Stanislav's historical stuff - formation of the USSR

[K. A. Pital]

I thought that this history stuff which I translated and compiled for Zed Snardbody, who asked about how the USSR was formed, might be also of interest to some people here.

Just recently died Yeltsin, who was one of the authors of the dissolution of the USSR. I was thinking that it would also be interesting to recall back to the days and political struggles of the formation of the new socialist union.

A deepest internal crisis in Russia has lead to it’s break up in 1917 on dozens of separate, nominally sovereign states. During the process of the bolshevik’s rise to power, they sought new forms of unification – which were practically useful for the authorities and legitimate from a point of law, convincing at least part of the population to politically unify the lands of the former Russian Empire. This work has been put on the Bolshevik leadership, which started moving for an alliance even during the Civil War, and later, it sought to make a legal base for this alliance.

During the Civil War first was formed a military-political alliance of Soviet Republics. What sort of a Union was that? In 1919 the VTSIK RSFSR jointly with the representatives of Soviet Republics issued a decree “On the unification of Soviet Republics: Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Belorussia to fight world imperialism”. Acknowledging the independence and the right of Republics to self-determination, it was decided to unify under a united military command the military, industrial, financial and railway organizations of those Republics. But at the start of 1922 the situation was significantly different.

Six Soviet Republics: RSFSR, USSR, BSSR, Azerbaijanskaya SSR, Armanskaya SSR, Gruzinskaya SSR and two People’s Soviet Republics – Bukharskaya (the former Bukhar Khanate) and Khorezmskaya (the former Khivin Khanate) continued integration further into the years of peace. The political and economic cooperation grew.

In 1920, in the R.S.F.S.R. first autonomous republics were proclaimed: Turkestan and Kyrgyz, in total there were 8 autonomous republics and 2 autonomous regions in the R.S.F.S.R.

In 1920-21 mutual treaties on military and economic cooperation between RSFSR and other republics were signed.

In March 1922 Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a treaty on the formation of Transcaucasian Socialist Federation of Soviet Republics (ZSFSR).

In August 1922, on the proposition by the Politbureau of the Central Committee an commission was formed to prepare for the next plenum, the question of the relations between the R.S.F.S.R. and the independent national Soviet Republics. The chairman of this committee was J.S. Stalin, who has been leading the people’s commisariat for nationalities (Narkomat po voprosam natsionalnostei). Stalin had an authority in what related to national question even from pre-revolutionary times. The commision included: V. Kuybishev, G. Ordzhnikidze, H. Rakovski, G. Sokolnikov, and the representatives of national republics, one from each Republic. Stalin prepared a project of the resolution, which meant for Ukraine and Belorussia to be incorporated into the R.S.F.S.R. as autonomous republics. The question of other Republics remained open. Stalin’s resolution was called “the project of autonomization”. The VTSIK and the SNK R.S.F.S.R. were to become the highest power instances in the new state, most of the Republican People’s Commisariats (Narkomats) were to be subdued to the corresponding Narkomats of the R.S.F.S.R. Stalin’s project was sent to the Central Commitees of the Republican Communist Parties. The Central Commitees (CK) of Azerbaijan and Armenia Communist Parties supported it. The CC of CP of Georgia (Gruzia) did not support it and voiced against this project, saying that uniting on the right of autonomization is impossible now, at first we need to unite all economic and political action, but only retaining all legal attributes of sovereign republics. De-facto it meant a creation of a confederacy of Soviet Republics based on the unity of military, political, diplomatic and partly economic activity.

The Belorussian CC of CP voiced against Stalin’s project as well, wishing for things to remain as they are. The CC of CP of Ukraine did not discuss Stalin’s project, but commented, that they are acting from the principle of independence of the Ukraine.

On a conference of the unification Committee 23-24 Sept. 1922 (under Molotov’s chairmanship) Stalin’s project is accepted. The Georgian project is declined – despite the fact that three Republics are against it. The Committee planned to use it’s decision unilatreally and simply give it out to national CC of CPs (Central Commitees of Communist Parties) as a directive to execute without discussion. The Plenum was set for 5th October. The materials of this were sent to Lenin in his residence, “Gorki” (Hills).

