Central Rada

Among the first in Kyiv who learned about the February events outcome in Petrograd was Maksym Synytskyi, director of the Rodyna Club (Family club, previously as Ukrainian Club).[3] Already at night on 14 March [O.S. 1 March] 1917 Starytskyi shared information about the events with Vasyl Koroliv-Staryi and later with all his acquaintances and friends from the Rodyna Club, the Society of Ukrainian Progressionists (TUP), "Chas" (Time) publishing.[3] Synytskyi's idea laid in necessity of establishment of the Ukrainian movement leadership center not to repeat the same mistakes that took place during the events of 1905–07.[3] Already at night on March 1, there took place a gathering of only 27 members of the Society of Ukrainian Progressionists in the Chykalenko's building.[3] The meeting decided not to rush with actions and conduct regular daily meetings of the society at the Rodyna Club building.[3]

Already on 16 March [O.S. 3 March] 1917 in the Rodyna Club building gathered over 100 representatives of Kyiv and some provincial Ukrainian organizations where appeared the idea of establishment of the Central Council.[3] The Central Council was formed on parity foundations between separate Ukrainian organizations.[3] Dmytro Antonovych was recalling that they could not find a mutual understanding with TUP, but agreed to create provisional Central Council with a nucleus of no more than 25 members with an option to add more primarily with delegates outside of Kyiv.[3] The core of the provisional Central Council consisted of five representatives from each TUP, workers, academic youth, and cooperatives as well as two representatives of Social-Democratic Party.[3] The main task of the provisional Central Council was to call on the All-Ukrainian National Congress that was supposed to adopt the Central Council as a permanent Ukrainian parliament.[3]

The Ukrainian diaspora historian Arkadiy Zhukovsky in his article on the Central Council in Encyclopedia of Ukraine states that the council was founded in Kyiv on 17 March [O.S. 4 March] 1917 at the initiative of the Society of Ukrainian Progressionists and with the participation of various Ukrainian political parties, Ukrainian military activists, workers, religious activists, students, entrepreneurs, public and cultural organizations such as the Ukrainian Science Society, the Ukrainian Pedagogic Society, the Society of Ukrainian Technicians and Agriculturists, etc. That day the Central Council informed by a telegram the Russian Provisional Government that was just created about its establishment.

On 20 March [O.S. 7 March] 1917 there took place elections of the Central Council leadership.[3] Mykhailo Hrushevsky was elected as the Head of the Rada, while Dmytro Doroshenko representing TUP and Dmytro Antonovych representing Social-Democrats were appointed as his deputies, also there was elected a scribe (secretary) Serhiy Veselovskyi representing Society of Ukrainian Technicians and Agriculturists and a treasurer.[3] In announcement of newspaper "Visti z Ukrainskoi Tsentralnoi Rady" (Heralds from Ukrainian Central Council) of March 19 it mentioned creation of the Rada on March 7 and outlined its first institutions: Presidium (the Council chairman, two deputies, a scribe and a treasurer) and nine Commissions.[3] In March protocols of the Council is also mentioned an administration (uprava), but not indicated neither its composition, rights or functions.[3]

On 22 March [O.S. 9 March] 1917 the Rada published its first declaration - To the Ukrainian people - in support of the Russian Constituent Assembly. On 26 March [O.S. 13 March] 1917 Mykhailo Hrushevsky returned to Kyiv from exile, but because of the accident on the train he traveled he was not able to attend the Central Council meetings right away.[5] For the first time, Hrushevsky presides over a meeting of the Central Council on 28 March [O.S. 15 March] 1917. With his return, many associated hopes for an end to contradictions and the unification of democratic forces. At the meeting it was decided to raise the national flag over the Kyiv city duma in place where used to be the Tsarist's monogram.[5] Volodymyr Naumenko was elected a deputy chairman of the Central Council.[5] There also was a discussion about plans for the April 1 Ukrainian manifestation in Kyiv.[5] Also the Central Council agitation commission was instructed to prepare in two days a draft for the All-Ukrainian National Congress.[5]

However, straight after the convocation of the All-Ukrainian National Congress on 19–21 April [O.S. 6–8 April] 1917, the Rada transformed from a provisional organizational council into a parliament[3] that consisted of 150 members elected from the Ukrainian political parties, professional and cultural organizations and delegates from the guberniyas. During the National Congress Hrushevsky was reelected as the chairman of the Rada, while the leaders of the most popular political parties Serhiy Yefremov and Volodymyr Vynnychenko were appointed as his deputies. As the Central Rada had a Ukrainian national-cultural outlook, it often faced opposition from Russian (both conservative and socialist) and Jewish sectors, representing urban populations.[6] The Central Rada, whilst led by the Ukrainian liberal progressives, included Ukrainian moderates, social democrats (including a small contingent of Bolsheviks) and socialist-revolutionaries.[6] On 23 April [O.S. 10 April] 1917 the Central Council General Assembly adopted the "Order to the Ukrainian Central Council" ("Nakaz") that became de facto its first bylaws.[3] According to democratic organizational principles, the higher body of the Central Council was defined its General Assembly.[3] In the "Nakaz" of April 23 it was mentioned that it "determines direction and nature of all work of the Central Council".[3] The regular meetings of General Assembly had to be convened not less often than once a month, yet in case of urgent need could be convened emergency meetings which considered valid with any number of attendees.[3] Throughout the whole period of the Central Council existence, there took place nine meetings of the General Assembly.[3]

