Fourth Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council
IV Universal
Presented24 January [O.S. 11 January] 1918
Ratified22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1918
LocationEngrossed copy: Central State Electronic
Archives of Ukraine[1] Rough draft: Central State Archives of Higher Organs of State Power and Administration of Ukraine[2]
Author(s)Mykhailo Hrushevskyi et al.
SignatoriesLower Council of the Ukrainian Central Council
PurposeTo announce and explain independence of Ukrainian People's Republic

The Fourth Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council (Ukrainian: Четвертий Універсал Української Центральної Ради, romanized: Chetvertyi Universal Ukrainskoi Tsentralnoi Rady) is a state-political act that declared full state independence of Ukrainian People's Republic.[3][4] It was adopted by the Lower Council (Committee) of the Ukrainian Central Council in Kyiv on 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1918.[lower-alpha 1][6] Its appearance, in particular, was preceded by the start of peace negotiations of Ukrainian People's Republic with the Central Powers in Brest-Litovsk (today in Brest, Belarus).[3]

Description

The document declared that "from now on Ukrainian People's Republic is becoming self-existing, from no one dependent, free, sovereign state of Ukrainian people." Furthermore, it asserted a desire for peaceful coexistence with all neighboring states, and that the aforementioned states do not have right to intervene in its internal affairs.[3] The ratification of the Universal confirmed the authority of the state power of the Ukrainian Central Council until the convocation of the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly.[3] The executive office of General Secretariat of the Ukrainian Central Council was transformed into the Council of People's Ministers of the Ukrainian People's Republic, which sought to continue negotiations with the Central powers, assuring the Ukrainian People's Republic as a fully independent state. These negotiations ultimately led to the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.[3]

The Universal contained appeals to the government and citizens of Ukraine to combat Bolsheviks and other "adversaries" who ravaged and wrought havoc in the land.[3] The dissolution of the national armed forces was proposed,[lower-alpha 2] and, in its place, the creation of a people's militia.[3]

In the economic sphere, the task was to transfer industrial enterprises to a peaceful state, anticipated establishment of state control over banks, the most important branches of trade, export-import, and state monopoly on metal, coal, and other strategic type of products.[3] It was reported about already developed land law which will convey the land to the laboring peasantry without compensation on the grounds of cancellation of private property and socialization before the beginning of the spring fieldwork.[3]

By the document, it has also been confirmed all public liberties declared in the Third Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council, scheduled re-election to the people's councils, all citizens have been called to treat the elections to the Ukrainian Constituent Assembly with attention.[3]

The Fourth Universal of the Ukrainian Central Council clearly defined the creation of a sovereign country as the ultimate goal of all Ukrainians.[3]

International recognition

On 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1918, Great Britain officially recognized the Ukrainian People's Republic.[7] The former British council-general for South Russia in Odesa John Picton Bagge who was appointed as temporary chargé d'affaires arrived to Kyiv.[7] He met with the General Secretary of International Affairs of Ukraine Oleksander Shulhyn.[7]

See also

Further reading

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources claim that the document was adopted on 24 January [O.S. 11 January] 1918[3] or on 25 January [O.S. 12 January] 1918.[4][5]
  2. ↑ in the text, after establishing a peace

References

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