In Search of a Country: Russian Mennonite Self-Presentation to President of Mexico 1921

At the time of greatest need for Mennonites in Russia, they were classified as "undesirables" by the Canadian government (1919):

“… because, owing to their peculiar customs, habits, modes of living and methods of holding property, they are not likely to become readily assimilated or to assume the duties and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship within a reasonable time.” (Note 1)

The United States had a “national origins quoto,” which also closed the door to all but a few born in eastern or southern Europe; a letter to the American President met with no success.

Nonetheless, in 1921 Russian Mennonite “study commissioners” A. A. Friesen, Βenjamin Η. Unruh, C. H. Warkentin were charged to explore all options.

Below is a copy of the May 1921 letter sent to the the President of Mexico via the Minister of Fomento (note 2). The letter captures the constructed Russian Mennonite self-identity at this point of loss and trauma. This was their "pitch":

Their ancestors are largely Dutch, the post-world-war letter states, and they belong to those Protestant groups that seek to recover the ideal of ancient Christian simplicity and purity in doctrine and life.
They are non-resistant, and hold fast to the principle of preserving human life, not destroying it.
Wherever Russian Mennonites have settled, they have raised the material prosperity of the surrounding peoples and fortified the foundations of the economy.
By and large they are agriculturalists, who through expert knowledge, diligence, and thrift have always developed model farms as examples to the native population, and have prospered, now owning more than 1.5 million hectares of land.
Russian Mennonites also developed significant manufacturing industries, mills, trading and financial institutions.
In their love of order, sobriety, and loyalty they have always proven to be a state-supporting element.
They are amongst Russia’s most progressive citizens, and have raised and developed the intellectual and cultural life of its people.
Mennonites established 350 village schools, 33 high schools, 1 technical school, 1 school for the deaf, 2 pedagogical schools.
From the start, they placed high value in learning the official language, and developing social-welfare institutions, including plus 8 hospitals, a psychiatric facility, orphanage, and nursing homes.
Russian Mennonites are part of a global faith family, and are supported financially and with advice by brothers and sisters in The Netherlands, the United States and Canada.

While the above presentation was largely true, their Soviet communist critics—and earlier pan-Slavic detractors—would tell a different story:

Mennonites are German sympathizers—Dutch only when advantageous—and culturally prejudiced against Russians and their language.
They are beneficiaries of colonial privilege, and have exploited the land and their neighbours; simplicity has long ceased to be an ideal.
They are willing to bear arms to protect family and property, but not the nation. Moreover, they are deeply and chronically divided amongst themselves.

This is debatable. Now, however, Mennonites were looking to put their best foot forward.

Within a month of sending the letter to Mexico, Study Commissioner A. A. Friesen received a legal opinion that warned of difficulties ahead with Mexico, should they proceed. “I fear that it contains some requests which if granted would be in direct conflict with existing provisions of the Constitution of 1917,” and if granted “would at once be declared of no effect by the Supreme Court” (note 3).

Mexico however was not the only country under consideration. In these same months Canadian “Old Colony” and “Sommerfelder” "cousins" were also looking for a country that would accommodate in law their requests for military exemption, freedom of worship and their own schooling in the German language. Their delegates to Paraguay in 1921 found conditions in the Chaco suitable in every respect with 6,000,000 acres of available land, and a government already in the process of passing all requested exemptions into law (note 4).

Neighbouring Argentina was also explored and initially considered a favourite by the study commissioners. However after further inquiry Argentina was rejected because of unwavering military service requirements.

South Africa was the other favourite with much good land and, according to A. A. Friesen, its Boers were culturally- and ethnically-related people who shared a language similar to the Mennonite Frisian Low German. Prof. Benjamin H. Unruh had just been in London, and reported that there would be no problems from the perspective of the British government for a massive Mennonite settlement in South Africa. The expected travel costs for delegates of ca. $2,500 per person was somewhat prohibitive (note 5).