Prior to the First Ukrainian Universal the Central Rada was increased by 130 representatives that were delegated by the II Military Congress (June 23, 1917) and 133 members of the Peasants' Deputies Council who were elected at the I All-Ukrainian Peasants' Congress (June 15, 1917). In July 1917 Russian and Jewish parties joined the Central Rada, expanding the non-Ukrainian membership significantly.[6]

The first Central Council General Assembly took place on 21 April [O.S. 8 April] 1917, the final day of the All-Ukrainian National Congress.[3] The meeting checked and approved the list of the Central Council members elected by the congress and formed an executive body, the Central Council Committee.[3]

The second Central Council General Assembly (5–6 May [O.S. 22–23 April] 1917) reviewed the issue of Ukrainization of military and adopted the first legal document of the Central Council, the earlier mentioned "Nakaz".[3]

The third Central Council General Assembly (20–22 May [O.S. 7–9 May] 1917) concentrated on the issue of relationships with the Russian Provisional Government and sending of a plenipotentiary delegation to Petrograd in order to resolve the issue about the right of Ukrainian people for their national territorial autonomy.[3]

The fourth Central Council General Assembly (14–16 June [O.S. 1–3 June] 1917) listened to the report of Volodymyr Vynnychenko about the diplomatic mission of the Council's delegation to Petrograd, about denial by the Russian Provisional Government the autonomy demands.[3] The meeting adopted to appeal to Ukrainian people with a call "immediate laying of the foundations of the autonomous system in Ukraine".[3] That resolution became an important basis for the proclamation of the First Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council.[3]

The fifth Central Council General Assembly (2–14 July [O.S. 20 June – 1 July] 1917) approved creation of the General Secretariat and its first declaration, adopted number of resolutions that concerned the Central Council reorganization by adding representatives of national minorities who lived in Ukraine.[3] The Assembly decided to convene in Kyiv the congress of peoples of Russia who were seeking a federal system of the country, amended the Central Council Committee statute by expanding its rights and number of members, discussed the course of negotiations of the Central Council leadership with the Russian Provisional Government delegation in Kyiv, adopted the Second Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council.[3]

The sixth Central Council General Assembly (18–19 August [O.S. 5–6 August] 1917) roughly discussed the situation that arose after the refusal of the Provisional Government to approve the "Statute of the Higher Authority of Ukraine" replacing it with the "Provisional Instruction to the General Secretariat of the Provisional Government".[3] At that assembly there was raised the question of convening the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly as well as condemned the initiative of the Provisional Government to carry on the State Conference on 25 August [O.S. 12 August] 1917 in Moscow.[3]

The seventh Central Council General Assembly (11–15 November [O.S. 29 October – 2 November] 1917) paid attention mainly finding a way out of the situation in the country after toppling down of the Provisional Government in Petrograd and the armed incident in Kyiv.[3]

The eighth Central Council General Assembly (25–30 December [O.S. 12–17 December] 1917) debated sharply on issues of peace and land, discussed the course of preparation to the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly elections.[3]

The ninth Central Council General Assembly (28 January – 7 February [O.S. 15–25 January] 1918) approved laws on land and eight-hours workday, made some changes to the law on Ukrainian Constituent Assembly elections, discussed the course of peace talks in Brest-Litovsk, the situation that arose in connection with the Bolshevik offensive and the Arsenal January Uprising, authorized the reorganization of the Minor Council, approved Vsevolod Holubovych on the post of the Council of People's Ministers chairman.[3]

In general, the Ukrainian Central Council General Assembly was built as a parliamentary session from the very beginning copying procedures of the Russian State Duma.[3] The Ukrainian Central Council was divided by party factions that in need formed blocks.[3] They were submitting interpolations (inquiries).[3] There also existed various parliamentary commissions: some on a permanent basis, others – situationally to address any urgent need.[3] During discussions of some complicated issues, there were created conciliatory commissions.[3] As a rule, decisions were made by simple majority of votes.[3] Despite all their high powers, the general assembly appeared to be an inefficient institution.[3] About organic deficiencies of their work testifies number of documents and, in particular, the very session protocols such as outbreaks of political emotions, demagoguery and populism over a constructive policy.[3] Selected sessions were protesting in nature transforming in verbal battles of numerous party factions.[3]

