The III Universal of the Central Rada and its reflection on the Ekaterinoslav Municipal Duma activity in autumn 1917

Abstract

The issue of the III Universal of the Central Rada and the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly was actively discussed at the Ekaterinoslav Municipal Duma session on November 18, 1917. Consideration of this issue is the purpose of the article. The issue has not yet became the subject of a detailed study; this fact confirms the status of its scientific study. The sixteen representatives of the different parties gave speeches during the discussion. For different reasons the absolute majority of the Socialist and Jewish speakers along with Ukrainian speakers supported the Central Rada, its III Universal and the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly. Bolshevik speakers did not accept the Central Rada authority. According to their opinion, the issue about Ukrainian governance had to be resolved by the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly or by the Congress of Soviets. The Ukrainian Constituent Assembly, in their view, had to set the authority in the form of Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’ Deputies. Cadets were the only ones, who openly acted oppose the III Universal and the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly. Defending the territorial integrity of the Russian State, cadets considered that only the All-Russian Constituent Assembly has a right to make changes in the state status of Ukraine. The resolution, which was offered by Socialist Revolutionary Party, was adopted with the absolute majority of voties. A position, which was taken by the Municipal Duma, can be explained by the overall political situation, which was set in the country at the beginning of November, 1917 (the overthrow of the Provisional Government, the Bolsheviks’ rise to power in Petrograd). At that time, the Central Rada was the most acceptable alternative for the majority of Ekaterinoslav party-political forces.