SECRET PROTOCOL TO THE GERMAN-SOVIET SUPPLEMENTARY TREATIES OF 27 AUGUST I9I8: NOTE FROM JOFFE TO THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER
27 August 1918
Europdische Gesprdche, 1926, III, p. 151
I have the honour to make the following confidential reply, on behalf of the Russian Government, to Your Excellency's communication of today's date in regard to certain provisions of the German-Russian agreement supplementary to the peace treaty.
I. With regard to article 2, paragraph I. The Russian Government agrees that the frontier line to be determined by the Russo-German commission along the Narva shall run along its eastern bank at a distance of about one kilometre from the river, consideration being given to communal boundaries, and shall take in the city of Narva with sufficient surrounding territory to meet its economic needs; on the other hand, the eastern protruding tip of Courland south of the Mina along the general line DiAnaburg-Driswiaty shall be rounded off, consideration being given to communal boundaries. In determining the frontier along the line from the south-western corner of Lake Pskov-Lake Luban-to Liwenhof the utmost consideration shall be given to administrative boundaries and to the following considerations: the economic conditions of the city of Pskov and the position of the Russian monastery of Pechory make it desirable to place the frontier as far as possible to the west, while, on the other hand, in the area south-west of Lake Pskov the frontier should be one that is adapted to the defence of Livonia.
2. With regard to article 4. The Russian Government takes note of Germany's readiness to use its influence to see that the Ukraine takes no military measures in support of the formation of independent State units within the Russian State.
3. With regard to article 5. The Russian Government takes note that, should the Russian action provided for in article 5, paragraph I, against the forces of the Entente in north Russia not be immediately successful, Germany would itself be obliged to undertake such action, if necessary with the help of Finnish troops; in such case Russian territory lying between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga, and to the south and south-east of that lake, shall not be entered by German or Finnish troops without the express permission of the Russian Government. Russia will not regard such action by Germany as an unfriendly act and will not oppose it in any way. It is understood that any Russian territory occupied in the course of such action will be again evacuated by the German and Finnish troops after the expulsion of the Allied forces and the conclusion of general peace, in so far as it is not awarded to Finland under the Russo-Finnish peace treaty; as soon as possible after the expulsion of the Allied forces Russian civil administration is to be re-established in these areas.
4. With regard to article 7. The Russian Government takes note that Germany intends, after the conclusion of general peace, to dismantle the Reval fortifications and not to maintain Reval as a fortress in the future.
5. With regard to article 12, paragraph 2. Russia will use all the means at its disposal to put down as quickly as possible the insurrections of General Alexeyev and the Czecho-Slovaks, while taking note that Germany too will proceed with all the forces at its disposal against General Alexeyev. In connection with this Russia will only demand the evacuation of the railway area mentioned in article 12, paragraph 2, when the military situation makes it possible, and in accordance with a special agreement to be concluded on this question.
6. With regard to article 12, paragraph 3. The Russian Government takes note of the readiness of the German Government to use its influence to see that Russia, in its peace treaty with the Ukraine, receives a part of the Donetz basin commensurate with its economic requirements, and that the Ukraine sets aside one-third of its iron ore output for export to Russia, in accordance with a special agreement to be concluded on this matter. On its side Russia will not demand the evacuation of the part of the Donetz basin which falls to its lot, notwithstanding the provisions of article 12, paragraph 2, before the conclusion of general peace.
7. With regard to article 13. The Russian Government takes note of the readiness of the German Government to use its influence to ensure that Russia can procure one-fourth of the exports of manganese ore from Georgia, in accordance with a special agreement to be concluded on this matter.
8. With regard to article 14, paragraph i. The Russian Government takes note that any military encounters between Russian troops and a third Power in the Caucasus, apart from Georgia, or in the areas referred to in article 4, paragraph 3, of the peace treaty, shall give Germany no cause for intervention, provided Russian troops do not cross the Turkish frontier, or the frontier of the said areas, or the frontier of Georgia.
9. With regard to article 14, paragraph 2. The Russian Government will, before 30 September 1918, submit proposals to the German Government concerning the minimum amounts of crude oil and crude oil products to be supplied monthly by Russia.
10. With regard to article 15. The Russian Government will make no objection to the employment for peaceful purposes of the warships of the Black Sea fleet, including the warships returned from Novorossisk to Sevastopol, so long as they remain under German control according to paragraph 2 of this article, particularly for the purpose of mine clearance and harbour and police services, nor for their use for other military purposes in case of military need. Full compensation is to be paid by Germany to the Russian Government for the depreciation of the vessels during the period they are so employed and for any losses which may occur.
I I. The Russian Government takes note of Germany's readiness to use its influence to see that the Finnish Government shall grant the request of those Finnish Red Guards whom it has taken prisoner, in so far as they are not awaiting trial or serving sentence for ordinary offences, to be released from Finnish citizenship, and shall permit their departure for Russia. Russia in its turn would undertake to grant these persons Russian citizenship and not to use them in a military capacity against Finland or in the Russian provinces bordering on Finland, nor to settle them in these provinces.
In adding that my Government will treat the contents of this note as confidential, I take the opportunity of assuring Your Excellency of my profound respect.
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