On 23 June [O.S. 10 June] 1917 the Ukrainian Central Council proclaimed at the second All-Ukrainian military congress its First Universal "To the Ukrainian Nation in Ukraine and beyond its existence". It was a respond of the Ukrainian Central Council to Russian Provisional Government on its negative stance towards the Ukrainian autonomy. According with the First Universal, "without separating from the whole Russia... Ukrainian people must themself manage their lives", laws have to be adopted by the Ukrainian National Assembly. The author of the First Universal was Volodymyr Vynnychenko. Following proclamation of the autonomy, on 28 June [O.S. 15 June] 1917 there was created the General Secretariat.

The main provisions of the First Universal:

1. «From now on we will create our own lives alone». Development of Ukraine «without separating from all of Russia».
2. The Ukrainian Central Council was proclaimed the highest state body in Ukraine.
3. A call for the re-election of the local administration, replacing it with representatives who are committed to the Ukrainian cause.
4. Invitations to national minorities to work together.
5. Convening of the All-Ukrainian Constituent Assembly.
6. Only the All-Ukrainian Constituent Assembly has the right to adopt laws of Ukraine.
7. Introduction of a special tax on personal business.
8. Recognition of the need to develop a law on the distribution of landed estates.

On 16 July [O.S. 3 July] 1917 the Ukrainian Central Council adopted its Second Universal.

Contents:

1. The Central Council must be enlarged with representatives of other peoples living in Ukraine;
2. The enlarged Central Council creates General Secretariat, composition of which is approved by the Russian Provisional Government;
3. The Central Council begins drafting a law on autonomous establishment of Ukraine that must be approved by the Russian Constituent Assembly. Until the adoption of this law, the Ukrainian Central Council undertakes not to exercise the autonomy of Ukraine;
4. The formation of the Ukrainian army is carried out under the control of the Russian Provisional Government.

The Second Universal was proclaimed at a Ukrainian Central Council session.

Following the Bolsheviks' coup-d'état (so called October Revolution) in Russia, on 20 November [O.S. 7 November] 1917 the Central Council proclaimed the Ukrainian People's Republic with a determined territory in federal ties with the Russian Republic. Simultaneously, the Central Council adopted a law about elections to the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly and number of other laws. The Central Council was supported by the majority of population in Ukraine as it was shown at elections to the Russian Constituent Assembly on 25 November [O.S. 12 November] 1917 where Ukrainian parties received 75% of votes to Bolsheviks' mere 11%.

Since November, the Bolsheviks had already made several attempts to seize power in Ukraine (see Kiev Bolshevik Uprising). Following another failed uprising in Kyiv, on December 17 the Russian Bolshevik Government (Sovnarkom) announced an ultimatum to the Ukrainian Central Council, which the Central Council rejected. Then the Bolshevik troops began an offensive in Ukraine. Convened in Kyiv on December 17 the Congress of Soviets of Peasants, Soldiers, and Workers Deputies expressed their "full confidence and strong support for the Ukrainian Central Council". The Bolsheviks' Deputies were forced to move to Kharkiv where on December 25 they created an alternative government to the Central Council and General Secretariat, called the People's Secretariat. At the same time, the Central Council sent its delegation to the Peace Conference with the Central Powers in Brest-Litovsk.

The Universal proclaimed the Ukrainian People's Republic, as a «separate, depended on nobody, free, sovereign state of Ukrainian people», an executive body the General Secretariat – Council of People's Ministers.

It changed the regular army with a police force; instructed to carry on elections of peoples' soviets: volosts, county, and local; established monopoly on trade; control over banks; confirmed the law on transfer of land to peasants without redemption taking as a basis the abolition of private property and socialization of land. It instructed the Council of People's Ministers to continue the started negotiations with the Central Powers to the signing of peace; called on all citizens of the Ukrainian People's Republic to fight against Bolsheviks.

Conditions of the Fourth Universal:

1. The Ukrainian People's Republic is pronounced independent, free sovereign state of Ukrainian people;
2. With all its neighbors the Ukrainian People's Republic seeks to live in peace and harmony;
3. Power in Ukraine belongs to the people of Ukraine, the Central Council will rule on behalf of each until the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly convenes;
4. The Bolsheviks' policy that leads to civil war is subjected to harsh criticism;
5. The Ukrainian Central Council commits to fight against the Bolsheviks' collaborationists in Ukraine;
6. The Ukrainian Central Council commits immediately to start peace negotiations with Germany;
7. The Ukrainian Central Council plans to carry on a land reform in interests of peasants;
8. The State has to implement control over trade and banks