Воспоминания. В 2 частях. 1916-1920

the Special Agent of the U.S.State Department for Russia.

Sevastopol, Russia, 6th September 1920.

Your Excellency,

For the information of the U.S. Government I would appreciate very much a fairly explicit and comprehensive statement by General Wrangel of his policy and aims. The following questions suggest the character of the information desired:

1. Is the policy of General Wrangel the restoration ofRussia on the basis of a general expression of the will of the people, and is he pledged to the creation of a constituent assembly to be elected by the will of the people on the basis ofgeneral and direct national suffrage.

2. Does General Wrangel specifically disavow any intention to impose upon Russia any un-representative government, ignoring the sanctions of popular assent and acceptance.

3. Is the interpretation ofrecent declarations ofGeneral Wrangel correct, that, recognising the mistakes of the Denikin and Koltchak governments and that profiting by their experience, he does not regard the establishment oflaw and freedom in Russia as primarily a military task; that he places first and foremost the organisation of production and satisfaction of needs of the peasants, who constitute the great mojority of the Russian people that General Wrangel is organising and training an organisation not for pursuing extensive war against bolshevism along the type attempted by Koltchak and Denikin, but would agree to protect against attack the nucleus of national regeneration; that in short his attempt is to create a center of political and economic order and consolidated effort, around which Russian groups and territories may gather freely and develop their own desired effect.

4. Information exists that General Wrangel is introducing behind the lines local self-government by means of popularly elected zemstvos and other democratic agencies, and that in particular he is seeking to solve the land problem in an orderly manner by constitutional methods and by validating the ownership ofthe lands by the peasants. Is this information correct?

5. Is there not a considerable number of refugees now dependant on General Wrangel's protection against the bolsheviki? Approximately how many such refugees are there and to what classes and groups do they in general belong?

6. Would it be justified in concluding that General Wrangel, although believing his movement to be the present center of Russia's efforts at self-restoration and recovery of unity and national life, does not at the moment profess or claim to be the head of an Allrussian Government; that he does not at present ask or expect recognition as such; that he does not regard himself as authorised to make treaties intending to be binding upon any future Russian Government that may be set up, or to grant concessions or otherwise dispose of the national domains and ressources?

7. Is the recent declaration of the policy of the U.S. Government satisfactory to General Wrangel, both as regards Poland, and as regards the unity and integrity of Russia?

8. What are the safeguards which General Wrangel feels can be relied upon, and which may assure other nations that General Wrangel will be able to pursue the policy ofbuilding up the portion ofRussia which comes under his jurisdiction, without permitting its development into either a military adventure or a political reaction?

As definite and explicit statement ofhis aims as General Wrangel may be good enough to make would be much appreciated.

N.A. Mac-Cully, Rear Admiral U.S.N.

His Excellency Mr. Pierre Strouve

Minister of Foreign Affairs,

South Russian Government»[156].

Вручая мне эти вопросы, адмирал, искренний друг нашего дела, сиял. Он считал, что желание американского правительства получить ответ на предложенные вопросы является предварительным шагом перед признанием правительства юга России Америкой. 24 августа адмиралу Мак-Колли был сообщен ответ на поставленные им вопросы:

«Доверительно.

1. Генерал Врангель неоднократно заявлял, что его цель состоит в предоставлении возможности русскому народу самому свободно выразить свою волю касательно будущей формы правления в России. Он еще раз подтверждает свое намерение установить условия, позволяющие созыв Национального Собрания, избранного на основах всеобщего избирательного права и посредством которого будет установлена форма правления в новой России.

2. Генерал Врангель не имеет ни малейшего намерения навязать России форму правления, действующую без народного представительства и лишенную общественной поддержки.