Ch.94The Turkey–Kurdish Issue

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Of course, between Makhno’s free territory and Germany, there’s our mustached friend’s Austria, Hungary, and the pro-British Western Ukraine. Still, you never know.

After extending its life with support from Communist Germany, what if during the Second World War, at the request of the German Communist Party, they attack toward Russia?

That’s what concerns me.

I want to be as careful as possible with everything right now.

At the very least, we need to keep Makhno firmly under our influence.

“Won’t Communist Germany help them from behind?”

“That itself is impossible. Because they completely depend on us for weapons. Moreover, they’re separated from Communist Germany. Besides us, no one else is paying attention to the free territory.”

More precisely, other great powers probably think we’ll annex Ukraine.

Even Britain tacitly acknowledges that Makhno is under our sphere of influence.

In fact, Makhno’s free territory is essentially treated as a Russian free city.

Right. So what Boris is saying is this.

Like Poland, they’re coming under our influence through sleeve-tucking.

“Are they armed with our weapons?”

“Yes. We’re providing weapons in the same way we did with Poland.”

“That’s fortunate then.”

Well, that means they won’t be able to pull any tricks on us later.

If they try to get support from Communist Germany to attack us, we’ll notice immediately.

Then we can either crush them or start laying bait now.

If they’re thinking of doing something against us for internal unity, that would be a bit troublesome.

But if Makhno received our help from the beginning, he wouldn’t think of such things.

He wouldn’t do something that would get him killed right away.

If anything, he might want to consume the remaining half of Ukraine that went to the pro-British faction.

If that’s the case, should I start setting things in motion?

If Makhno’s free territory seems like it’s going to collapse, it might be good to create some internal discord to make them come to our side.

Of course, that’s if Makhno’s side triggers something first.

“We’re always keeping an eye on Makhno’s side, so if something happens, we can immediately intervene by recruiting pro-Russian elements.”

“Then that’s settled. You seem to have a lot to say today.”

Seeing so many White Army personnel here, it must be about military matters.

Yes. It seems they have something separate to discuss.

While I continue to exert influence in the Duma, I only handle economic issues at the level of approving payments.

If I were to intervene directly, it would be in diplomatic or military matters.

That’s probably what they want to talk about now.

It’s not Japan, at least. They consider Russia their ally.

They might get a good slap in the face.

“It’s about the Kurdish issue.”

“The Kurds?”

Why is the Kurdistan issue suddenly coming up?

Well, I can roughly guess.

However, the question is what relevance it has to us right now.

“There are movements among Kurds in Turkey seeking independence.”

“I see.”

Well, if Turkey under Atatürk had followed actual history, they would have sent provincial governors to Kurdish regions that were only required to pay taxes during the Ottoman Empire period.

That would have built up resentment.

In fact, didn’t the Kurds establish a country in 1927 because of this?

It was something called the Republic of Ararat.

Around this time, Turkey was experiencing a series of restorationist, anti-secular rebellions.

Although we’re helping Turkey, considering how much more territory Turkey has lost compared to original history, it’s concerning.

Even the famous population exchange with Greece didn’t happen.

The Greeks who would have been exchanged are now being annexed to Russia as the Pontus Greek Republic.

This means they’re significantly behind original history.

In this situation, Russia benefits by recovering Eastern Roman territory, but conversely, Turkey is weaker than in original history, so the Kurds might rise up more quickly.

Fortunately, we’re providing weapons to Turkey.

Come to think of it, the Kurds’ situation is also pitiful.

Especially the Kurds in Turkey are, well, victims of the World War I victors.

The original World War I victors had promised the establishment of Kurdistan, but when they replaced the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, the Kurdistan content was completely removed.

Hmm, but you know.

“But what does this have to do with us?”

I didn’t ask for Kurdish content to be included in the newly established treaty.

From the beginning, we were called in as mercenaries, and although we secured Constantinople through guarantees from other powers, Pontus Greece is essentially a treaty made solely between Turkey and us.

This means there’s no reason for us to dare intervene in Kurdish affairs.

“I’d like to say ‘not particularly,’ but…”

“There’s something, isn’t there?”

“Ihsan Nuri Pasha, a Kurdish Jelali tribesman, has asked Russia for weapons support.”

Ihsan Nuri Pasha. He was the Minister of Defense of the country established by Kurds who gained independence from Turkey.

There was definitely a separate president, and at this time, before independence, they were probably preparing to rise against Turkey.

But they asked us for help?

“Huh, they’re asking us, who support Turkey, to support a group seeking independence from Turkey? Isn’t this something we can just ignore?”

“Yes. But they have a justification that makes it difficult to simply refuse.”

What kind of justification could they possibly have?

“What justification?”

“That the true Saint who united many republics into a federation must support this independence.”

I see. They’re saying that if you’re not an imperialist monarch like other countries, you should rightfully help them.

I understand why they’re asking for help, especially since they also supported China’s Beiyang Government.

It’s a bit difficult to just dismiss them by saying not to talk nonsense.

“Hmm, that’s absurd.”

“Yes. Won’t this be a problem?”

