Decree on Peace
The Decree on Peace, written by
Significance
The Decree on Peace was an appeal to the governments of all the warring states and to their peoples to conclude an immediate truce. It is common among historians to assert that from September 1917 the Russian army was already in the process of complete disintegration. Marc Ferro, however, claims that only after the October Revolution the great exodus of soldiers from the front began, to enjoy the promised gains of peace and land.[4]
The Peace Decree had two audiences: the war-weary Russia and international.
Extracts
"The Workers' and Peasants' Government, created by the revolution of 24–25 October, and drawing its strength from the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies, proposes to all warring peoples and their governments to begin at once negotiations leading to a just democratic peace".
"A just and democratic peace for which the great majority of wearied, tormented and war-exhausted toilers and labouring classes of all belligerent countries are thirsting, a peace which the Russian workers and peasants have so loudly and insistently demanded since the overthrow of the Tsar's monarchy, such a peace the government considers to be an immediate peace without annexations (i.e., without the seizure of foreign territory and the forcible annexation of foreign nationalities) and without reparations".
"The Russian Government proposes to all warring peoples that this kind of peace be concluded at once; it also expresses its readiness to take immediately, without the least delay, all decisive steps pending the final confirmation of all the terms of such a peace by the plenipotentiary assemblies of all countries and all nations".
Invited "All belligerents to open negotiation without delay for a just and democratic peace [...] a peace without annexations and reparations".
Music
The East German composer Tilo Medek set parts of the text to music for speaking voice and four percussionists.
References
- ^ "Decree on Peace | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1)".
- ISBN 9780812248593.
- ^ Sowers, Steven W. "Legacy of 1917 and 1918". Michigan State University.
- ^ "Decree on Peace | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1)".
- ^ Sowers, Steven W. "Legacy of 1917 and 1918". Michigan State University.
- ^ "Decree on Peace | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1)".
- ISBN 978-0-521-66157-7.
External links
- Siobhan Peeling: Decree on Peace, in: 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War.