Page:Karl Kautsky - Georgia - tr. Henry James Stenning (1921).pdf/90

 ready to free them from the Turkish danger, whether it be Czarism or the Entente. Now the Georgians demanded complete neutrality, both towards the Turks and Russia, and complete independence of both. For some time the Georgians were able to recommend.this policy to the two other great races of Transcaucasia. But the Armenian-Tartar antagonism was too strong. It broke up the Transcaucasian Republic in the exciting days which followed the Peace of Brest-Litovsk.

When the Turks presented an ultimatum to Transcaucasia on May 26th, 1918, the Parliament dissolved and declared the Republic to be ended. On the same day Georgia proclaimed its independence.

Its foreign policy remained the same as it was during the Transcaucasian partnership. In the declaration of independence of May 26th, it is stated:

The National Council declares

"(1) Henceforth the people of Georgia exercise sovereign rights over themselves.

"(2) The political constitution of independent Georgia is that of a democratic republic.

"(3) Georgia will maintain an attitude of constant neutrality in any international conflicts that might arise."

Hitherto Georgia has adhered stedfastly to this policy, however difficult it has been, in view of the great struggles which have Ьееn waged on its borders, and the constant temptation on the part of one or the other of the great military powers to win or compel the allied co-operation of the Republic.

The first difficulty arose immediately after the Declaration of Independence. The Turkish ultimatum placed Georgia in a desperate position. By itself it was impotent to resist the Turkish invasion. To protect itself from this invasion, it was obliged to choose the lesser of two evils. It opened the door to the German occupation, under agreeementagreement [sic] reached in Poti, on the 28th May, between von Lossow and Tchenkeli.