Gaining international recognition for the White Movement was the most important foreign policy task of Russian non-Bolshevik diplomacy. This article traces the evolving discourse of career diplomats, considering this issue at different stages of the Russian Civil War. It shows their deep patriotism, professionalism, and persistency in carrying out the task. However, when the Allies did not share the slogans of the White Movement, the possibility of finding common ground were very limited. At the first stage (summer–autumn 1918), diplomats were cautious about the claims for recognition of numerous Russian non-Bolshevik governments. During the second stage (1918–1919), the issue of recognition played a unique role – the participation of Russian representatives in the peace conference, and therefore in determining the configuration of the post-war world, depended on its success. The resolve of the diplomats to defend Russia’s national interests did not suit foreign powers, who did not share the White Movement’s slogan about restoring a united and indivisible Russia, its power, and its position in the world. At the third stage (spring–summer 1920), diplomats, losing hope that the White Movement would emerge victorious in the Civil War, withdrew from direct involvement in seeking international recognition for the White Movement. However, they provided all possible technical support to the Head of the Department of External Relations of the Wrangel Government, Peter B. Struve, who assumed this mission. France’s recognition of the Sevastopol authorities in the summer of 1920 was limited, did not involve active military assistance, and caused justified scepticism in diplomatic circles.