Great October Series: Helsingfors Meeting...Tsentrobalt speaks

“it was in its commune-like self-government that Tsentrobalt really came into its own, realizing the radical, democratic and egalitarian aspirations of its garrisons and working people, their insatiable appetite for social recognition, political activity and public debate, their pent up yearning for education, integration, and community.  Almost overnight, the ship’s crews, the naval and military units and the workers created and practiced a direct democracy of base assemblies and committees.”     Russian Historian Israel Getzler

Tsentrobalt Speaks
The Closed All-Baltic Congress reveals its work

It took twenty-two days of discussion within the Closed All-Baltic Congress...on June 15, 1917, the  Congress ended with their work completed.  Tsentrobalt's Charter and the operating policy regarding its new relationship with fleet command has been finalized.  
The time has now come to address the fleet and share with its members the focused outcome.  On a bright June day, a gathering of sailors at Senatskaya Square in Helsingfors would receive the word of its leaders.  The agenda...exposure to the protocols.

Although....there would be other topics to discuss and address at this meeting of the Helsingfors Sailors Deputies together with The Ships Committees.

The call to arrest Admiral Kolchak...

Comrade Chugunov took the podium and reported to the General Meeting of an article, that in such a respected newspaper as Izvestia of the Petrograd Soviet of Soldiers and Workers Deputies, appeared detailing clear malicious slander on the part of Baltic Fleet Admiral Kolchak.  Admiral Kolchak indicated that the Baltic fleet is in the service of the German General staff and that the delegation of the Baltic Sea Fleet made for the complete disorganization of the Black Sea fleet.  Chugunov asked the Assembly to require Admiral Kolchak account for the damaging insult toward the responsible Baltic Fleet.

Admiral Kolchak

After the issue was expressed by several speakers illuminating it from all sides, the meeting unanimously, with 7 abstentions, adopted the resolution proposed by Comrade Chugunov for the next edition.

The resolution stated..."After full consideration of the issue of slander in the press by Admiral Kolchak: his attempting to influence the country, in which he inferred 'that the Baltic fleet is in the service of the German General staff.'  Admiral Kolchak was also quoted as believing he is being forced to leave his post as Commander of the Black Sea Fleet.  Holding responsible and deeming the delegation of the Baltic Fleet culprits.  Kolchak added, "The Baltic Fleet which the German General staff commanded influenced the disorganization of the Black Sea Fleet and inspired teams to arrest him and his commanding officers of the Black Sea Fleet."  Such slander only worked against the Admiral. The sailors knew the rebellious spirit derived from a much deeper consciousness...as exhibited by the sailors of the Black Sea at Odessa in 1905, 1912 and in Sebastopal 1905, 1906, 1912 and 1917 

The meeting of the Helsingfors Sailors delegates together with the Ships Committees concluded to call on the appropriate authorities to consider all the above malicious slander of Admiral Kolchak…and based upon said slanderous lies toward the Baltic fleet to demand of the authorities to arrest him so that justice prevails.

Another topic for discussion...

...the question concerning the dismissal by the High Command of Commander in Chief of the Baltic Fleet Admiral Maksimov and the appointment of Admiral Vederevsky.as his replacement. 

Admiral Maksimov

It was then Comrade Chugunov the speaker invited the assembled to hear from the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Baltic Fleet…comrade Pavel Dybenko.

Chairman Dybenko spoke to the cohesiveness of working with Admiral Maxismov...

and the opposite phenomenon of entering in discussion with Admiral Vederevsky.

As for Admiral Maxismov

Admiral Vederevsky

Dybenko shared with the assembled the mandate approved by the interim Government which separated the sphere of action of the commander and the fleet.

Dybenko pointed out that the adoption of paragraph 14 was approved by the fleet wide congress of the Baltic Fleet.

But…as Admiral Vedervsky cancelled the adoption of paragraph 14 this prompted the congress’ action.

Dybenko also read out the telegram Admiral Vederevsky sent to the interim Government which clearly stated his opposition of the selection for the post of chief of the 1^st brigade battleships…Captain 1^st rank Zarubaeva.  If this post is selected…not appointed he would resign his duties.    

Dybenko pointed out more than 25 speakers insisted upon the selection of this post be approved by elected vote of the fleet and not by appointment of the interim government.

At the end of the debate…the assembly voted unanimously with one abstention adopted a resolution by Comrade Kireev as follows:

“Recognizing the principle of election on the ships positions is the only correct way  which alone leads to the realization of democracy.  The Helsingfors Sailors parliamentary in conjunction with marine committees commit to this principle and will defend this decision with all available means”