With the doors to Canada closed, the only real options seemed to be Paraguay and South Africa—and the latter was the preferred choice. Friesen saw potential for much conflict in working together with the more conservative Old Colony and Sommerfelder Mennonites and, like Unruh, he was convinced of South Africa's advantages:

“Of greater importance than Paraguay seems to me to be South Africa. However, I have no exhaustive material at my disposal. Economically, South Africa is undoubtedly very favorable. The language and racial difficulties would be considerably less than in all Latin American countries; perhaps it would also be possible to join the Boers. The Premier of South Africa, Gen. Smuts, is at present in London. I have asked Unruh to make an attempt to get in touch with Smuts. The investigation of S.Africa would be under all be recommended under all circumstances.” (Note 6)

While pursuing all of the options for a new homeland for Russian Mennonites, there was still faint hope that the Canadian post-war ban on Mennonite immigration (re: non-resistance) might be lifted with the right kind of political pressure and persuasion (note 7). And as we know, that did actually happen with a change of government. The 1919 Canadian Order in Council was rescinded early in 1922.

Expecting that this change was coming, in a highly secretive meeting in Ohrloff, Molotschna on February 7, 1922, Russian Mennonite leaders took a decision to work to remove the entire Mennonite population of some 100,000 people out of the USSR—if at all possible (note 8).

In the end, some 21,000 Mennonites were able to immigrate from the Soviet Union to Canada over the next six years before the Soviet Union closed its door (note 9). Paraguay would again become a real option in 1929/30 and later after World War II with new refugee crises.

---Arnold Neufeldt-Fast

---Notes---

Note 1: Order in Council images below shared by Canadian Senator Peter Harder on Twitter, October 2018.

Note 2: Abram A. Friesen and C. H. Warkentin to the President of Mexico, letter, May 1921. From Mennonite Library and Archives, Bethel College, N. Newton, KS (hereafter MLA-B), https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/037.jpg; and https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/038.jpg; and https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/039.jpg.

Note 3: John L. Brown, to A. Friesen, Hillsboro, KS, June 14, 1921, MLA-B, https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/142.jpg.

Note 4: Alvin Solberg to A. A. Friesen, June 7, 1921, letter, MLA-B, https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/140.jpg; see also Samuel McRoberts to A. A. Friesen, June 13, 1921 [note typo in date], MLA-B, https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/037.jpg. Further correspondence from May to Jue 1921 see MLA-B here: https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/.

Note 5: A. Friesen to W. J. Ewert, letter, May 5, 1921. MLA-B, https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/007.jpg, and https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/008.jpg.

Note 6: A. A. Friesen to W. P. Neufeld, letter, June 30, 1921, MLA-B, https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/123.jpg.

Note 7: A. A. Friesen, to W. J. Ewert, letter, May 29, 1921, MLA-B. https://mla.bethelks.edu/archives/ms_60/folder_11_General_correspondence--May-June_1921/012.jpg.

Note 8: B.B. Janz and Ph. Cornies to Study Commissioners A. A. Friesen, Βenjamin Η. Unruh, C. H. Warkentin; (also) to the General Commission for Foreign Needs of Holland and the American Mennonite Relief, Scottdale, PA, early March 1922. Translated and edited by Harold Bender, “A Russian Mennonite Document of 1922,” Mennonite Quarterly Review 28, no. 2 (April 1954), 143–147; 144f.

Note 9: For next steps in the story, see previous post: https://russianmennonites.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-way-is-finally-openrussian.html; AND https://russianmennonites.blogspot.com/2023/02/immigration-to-canada-1923-background.html; AND https://russianmennonites.blogspot.com/2023/03/german-spies-informants-and-emigration.html.

---

To cite this post: Arnold Neufeldt-Fast, “In Search of a Country: Russian Mennonite Self-Presentation to the President of Mexico 1921,” History of the Russian Mennonites (blog), December 5, 2023, https://russianmennonites.blogspot.com/2023/12/fraktur-or-gothic-font-and-kurrent-or.html.

Comments

Outrage in Canada: Ukrainian in Waffen-SS honoured in Parliament. Mennonite Connections

As an historic peace church, Russian Mennonite congregations in Canada never celebrated “their veterans” who had volunteered with the Waffen-SS or Wehrmacht in complex times; hundreds did however volunteer to protect and defend their corner of Ukraine from a new era of Moscow-based Bolshevism. Some later self-identified as "The Lost Generation." German Prussian Mennonites in contrast understood that heritage differently and celebrated the “Heroes' Day Memorial” service anually until 1945. After 1945 Germany appropriately renamed their remembrance day as Volkstrauertag —the People’s Day of Mourning ( note 1 ). Many descendents live in Canada. A parallel Ukrainian story made the news in Canada in September 2023. The Speaker of the House of Commons invited a 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran to a joint session of Parliament for the visit and address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 22. Without good vetting by the Speaker, the guest was laud...

