Two months have already elapsed since the Third Congress of Soviets proclaimed a federal system for the Russian Republic, but the border regions, still occupied with establishing Soviet power in their areas, have not yet expressed themselves clearly and definitely on the concrete forms of federation. If we do not count the Ukraine, which is now being brutally ravaged by “civilized” bandits, and the Crimea and the Don region, which have already expressed themselves in favour of a federal tie with Russia, Tatar-Bashkiria seems to be the only region whose revolutionary organizations have definitely charted a plan of federation with Soviet Russia. We are referring to that clear-cut general outline of the organization of a Tatar-Bashkir Soviet Republic about which everyone is now talking and which was elaborated by the very influential Soviet organizations of the Tatars and Bashkirs. In compliance with the wishes of the Tatar-Bashkir revolutionary masses, and in accordance with the decision of the Third Congress of Soviets proclaiming a Russian Federation of Soviet Republics, the People’s Commissariat for the Affairs of Nationalities, in conformity with the instructions of the Council of People’s Commissars, has drafted the following statute for a Tatar-Bashkir Soviet Republic of the Russian Soviet Federation. It is for the constituent congress of Soviets of TatarBashkiria, which will be convened very shortly, to elaborate the concrete forms and details of the statute. The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People’s Commissars will, we have no reason to doubt, endorse the results of the work of this congress.

People’s Commissar

J. Stalin

Pravda, No. 53,

March 23, 1918