e sure t h e r e will be a t e m p o r a r y peace on all fronts.
B u t if ( t h o u g h w e find i t
i m p o s s i b l e t o i m a g i n e t h i s ) a g a i n s t o u r s t r a i g h t a n d o p e n p r o p o s i t i o n of i m m e d i a t e
democratic peace, t h e G e r m a n people remain passive a n d t h e G e r m a n K a i s e r moves h i s
a r m i e s a g a i n s t u s , o u r a r m y will d e f e n d i t s e l f t o t h e l a s t d r o p of b l o o d , b e c a u s e i t i s
n o t n o w a q u e s t i o n o f a n i m p e r i a l i s t i c w a r , b u t i t is t h e q u e s t i o n of g u a r d i n g t h e
r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h offers p e a c e t o e v e r y b o d y .
W e h a v e g i v e n o v e r t h e l a n d of R u s s i a from t h e l a n d o w n e r t o t h e p e a s a n t , a n d
t h e p e a s a n t will n o t p a y a n y t h i n g ' f o r i t .
W e a r e p l a c i n g a w o r k e r s ' c o n t r o l o v e r p r o d u c t i o n , w i t h t h e o b j e c t of g r a d u a l l y ­
c h a n g i n g o v e r t h e b a s i s of p r o d u c t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s t i c o n t o s o c i a l i s t i c l i n e s .
W e a r e n a t i o n a l i s i n g all b a n k s , w i t h t h e o b j e c t of m a k i n g o n e n a t i o n a l b a n k .
In
t h e s e m a t t e r s w e s h a l l a c t f e a r l e s s l y a n d w i t h o u t p i t y , o v e r c o m i n g t h e r e s i s t a n c e of
l a n d o w n e r s a n d c a p i t a l i s t s w h o d o n o t w i s h t o g i v e u p t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s w i t h o u t a fight.
O u r p l a n s a r e colossal, difficult, g r a n d i o s e , h u t t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e p e o p l e , o p e n e d
u p b y t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w i l l o v e r c o m e a l l difficulties a n d fulfil i t s i d e a l s .
(Signed)
Bmolny
o
L.
Institute,
TROTSKY.
November
3 (o.s.), 1 9 1 7 .