Россия и непризнанные государства в период Первой мировой войны. 1914-1916 гг.
Russia and Unrecognized States during the First World War (1914–1916)

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the problems of unrecognized states and autonomies formed during World War I (prior to 1917). Common features of such political entities and their connection with the military effort of the Quadruple Alliance, especially Germany, and the Entente are identified. Russia’s position in relation to such political entities in 1915-1916 was ambiguous. The formation of new autonomies with a deferred status was allowed near the Russian border and in post-war (united) Poland. States and autonomies formed under the auspices of the United Kingdom, France and Italy, were mentioned in the treaties signed by Russia, but Russian authorities refrained from participating in the creation of such entities. On the other hand, all attempts to create new states and autonomies in the territories of the British Empire and France, as well as in the Russian regions occupied by German and Austro-Hungarian troops, were considered in St. Petersburg as part of the enemy’s intrigue. In these cases, a declaration of independence was interpreted as rebellion (in the case of an armed uprising) or just ignored. Russian diplomats held the same approach to the ‘Chinese question’. It was assumed that the movement for the independence of some China provinces was encouraged by Japan. The problem of relations between revolutionary Russia and unrecognized states and autonomous regions in 1917-1918 deserves a separate study.

• Details
• Contents