WHAT IS “RUSSIA"?

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 7

WHAT IS “RUSSIA"?

A QUESTION OF THE PEACE PACT.

Tho poace pact concluded at Genoa (writes tho diplomatic correspondent of the 1 Observer ’) contains a phrase which raises the elementary question : What is “Russia”? Tho pledge of non-aggression is undertaken by tho participating Powers on tho one hand and by “the Russian Soviet Government and tho Governments at present allied with the Russian Soviet Government ” on tho other.

There aro fifteen republics carved out of the territory which was formerly the Russian Empire, apart from Poland, Finland, and tho Baltic States, which Qiavc been detached. Seven of them aro autonomous, but owo their origin to decrees of the Russian Socialist Federal Republic, and form part of the federation of the Moscow Government. The remaining eight are independent, and have been recognised as such by Soviet Russia; but they-aro bound to Moscow- by the treaties of varying degrees or by informal working arrangements. I asked Mir Lloyd George if these eight independent republics were committed to tho pact on tho strength of Mr Tchilchorin’s undertaking, and ho said they were. The seven federated republics and tho dates of their creation by .Soviet decree aro as follow ;

Bashkir Republic, 1919, and May 27, 1920.

Tartar Republic, May 27, 1920. Kirghiz Republic, August 26, 1920.' Daghestan Republic, January 20, 1921. Gorsky Republic, January 20, 1921. Turkestan Republic, April 20, 1921. Crimean Republic, October 18, 1921. ■* They are each represented at Moscow by Missions, and are dependent financially and technically on Moscow. The eight nominally independent republics arc as follow ; Ukraine Socialist Soviet Republic. Khorezm (Khiva) Soviet Republic. Bokhara People’s Soviet Republic. Georgian Socialist Soviet Republic. Armenian Socialist Soviet Republic. Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic. White Russian Socialist Soviet Republic. Far Eastern Republic.

The Ukraine, whoso frontiers are not yet delimited, lias a “military and economic alliance” with Moscow. The relations existing between the Ukraine and tho Soviet Government do not appear to bo of the smoothest. The Ukraine Government wants greater freedom, and Las already loosened its military dependence on Moscow; although the Ukrainians found no difficulty at Genoa,in allowing M. Tehitdherin to advocate the Ukrainian claim to Bessarabia. The only republic which appears to be really independent is the Far Eastern, which has no treaty with Soviet Russia, although it has come to an agreement on railways, waterways, posts, and telegraphs. It is neither Soviet nor Socialist, but “ Democratic,” and its Government is a ‘'Coalition” appointed by a. National Assembly.