We declared that as long as the people of the
Ukraine recognized the Rada, we considered its independent participation
in these negotiations permissible. But with the further development of
events in Russian territory and in the Ukraine, and the more the
antagonism between the Ukrainian masses and the Rada increased, the
greater became the Rada's readiness to conclude any kind of treaty with
the governments of the Central Empires, and, if need be, to drag German
imperialism into the internal affairs of the Russian Republic, in order
to support the Rada against the Russian revolution.
On the 9th day of February (N. S.) we learned that the peace
negotiations carried on behind our backs between the Rada and the
Central Powers, had been signed. The 9th of February happened to be the
birthday of Leopold of Bavaria, and, as is the custom in monarchical
countries, the triumphant historical act was timed--with or without the
consent of the Kiev Rada for this festive day. General Hoffmann had a
salute fired in honor of Leopold of Bavaria, having previously asked
permission to do so of the Kiev delegation, since by the treaty of peace
Brest-Litovsk had been ceded to Ukraine.
Events had taken such a turn, however, that at the time General Hoffmann
was asking permission for a military salute, the Kiev Rada had but very
little territory left outside of Brest-Litovsk. On the strength of the
telegrams we had received from Petrograd, we officially made it known to
the Central Powers' delegation that the Kiev Rada no longer existed, a
circumstance which certainly had some bearing on the course of the peace
negotiations.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139