WesWorld

Petrograd, 5 July 1935

Objective of Russian foreign policy is securing favorable international environment for Russia's peaceful economic, social, and political development. To secure this objective, Russia has signed defensive alliances with France and Atlantis, and nonaggression pacts with Nordmark, Germany, and Poland. Until recently, Russia's relations with her populous neighbor to the South, China, were developing rapidly as well, with a Russian yard building a warship for China's Navy and RosPoezd building a railroad line to advance China's economic development. When I succeeded President Kerensky in 1927, trends in Russia's foreign affairs were all favorable, with his initiative to revise Versailles Treaty terms applied to Germany just beginning to bear fruit.

Unfortunately, due to policy changes in several of Russia's neighbors, that can no longer be said.

After a tragic incident in which brother Slavs in Poland and Czechoslovakia shed one another's blood, Polish and Czechoslovak governments negotiated a peaceful resolution to a border conflict. I was proud that Russian government contributed to that development, and confident that precedent set by peaceful and amicable resolution of German-Polish border difficulties had been reinforced.

I must confess that confidence to have been bitterly disappointed.

Instead, Polish government have chosen, as materials acquired by Russian intelligence services show, to instigate and support with arms an uprising of ethnic Poles in Lithuania, which has already cost the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people.

And China's government, after asking questions expressing hypocritical concerns as to a mythical Russian threat to Lithuania's independence and territorial integrity when Russia began assisting Lithuania building fortifications, has sent a convoy, escorted by a warship, not to Lithuania whose independence and territorial integrity is under actual threat from Poland, but to Poland, the very source of that threat. Further, China's army has moved closer to her border with Russia.

We conclude that:

Polish government have decided on a policy of territorial expansion by force of arms.

Chinese government have decided to be an enemy to Russia.

A characteristic of Russian governments since 1917 has been: to look at facts clearly, assess them calmly, and to develop policy to address situations as they are. That is what President Kerensky did in March 1917, when he decided to make peace with German, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires. And I will do so today.

Already, Russian forces in Western Special, Kiev Special, and Far Eastern Military Districts are mobilizing. But these reservists will be demobilized when present crisis is resolved. What is necessary is to expand Russia's standing "Active" forces, to two full Armies in these Districts.

This will expand standing numerical strength of Russia's Army to 2.9 million, with 75 Divisions in 6 "Active" Armies and 7 "Active" Corps as soon as these new forces can be trained and equipped, and with another 14 Armies available upon mobilization, with another 500,000 in Russia's Air Force, Air Defense Force, and Navy. Due to Russia's rapid economic and demographic growth since 1917, we can easily support this level. And previously announced expansion of Russia's Tank, Mechanized, and Motorized forces will continue.

Russia's enemies should know, that they will find Russian soldiers equipped with modern weapons, employed under advanced operational concepts, fighting with strength and determination that is a hallmark of Russian soldiers. They will also find that Russia has firm and powerful allies in Atlantis and France, and perhaps other major countries as well.

There is yet time for them to reconsider their ill-advised hostility to Russia and their ill-judged grabs for territory that does not belong to them.

1 word:-

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russian Federation government highly values their friendly relations with Nordmark, and greatly appreciates Nordmarks effort to facilitate a peaceful and amicable solution to problems between Germany and Lithuania.

No change in quantity or status of Russian forces in Petrograd Military District is intended. Our measures will apply only to countries who threaten peace, and not countries like Nordmark who are strong buttresses of peace.

Quoted

Originally posted by Earl822
1 word:-

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too right. Troops in the Western Special and Kiev Special districts, while not bordering Germany directly, could easily threaten East Prussia if eastern Poland falls or if Lithuania allows them through or falls under a Russian onslaught. The Abwehr regards the latter as unlikely, but the first.... rather more likely.

<with malicious grin>
gee, glad I'm not involved in training and arming the Chinese army...

The Russian way is now to simply bribe or coerce various countries in order to expand their influence.

Being a weapons supplier for China seems to be a good move at the moment, sales are looking up...

I haven't seen any Russian incursions into Lithuania yet, but you wouldn't know that judging the Chinese responce.

Italy should review its own policy towards Yugoslavia, Mexico and the EAS before it fabricates the same charges against Russia.

Chiang Kai Chek:

"China is very puzzled by the reactions of the European powers. We have no expansion plans as perhaps other countries that are trying to maintain or even increase their sphere of influence, with all power in front of the door of our country.