From USSR to Cherrywood Station: Mennonites winter in Markham-Stouffville, 1924

On September 26, 1924, 126 Russian Mennonite passengers disembarked the S. S. Melita at Quebec City ( note 1 ). They were among some 20,000 Mennonites who could immigrate to Canada from the Soviet Union in the 1920s. A number of these families received train cards to Cherrywood (Pickering) and Locust Hill (Markham) stations, where they were received by Markham area Mennonites. The Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization (CMBC) registration forms record each family's travel dates as well as their "first place of arrival" in Canada. The attached artifacts—a few pages from the financial records booklet kept by Markham-Stouffville treasurer J. L. Grove, plus some correspondence—profile concretely the level of support of this community north-east of Toronto for co-religionists fleeing the Soviet Union. Mennonites in Ontario had been well informed of the relief needs in Russia since 1921 and plans for mass immigration ( note 2 ). In April 1924 the local Stouffville Tribune ...

“The way is finally open”—Russian Mennonite Immigration, 1922-23

In a highly secretive meeting in Ohrloff, Molotschna on February 7, 1922, leaders took a decision to work to remove the entire Mennonite population of some 100,000 people out of the USSR—if at all possible ( note 1 ). B.B. Janz (Ohrloff) and Bishop David Toews (Rosthern, SK) are remembered as the immigration leaders who made it possible to bring some 20,000 Mennonites from the Soviet Union to Canada in the 1920s ( note 2 ). But behind those final numbers were multiple problems. In August 1922, an appeal was made by leaders to churches in Canada and the USA: “The way is finally open, for at least 3,000 persons who have received permission to leave Russia … Two ships of the Canadian Pacific Railway are ready to sail from England to Odessa as soon as the cholera quarantine is lifted. These Russian [Mennonite] refugees are practically without clothing … .” ( Note 3 ) Notably at this point B. B. Janz was also writing Toews, saying that he was utterly exhausted and was preparing to ...

Mennonite-Designed Mosque on the Molotschna

The “Peter J. Braun Archive" is a mammoth 78 reel microfilm collection of Russian Mennonite materials from 1803 to 1920 -- and largely still untapped by researchers ( note 1 ). In the files of Philipp Wiebe, son-in-law and heir to Johann Cornies, is a blueprint for a mosque ( pic ) as well as another file entitled “Akkerman Mosque Construction Accounts, 1850-1859” ( note 2 ). The Molotschna Mennonites were settlers on traditional Nogai lands; their Nogai neighbours were a nomadic, Muslim Tartar group. In 1825, Cornies wrote a significant anthropological report on the Nogai at the request of the Guardianship Committee, based largely on his engagements with these neighbours on Molotschna’s southern border ( note 3 ). Building upon these experiences and relationships, in 1835 Cornies founded the Nogai agricultural colony “Akkerman” outside the southern border of the Molotschna Colony. Akkerman was a projection of Cornies’ ideal Mennonite village outlined in exacting detail, with un...

1929 Flight of Mennonites to Moscow and Reception in Germany

At the core of the attached video are some thirty photos of Mennonite refugees arriving from Moscow in 1929 which are new archival finds. While some 13,000 had gathered in outskirts of Moscow, with many more attempting the same journey, the Soviet Union only released 3,885 Mennonite "German farmers," together with 1,260 Lutherans, 468 Catholics, 51 Baptists, and 7 Adventists. Some of new photographs are from the first group of 323 refugees who left Moscow on October 29, arriving in Kiel on November 3, 1929. A second group of photos are from the so-called “Swinemünde group,” which left Moscow only a day later. This group however could not be accommodated in the first transport and departed from a different station on October 31. They were however held up in Leningrad for one month as intense diplomatic negotiations between the Soviet Union, Germany and also Canada took place. This second group arrived at the Prussian sea port of Swinemünde on December 2. In the next ten ...