The Kurdish independence eventually ended pitifully with suppression.

That’s quite sad, but since I’m in a position to keep Turkey alive, supporting them is problematic.

If the Kurds also become independent, how much more territory will Turkey lose?

Moreover, I was planning to call Turkey an ally during World War II. It would be troublesome if Turkey’s status diminishes.

“Hmm. This is truly troublesome.”

“How about promising Kurdish independence as a pretext to annex Turkey while we’re at it?”

Ungern boldly declared in this meeting.

No, that’s not right. That’s going too far.

It’s not that I, as a Korean, am saying I won’t target Turkey while claiming brotherhood.

Although the Russian army has become elite, the Turkish army under Atatürk became demons to defend their country.

The Russian army was in the same situation. Would they want to properly fight such a Turkish army?

Turkey is a theater where Russia might fall back into a quagmire.

Considering Pontus Greece, we’ve already recovered some Eastern Roman territory, and now that our situation has improved, changing our stance to swallow Turkey would only cause indigestion.

“Atatürk is not someone to be taken lightly. Moreover, we can’t make him an enemy because of the Kurds. If we had wanted to consume Turkey, we would have done so in the last war.”

The great powers simply refused the Kurds who asked for help from the international community, saying it was an internal Turkish matter.

It’s enough to later bind Turkey in an international organization and make it part of the Russian economic sphere.

“But we can’t just abandon the Kurds, can we?”

“Yes. The Duma is aware of Your Majesty’s intentions. But isn’t it a problem that the Kurds have mentioned Your Majesty?”

“Hmm.”

I tapped my finger on the desk, deep in thought.

While it’s not difficult to ignore the Kurds’ request for support from Russia,

The issue is how this will look in the international community and how it can benefit Russia.

The point is that Turkey needs to win.

In this process, we must not help the Kurds while also not losing authority in the international community.

We can’t provide military support. No, wait.

“Isn’t the Kurdish region rightfully Turkish territory, as the successor to the Ottoman Empire?”

“Yes.”

“Turkey tried to control it by sending provincial governors, and the Kurds rose up because they didn’t like that, right?”

They sent officials to control the region, and the Kurds were dissatisfied because they could no longer live as they pleased.

Anyway, from the Kurds’ perspective, since it was promised by the Ottoman side, they must feel like they’ve been slapped out of nowhere.

After living freely while just paying taxes, suddenly being told to listen and being interfered with in various ways would make anyone angry.

“Yes. But to view it so simply…”

“Yes. There’s a problem with viewing it simply. The Kurds have their own sense of justice. Let me ask: are they hoping for material and military support now?”

From the looks of it, the Kurds seem to be rushing independence earlier.

Given Turkey’s mess of a state, it wasn’t simply because of provincial governors; they must have been preparing something.

“At the very least, they’re hoping for weapons support, aren’t they?”

It’s pitiful, but…

Turkey has already lost part of the Eastern Roman territory because of us.

If the Kurds try to become independent, Atatürk will do everything in his power to prevent it, with fire in his eyes.

We can’t pour cold water on that.

“Hmmmm.”

“How about mediating instead? Determining what’s right and wrong.”

A mediation proposal. That’s not bad either.

Looking at the Kurdish situation, they seem to want to trigger something right away, which is quite displeasing.

“No.”

“Then where does Your Majesty’s intention lie?”

If we want Turkey to stick to us, it’s right to take Turkey’s side here.

Since the Kurds have asked us for help, if we say we’ll mediate in their domestic affairs, they’ll complain about interference.

That doesn’t seem right.

“The Kurds’ justice said that a saint should help. But should a saint help armed struggle that causes loss of life?”

A saint can’t take sides in a matter that involves taking lives.

Unless it’s a true holy war involving Russia.

“Then…”

“Let’s do this. Just provide medical support.”

If one is called a saint, healing is their specialty, isn’t it?

So I’m thinking of supporting medical personnel for the casualties that will come from both sides.

Coincidentally, because of the Red-White Civil War, Russia has increased its medical personnel after incidents where those forcibly enlisted in the Red Army were killed by the same Red Army.

It’s just right to send them.

This is about living up to the name of a saint.

“Will that be enough?”

“Turkey must remain our ally. If we want them to fight alongside us in the future World War II, we shouldn’t waste strength on Kurdish affairs.”

“World War II?”

Suddenly, the members of the State Duma fell silent as if dead.

Ah, this statement is a bit premature.

For others it might be fine, but in a meeting with all of the White Army present, such words are sensitive for those who have gone through the Civil War period.

It seems like a war of that scale might not happen.

After all, there’s only Germany and Italy. Moreover, it’s a Germany that hasn’t even consumed Austria. In a situation where they might be stopped in Poland, wouldn’t the two countries immediately collapse between Britain, France, Austria, and Russia?

It might not escalate to a scale where America would participate.

Later, they might say “We’re disappointed in the Tsarina!” so I waved my hand.

“Ah, the war. Yes. The final war with the German Communist Party that will happen in the future. Don’t misunderstand.”

I’d be sad if they believed me.