China does not supply arms to Poland, but commodities as payment of a Polish delivery. China would be naturally very happy to send raw materials to Lithuania, if the local government wishes. However, such a request has not arrived in Beijing.

The troops at the chinese-russian border serve only to securing the border and will NEVER get another command than to defend Chinese soil.

To prevent a surface fire, I hereby invite representatives of all nations to Beijing to put ALL misunderstanding aside."

Russian Foreign Ministry announce that Russian Federation President Viktor Chernov and Foreign Minister Maksim Litvinov will make a state visit to Lithuania tomorrow, on a matter of the utmost urgency. Due to the situation in Vilnius, they will be arriving by air in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas

Thats a preaty brave thing for President Viktor Chernov and Foreign Minister Maksim Litvinov to do. That said it any assassiniation attempt would have dire reprocussions.

Well, the rebels have yet to demonstrate any fighter capacity, that said I would have expected it to be announced as "The president arrived yesterday in..."

They don't need fighters, just a few well placed mortar shells...

Actually the Wilno Republic does have an air force, they captured 5 fighters and 7 recon/light bomber craft in Vilnius.

Question is with that many aircraft how long do they last and do they have enough experienced pilots to man them?

the Fighter Aviation Division escorting the Presidential Airplane....

General Staff building, Petrograd

Attendance, with their senior supporting staffs:
Chief of General Staff: Marshal Boris M. Shaposhnikov, presiding
Chief of Operations, General Staff: General Mikhail N. Tukhachevsky
Chief of Naval Staff: Fleet Admiral Vasili M. Altfater
Commander, Air Forces (VVS ): General of Aviation Petr V. Smushkevich
Commander, Air Defense Forces (PVO ): General of Aviation Iosif Tabartkeladze
Chief of Rear Services: General Vladimir S. Tikhomirov

Shaposhnikov; "As you are all well aware, there have been developments in Russia's strategic situation since we last met, favorable to Russia for the most part, but there are also indications that European, indeed, global, strategic situation, is becoming unsettled. Southern part of South America is engulfed in war on both land and sea. War has claimed thousands of lives in Lithuania, in an unnecessary conflict that we must be grateful we were able to contain. And we must be aware, in aftermath of resolved conflict in Lithuania, that eyes of all Europe and Asia are upon us, to see what use we make of it. General Tukhachevsky, please report to us on progress in organizing our forces to new structure."

Tukhachevsky: "Sir, we have confirmed preliminary analysis that new forces can be supported by activating reserve formations, which already have most required officers, senior enlisted ranks, and technical specialists, and about 1/4 of their required conscripts and filling them out with new conscripts. Present reserve armies in Western Special and Kiev Special military districts have suitable organization and facilities at hand. Far Eastern Military District does not. I propose we transfer 12th Army from Moscow Military District, along with four Construction Brigades, in order to develop any new facilities 12th Army will require.

We also have opportunity to expand our planned maneuvers at Vitebsk to test new organization for mechanized forces. I propose that we make use of forces we are mobilizing in Western Special Military District and Moscow Military District in order to truly exercise our forces and give more of our commanders and staffs experience in managing their organizations."

Shaposhnikov: "Excellent suggestion general. It has been a long time since major Russian forces had experience of operations on this scale. If there are no objections (scans the room ) we shall do so. We will also need to expand our reserve formations, to maintain our reserve strength after these activations. However, that can wait for now.

Admiral Altfater and General Tikhomirov, our agreement commits us to help Lithuania develop her coastal and land defenses. What shall I propose to my Lithuanian counterpart?"

Altfater: "Lithuanians appear to have contracted for sufficient naval vessels to defend their coastline. As you know, our present plan for naval construction and refits will give us substantial number of surplus large naval rifles and turrets. I am certain our new allies could make use of some of them."

Tikhomirov: "Sir, requirement to build facilities in Far Eastern Military District is substantial. This means we can allocate no more than one additional Construction Brigade and one Engineer Brigade to projects in Lithuania at present.

Shaposhnikov: "Again, thank you. Our next agenda item is most sensitive. What should I propose for Russian forces deployed to Lithuania permanently, if any. My own thought is that large ground forces would be provocative, and probably unnecessary in view of Lithuania's program of Army expansion. However, it might be advantageous for us and Lithuania if we could augment their air defenses. General Tabartkeladze, would you please prepare analysis of how our treaty with Lithuania might alter PVO situation and requirements, and what of your forces might be advantageous for us to locate there? (Nods in assent ). Gentlemen, thank you for a most productive meeting."