Ukraine Independence--Russian Aggression--German Interests (1918)

The semi-autonomous Ukrainian People's Republic was established shortly after Russia's February Revolution in 1917. Much was still fluid, however. After the October Bolshevik Revolution the Central Rada of Ukraine in Kyiv declared full state independence from the Russian Republic on January 22, 1918. The Ukrainian People's Republic negotiated an end to its participation in Great War, and on February 9, 1918 signed a protectorate treaty in Brest-Litovsk. On February 17, Ukraine appealed to Germany and Austria-Hungary for assistance to repel Russian Bolshevik “invaders,” to detach Ukraine from Russia, and to establish conditions of stability. The World War had not yet ended. Imperialist Germany was desperate for grain and natural resources from Ukraine, eager to end the war in the east while containing Russia, and determined to establish post-war markets for German goods, technologies and influence ( note 1 ). For its part the Russian Bolshevik regime was eager to save ...

What is the Church to Say? Letter 4 (of 4) to American Mennonite Friends

Irony is used in this post to provoke and invite critical thought; the historical research on the Mennonite experience is accurate and carefully considered. ~ANF Preparing for your next AGM: Mennonite Congregations and Deportations Many U.S. Mennonite pastors voted for Donald Trump, whose signature promise was an immediate start to “the largest deportation operation in American history.” Confirmed this week, President Trump will declare a national emergency and deploy military assets to carry this out. The timing is ideal; in January many Mennonite congregations have their Annual General Meeting (AGM) with opportunity to review and update the bylaws of their constitution. Need help? We have related examples from our tradition, which I offer as a template, together with a few red flags. First, your congregational by-laws. It is unlikely you have undocumented immigrants in your congregation, but you should flag this. Model: Gustav Reimer, a deacon and notary public from the ...

What is the Church to Say? Letter 1 (of 4) to American Mennonite Friends

Irony is used in this post to provoke and invite critical thought; the historical research on the Mennonite experience is accuarte and carefully considered. ~ANF American Mennonite leaders who supported Trump will be responding to the election results in the near future. Sometimes a template or sample conference address helps to formulate one’s own text. To that end I offer the following. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Mennonites in Germany sent official greetings by telegram: “The Conference of the East and West Prussian Mennonites meeting today at Tiegenhagen in the Free City of Danzig are deeply grateful for the tremendous uprising ( Erhebung ) that God has given our people ( Volk ) through the vigor and action of [unclear], and promise our cooperation in the construction of our Fatherland, true to the Gospel motto of [our founder Menno Simons], ‘For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.’” ( Note 1 ) Hitler responded in a letter...

Flooding and Mennonites: A Common Thread

In November 2021 many Mennonites in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia were impacted by disastrous flooding. The mayor of Abbotsford—the worst-hit city—as well as the local Member of Parliament were Mennonites. Many Mennonites across Canada had family members who are directly impacted. Flood stories have been an important thread in the Prussian-Russian Mennonite story. How have Mennonites responded? Mutual aid stands out. For Menno Simons, it was “the only sign whereby a true Christian may be known” ( note 1 ). In 1562, “Dutch people of the Mennonite religion” were specifically invited by the Polish banking house Loysen to settle on the “Tiegenhoff part of the Vistula Delta” to rebuild dikes partially destroyed by huge floods (1540 and 1543) and wars, and to drain low-lying lagoons and swamps over large blocks of land ( note 2 ). The Tiege River—a branch of the Vistula—was at or below sea level. Dams and ditches along the Nogat and Vistula rivers had been construct...

Russian Mennonites were Monarchists

In 1848, Evgenii von Hahn, President of the Guardianship Committee for Foreign Settlers in New Russia, tasked each village administration to work with the schoolteacher to produce an exact historical description of its settlement and key events in its history ( note 1 ). Looking back 44 years, the mayor and teacher of the Molotschna village of Altona had no difficulty identifying and describing the most glorious event in their history ( note 2 ). “There are moments in life that are too great for the human heart, when we are simply overwhelmed--exquisite, great, blissful moments when our voices fall silent, when we are moved so profoundly in our inward being that our hands fold of their own accord and our eyes gaze heavenward and prayer is the one thing needed by an overflowing heart. One such great, blissful moment was in the year 1818, when the most blessed Emperor Alexander I on his journey from the Crimea to St. Petersburg honoured our colony [village] with his distinguished visit a...

History of the Russian Mennonites

Search This Blog