When Lenin reads those materials, he immediately calls Stalin into Gorki and says to change the 1st Paragraph of the projects. At the same time, Lenin writes a letter to all of Politbureau’s members “On the formation of USSR”, in which he stresses that the R.S.F.S.R. will have to enter the new union as equal to other republics. Lenin was quite clear that only a new Union of independent Soviet Republics can be made. During the end of September, Lenin talks to the Chairman of SNK of Georgia P.Mdivani, with the personnel in the CC of CP of Georgia. He, who thought that the question of unification is “archi-important”, is now ensured that Stalin is acting too hastily. Because of that, Lenin advises to make maximum carefulness and tolerance in solving the national question in the Caucasus.

Stalin however is displeased with Lenin’s critique. Sensitive to offenses, Stalin retorted that Lenin’s position means “national liberalism”. Stalin still thought that the VTSIK RSFSR should become the supreme power in the new union. But understanding that the commission will not take his project as it is anymore, because of Lenin’s critique, Stalin has re-worked it, stating that “the new resolution” is only “slightly changed, more correct formula” which is “essentially correct and acceptable” – but in fact this was Lenin’s project.

It’s interesting to compare the first two paragraphs of Stalin’s and Lenin’s projects of unification:

Autonomization.
1. Deem necessary to make a treaty between Soviet republics of Ukraine, Belorussia, Azerbajan, Armenia and R.S.F.S.R. about the formal incorporation of the aforementioned into the R.S.F.S.R.
2. According to this, the Decrees of the VTSIK R.S.F.S.R. are to be deemed obligatory for the central governing bodies of the Republics mentioned in p.1, the Decrees of SNK and STO R.S.F.S.R – obligatory for the united commisariats of those republics.

Union State.
1. Deem necessary to make a treaty between Ukraine, Belorussia, Federation of Transcaucasian Republics and the R.S.F.S.R. about their unification into the “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”, leaving the right of unilateral secession behind any of them.
2. The supreme executive power in the “Union” shall be the “Union TSIK” which is to be made of the representatives from TSIK of RSFSR, Transcaucasian Federation, Ukraine and Belorussia proportionally to the population they represent.

On 6th October 1922 the Plenum of the CC of CP of R.S.F.S.R. supported Lenin’s position and basing on this, took a new resolution. P.Mdivani on the Plenum called for Georgia to be entering the USSR as a separate and independent Republic, not through the Transcaucasian Federation.

18 December 1922 the CC Plenum accepted the project of the Union treaty. It was to be signed by the Union Conference of Soviets which was to be opened on 30th December.

“I, it seems, am very much at fault before all workers of Russia, for I have not intervened decisively and energetically enough in this so-called “autonomization” question, officially called, it seems, the question about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics… not on the October plenum… not on the December one I could not take part, and thus this question went almost entirely beyond me”. Such were Lenin’s words – which he wrote, or, rather, dictated to the stenographist on 30 December 1922. (Lenin, full collection of works, v.45., p.356).

- Vladimir Ilyich! Please, calm down, you should not be in stress! Today the Conference of Soviets is opened, which will sign your resolution. What is this “so-called autonomization question”, when you have already solved it? And why this “so-called” Union… is it not a Union? What happened?
- In Tiflis, Sergo Ordzhonikidze, who was leading the party apparatus of the Transcaucasian, hit one of the former members of the Georgian CC of CP, a supporter of Mdivani. Sergo, who represented the Central Committee, represented Moscow, used his fists! People awaited justice, but now, what will they say, that the old Tsarist policy is continued under a new name – “communism”…”

In Georgia, a very hot situation has formed. Most of the CC CP Georgia voted to enter the USSR as a separate Republic, therefore rebuking the decisions of the October Plenum of the Central Committee. The Transcausasian committee headed by Ordzhonikidze judged this as “national-evasion”, Stalin said that Georgia is becoming a house for “national-socialists”. As a response, the Georgian CC resigned.

