Ioffe’s “Six Points”
Adolf Ioffe, Russian Conditions of Peace. December 22, 1917
Head of Soviet delegation Ioffe proposed the following conditions upon reading the larger part of the Decree of Peace of November 8. After hearing the declaration the conference adjourned to give the Central Powers time to prepare a reply.
Original Source: Mirnye peregovory v Brest-Litovske s 22/9 dekabria 1917 g. po 3 marta (18 fevralia) 1918 g. (Moscow: Izd. Nar. komissariata inostrannykh del, 1920), Vol. 1, pp. 7-8.
In accordance with the principles of the decree the Russian delegation proposes the following six points as a basis for peace discussion:
No forcible annexation of territories seized during the war. Troops in occupation of such areas to be withdrawn in the shortest time possible.
Full political independence to be restored to those peoples who have lost it during the war.
Nationalities which did not enjoy political independence before the war to be assured the opportunity of deciding for themselves by a referendum whether to be a part of a particular state or to be an independent state. The referendum to be organized in such a way as to assure the fullest freedom of voting to the population of the territory in question, including emigrants and refugees.
In territories that are inhabited by several nationalities the rights of minorities are protected by special laws guaranteeing full cultural independence and, as far as is practicable, administrative autonomy.
No belligerent to pay any other so-called "war indemnities." Contributions already levied to be returned. Private individuals who have incurred losses during the war to be indemnified from a special fund to which all the warring nations should contribute proportionately.
Colonial questions to be decided in accordance with the principles laid down in points 1, 2, 3, and 4.
As a supplement to these points the Russian delegation proposed that the negotiating Powers should condemn the attempts of strong nations to oppress weaker nations by such indirect methods as economic boycotts, economic subjection by imposing commercial treaties, separate tariff agreements interfering with the freedom of commerce of a third country, and sea blockade having no direct military aim. These are the fundamental principles which can be accepted by all, and without which the Russian delegation does not see how it is possible to conclude a general peace.
Source: The Soviet Union and Peace; the most important of the documents issued by the government of the U.S.S.R. concerning peace and disarmament from 1917 to 1929 (London: M. Lawrence, 1929), pp. 33-35.