Letter from Symon Petliura to Andrii Levytskyi

Poland, Warsaw. 1922.

The letter is written on two sheets of lined paper in pencil, in a medium-sized, predominantly legible handwriting, with letters showing a slight rightward slant.

In the letter dated 30 August 1922 and sent from Warsaw, Symon Petliura raises several important organisational issues concerning the political life of Ukrainian émigrés in Poland. First, he points to the need to reform the system of governmental bodies of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), in particular the State Centre of the Ukrainian People's Republic in Exile, established in accordance with the UPR government law On Temporary Supreme Administration and the Procedure for Legislation in the Ukrainian People's Republic of 12 November 1920. In particular, he proposes limiting the budget prepared by Andrii Levytskyi, reviewing personnel policy by reducing the number of staff, and intensifying the work of the Centre. Second, he provides information on the positions of various public and political figures concerning the “Galician question”, emphasising the need to adhere to the terms of the 1920 Treaty of Warsaw.

The letter of the Chief Ataman of the Ukrainian People's Republic, Symon Petliura, from the museum collection forms part of his official correspondence addressed to Andrii Levytskyi, Prime Minister of the Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Its content reflects the everyday concerns of the Ukrainian émigré community, which, despite being outside the borders of its state, continued to engage actively in state affairs and uphold the traditions of the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

Provenance: The rare document entered the museum in 2009 during commemorative events marking the 130th anniversary of the birth of Symon Petliura. It was transferred by the Sectoral State Archive of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.