Sir,

We, the undersigned members of the representative Committee elected by the Karelian People, beg to be allowed to submit for your consideration the results of our discussion of the letter received from you in answer to the petition which we addressed to General Officer Commanding 237th Brigade.

We regret that the tenour of your answer is not such as to foster a properly contented state of mind in the Karelian People. The contents of the letter hardly appear to be founded upon principles either of democracy or of the autonomy of individual races; although the Allied Governments have solemnly declared that these principles are the basis of their present policy. To one it would almost seem, who was unacquainted with the writer of the letter, that he was not fully cognisant of the intense patriotism of the Karelians and of their ardent desire for freedom.

In view of the general tone of the letter, we deem it expedient more explicitly to express our point of view, and we have the honour to request that you will be kind enough to reconsider the following points:

(1) The committee of which we are members has been selected at a meeting of representative delegates from the villages of the whole country, and has been given full power to conduct all the affairs of the Karelian People, for the conduct of which affairs it has been made responsible.

(2) As far as this committee can gather from the Press, the Allied Governments invited to the projected Conference on the island of Principo not only representatives of the various recognised Governments (in Russia) but also delegates from such political and national groups as had at that time no political individuality. For this reason the committee wished to appoint a representative of the Karelian Nation to attend the proposed conference.

(3) In March of last year, when an understanding was reached between Leaders of the Allied Forces and the Murmansk Soviet, by which the Allied Forces were to occupy the country in order to stem the flowing tide of Russia's national foes, the Karelians were asked by the Soviet whether they would agree to this step being taken. The Karelians assented to this proposal, and, at the same time, an arrangement was made by which the Murmansk Soviet should retain the authority which it held at that time. But when, at a later date, the temporary Government was formed and a deputy-governor appointed, it was done without consulting either the Karelian People (as if the Karelian People were incapable of assisting in these two operations) or the Allies. In our opinion it was essential that, as the Karelian People was not consulted, the Murmansk Soviet should have consulted the Leaders of the Allied Forces.

(4) The proposals made by the Allied Governments for the conference at Principo dispel every doubt as to the readiness of the Allies to recognise the feasibility of a meeting with the Russian Soviet Government. The Karelian Committee trust that, in these circumstances there was nothing very ridiculous in their hope that they, too, might be permitted to send representatives to that conference.

(5) In your letter the statement is made that the contemporary elections for the District Councils in the Kem area give the inhabitants an opportunity to choose such representatives as they really wish to act for them. We imagine that this statement which has no foundation upon solid fact, was made because you have been misinformed as to the true nature of these elections; for their organisation was not such as to ensure that the future District Councils could be considered to be fairly elected and really to reflect the opinion and desires of the electorate, as it should do. The Official advertisement of the elections implied, though it did not actually state, that the business in these District Councils would be transacted in Russian and not, as it should be, in Karelian. The Karelians have repeatedly asked to have all notices in connection with the elections printed in Karelian, but without success. For this reason those Karelians who neither speak nor understand Russian cannot possibly acquire all the information necessary for their full participation in the elections. We ask, Sir, how such a method of election, in which we are thus prevented from taking our just part, can be expected to express the will of the whole electorate? It follows that as these District Councils are chosen by one section of the electorate only, it has at heart the welfare of that section alone. Assuming that it is desired to establish a District Council which will fairly and equably represent the electorate, it is surely imperative that all the inhabitants of twenty years and over, and all the volunteers who have served in the army, be not only accorded the right to vote but also afforded every facility for the exercise of this right. To ensure this, it is necessary that all the notices in connection with the election be printed in the language of the people, that is Karelian; and that the same language be used in the debates of the District Councils. We should like to add that, in view of the fact that practically the entire population of the country speaks only Karelian, these demands are not exaggerated.

In conclusion, we have the honour to point out that we have never asked nor expected the Allies to concern themselves with the internal affairs of Karelia, so long as we are left free from external interference. While Karelia rejoices in this happy condition, it lies with us, the members of the representative Committee, to guide the Karelian People and to safeguard their interests to the utmost of our ability. Previously the Government of the Tar, and of those to whom he delegated his authority, absolutely prevented the least attempt at the development of Karelian nationality, education and agricultural business. Our dearest wish is that the Allies will not support the old regime in preventing Karelia from seizing this opportunity of setting her house in order.

Members of the Karelian Representative Committee
Alexanor Maskevitch
Simon Epiphanoff
Peter Lejeff
Ivan Ahava
Ivan Gavriloff

Kem, March 25, 1919