ORDER OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO GEN. DUKHONIN, RUSSIAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TO PROPOSE AN IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE TO THE ARMIES OF THE CENTRAL POWERS 21 November 1917 Protokoly, p. 54     The Council of People's Commissars, on the authority of the AllRussian Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, has taken over the government, and therewith the obligation to propose to all belligerent nations and to their Governments an immediate armistice on all fronts and the immediate opening of negotiations with a view to concluding peace on democratic principles. Now, when the Government of Soviets has been upheld in all the most important centres of the country, the Council of People's Commissars considers it necessary to make without delay a formal armistice proposal to all belligerent countries, both to Allies and to those engaged in hostile operations against us. An announcement to this effect has been sent by the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs to all the plenipotentiary representatives of Allied countries in Petrograd.     In fulfilment* of the decision of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, the Council of People's Commissars directs you, Citizen Supreme Commander-in-Chief, immediately upon receiving the present announcement, to address to the military authorities of the hostile armies a proposal to cease military operations immediately with a view to opening peace negotiations. Whilst charging you with the conduct of these preliminary negotiations the Council of People's Commissars orders you, first, to report constantly to the Council by direct wire regarding the progress of your negotiations with the representatives of the hostile armies; second, to sign the act of armistice only after previous agreement with the Council of People's Commissars. Documents on Soviet Foreign Policy [Subject] [Author] [Date]