In November the former members of the CC CP of Georgia put a note of protest into the CC RKP(b) against Sergo’s actions. Lenin at the same time was trying to mitigate the situation, saying that this is not about the fight of the Party against local nationalism, but only the methods. Each nation requires a proletarian, friendly attitude towards it. More softness, carefulness , concessions, a great delicacy, but at the same time principiality.

The Politbureau of the Cental Committee sends a investigation committee into Georgia headed by Dzerzhinsky. 12th December Lenin talks to Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky. Next day his health falters seriously. Later Lenin said that “this events heavily impacted him” (FWC, v.34, s.476). The investigation committee, without even asking the former Georgian CP members, not checking the facts, decided that Ordzhonikidze’s actions were correct.

As soon as Lenin felt himself better, he dictates to stenographer his “Notes about the nationalities and this “autonomization”. The incident in Georgia Lenin connects directly to the policies of the Soviet bureaucratic apparatus, which “right now is totally alien to us and presents a hodge-podge of tsarist and bourgeois, which… could not be transformed in five years”.

“With such terms, it’s obvious that this “freedom to leave the Union”, which is our excuse for unification, is nothing but a void paper, which will not be able to protect the russian minorities from the “true russian”, this “great russia chauvinist”, essentially a scoundrel and rapist, which is the typical russian bureaucrat”.

“I think that the key role here played the haste and this administrator’s play of Stalin, and his anger towards this so-called “social-nationalism”. Anger in general… plays a very bad role in politics”. Such wrote Lenin. He demanded that Ordzhonikidze be punished, to re-investigated the incident, to put the political blame on “all this truly great-russia-chauvinistic, nationalistic campaign” on the shoulders of Stalin and Dzerzhinsky.

At the same time Lenin stressed that a Georgian, who does not understand the need for proletarian brotherhood in the national question, “lightly throws accusations in “social-nationalism” (when he in fact is the true and real, not only “social-nationalist”, but a rude great-Russia thug, this Georgian, in fact, breaks the interests of the proletarian class solidarity” (FCW, v.45, c.357, 361, 360)

This Lenin wrote about Stalin, who was the specialist at “national questions”. Stalin did not forget, neither did he forgive.
After the Georgian question, Stalin stopped giving Lenin the materials about the formation of the USSR. Lenin prepared to take part in the congress with a lengthy speech, started making a brochure – “archi-important question”. But didn’t make it. Here’s Lenin’s last note to P.Mdivani, F.Makharadze and other Georgians. “Dear Comrades! With whole heart I look after your incident. I am deeply offended by the rudeness of Ordzhonikidze and the compromisers Stalin and Dzerzhinsky. I prepare a speech and notes for you. With repspect. Lenin. 6 March 1923.” (FWC, v.54, p.330). It was the last note, the fate of the Union has been already sealed.

Part II will come if you're interested.

[K. A. Pital]

Part II.

The first all-Union Congress of the Soviets started in the Grand Theatre (Bolshoi Teatr). At 1 hour pm the member of the Presidium of the VTSIK Petr Germogenovich Smidovich opened the conference. The member of three Russian revolutions, a party member since 1898, his speech was greeted by a very lengthy applause. At last Smidovich began the speech:

“The unified will of all workers of Ukraine, Azerbajan, Georgia, Armenia and Belorussia is to merge the separate Soviet Republics into a unified, powerful union state of Soviet Socialist Republics, has been expressed at the congresses of Soviets of Ukraine, Belorussia and the Transcaucasian Federation. This will has been supported with great enthusiasm by the representatives of the workers of R.S.F.S.R. on the X All-Russian Congress of the Soviets… the Resolution, accepted at the Congress, supports the principle of equal rights of republics, voluntary entering and leaving the Union state with the right of each republic to leave it. These principles shall lay into the foundations of the treaty which is offered to today’s delegates… we are joining into a Union, creating a common economic and political organism. And any wound from outside, any pain inside would therefore be felt in all parts of the Union”.

Stalin took the tribune with a report on the creation of the USSR. Reading the text of the Declaration and the Treaty of the formation of the USSR, Stalin proposed accepting them without discussion. He remained firm in his traits of character. But on M.V. Frunze’s proposal, both documents were only accepted in “general terms” and sent for re-work. The final ratification was postponed for the II Congress of Soviets. “This way, - said Frunze, - might seem a prolongation, but we have to take into account that the work we have begun now is of great importance, a work, for which we have to labour not one or two month to have a more perfect result of our work”.

The heads of delegations were first to sign the Treaty and Declaration. From the R.S.F.S.R. – M.I. Kalinin, U.S.S.R. – M.V. Frunze, G.I. Petrovsky, from the Z.S.F.S.R. – M.G. Tsakhaia, from B.S.S.R. – A.G. Chervyakov.

The creation of the Union was first founded on a legal basis! The delegates then elected the TSIK USSR – a total of 371 members and 138 candidates. Many were very famous people – L.B. Krasin, G.M. Krizhanovsky were at the very beginnings of the party, as were N.K. Krupskaya. The first Narkoms (leaders of Soviet ministries) were A.G. Shlichter (agriculture), I.V. Stalin (national questions), N.A. Semashko (healthcare), F.E. Dzerzhinsky (chairman of the VChK, narkom of the railway transport), A.D. Tsuryupa (food supply). The leaders and heroes of the Civil War, actors and scientists were put there. Also they selected Bela Kun, the organizer of Hungarian Communist Party.

The economic transition which was occuring with the implementation of Lenin’s NEP strategy, the widening of local initiative, democratization of the society’s life were positively impacting the national republics’ inner statebuilding. The Central Asian territories soon incorporated the newly-proclaimed Uzbek and Turkmen SSRs, which entered the USSR in 1925, and the Kirgiz ASSR inside the R.S.F.S.R. The old national borders were re-drafted to better reflect the national realties – for example, in 1924 several regions with dominant Belorussian nationals were transferred from the R.S.F.S.R. to the B.S.S.R.

Autonomous relations were also refined. During the early 1920’s in the R.S.F.S.R. were formed several autonomous republics – of the Povolzhie Germans, Buryat-Mongol republic and other. Adjarian and Abkhazian autonomous Republics were created in Georgia. In Azerbajan the status of autonomous republics were received by Nakhichevan (ASSR), Nagorny Karabach. Inside the USSR, a Moldavian ASSR was formed.

But many problems were not solved. First of all the national border question in the Caucasus and the Central Asia. During the first part of 1923, the Central Committee of the RKP(b) and the Central Commitees of CPs of republics were drafting the Soviet Constitution. All delegates from national republics took an active part in drafting it. The decision was made, to create inside the TSIK two separate and equal Houses: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.

In Summer 1923 the conference of the TSIK approved and put in power the Constitution. The final ratificatoin was to be done on the II Congress of Soviets in January 1924. The supreme power in the USSR was put the Congress of Soviets. The deputees into the Congress of Soviets were elected at regional or republican Congresses. An advantage for the workers remained – from city Soviets the norm was 1 delegate per 25 thousand electorate, from regional congresses – 1 per 125 thousand. The limits on voting rights set by Constitution of 1918 remained. In 1922-1925 from 2% to 9% of the electorally aged population were not allowed to take part in elections.

The union narkomats were created, but at that time their authority extended only to foreign policy, defense questions, transpot, communication, economic planning. The Congress of Soviets also was given the task to solve questions of Soviet borders and the internal borders of republics, the question of accepting new members into the Union. In all other questions the Republics drafted their own executive documents.
On 31 January 1924 the II Congress of Soviets of the USSR ratified the Constitution. The Chairman of the SNK, due to Lenin’s death, was A.I. Rykov.