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diff --git a/old/3076.txt b/old/3076.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..359c467 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3076.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16240 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ten Days That Shook the World, by John Reed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ten Days That Shook the World + +Author: John Reed + +Posting Date: November 25, 2012 [EBook #3076] +Release Date: February, 2002 +First Posted: December 16, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Norman Wolcott, with corrections by Andrew Sly +and Stefan Malte Schumacher + + + + + + + + + +[Redactor's Note: The book is composed of text, footnotes, and appendices. +The footnotes are included at the end of each chapter, while the +Appendix No. and Section are referred to in the text in parentheses, +the Appendices following the book text. There are 17 graphic figures +in the text. These are indicated by a reference to the page number in +the original book.] + + + + +Ten Days That Shook the World + +by John Reed + + + +Table of Contents + + Preface. + Notes and Explanations. + Chapter 1. Background. + Chapter 2. The Coming Storm. + Chapter 3. On the Eve. + Chapter 4. The Fall of the Provisional Government. + Chapter 5. Plunging Ahead. + Chapter 6. The Committee for Salvation. + Chapter 7. The Revolutionary Front. + Chapter 8. Counter-Revolution. + Chapter 9. Victory. + Chapter 10. Moscow. + Chapter 11. The Conquest of Power. + Chapter 12. The Peasants' Congress. + Appendices I - XII + + + + +Preface + + +This book is a slice of intensified history--history as I saw it. It +does not pretend to be anything but a detailed account of the November +Revolution, when the Bolsheviki, at the head of the workers and +soldiers, seized the state power of Russia and placed it in the hands +of the Soviets. + +Naturally most of it deals with "Red Petrograd," the capital and heart +of the insurrection. But the reader must realize that what took place +in Petrograd was almost exactly duplicated, with greater or lesser +intensity, at different intervals of time, all over Russia. + +In this book, the first of several which I am writing, I must confine +myself to a chronicle of those events which I myself observed and +experienced, and those supported by reliable evidence; preceded by two +chapters briefly outlining the background and causes of the November +Revolution. I am aware that these two chapters make difficult reading, +but they are essential to an understanding of what follows. + +Many questions will suggest themselves to the mind of the reader. What +is Bolshevism? What kind of a governmental structure did the Bolsheviki +set up? If the Bolsheviki championed the Constituent Assembly before +the November Revolution, why did they disperse it by force of arms +afterward? And if the bourgeoisie opposed the Constituent Assembly +until the danger of Bolshevism became apparent, why did they champion +it afterward? + +These and many other questions cannot be answered here. In another +volume, "Kornilov to Brest-Litovsk," I trace the course of the +Revolution up to and including the German peace. There I explain the +origin and functions of the Revolutionary organisations, the evolution +of popular sentiment, the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, the +structure of the Soviet state, and the course and outcome of the +Brest-Litovsk negotiations.... + +In considering the rise of the Bolsheviki it is necessary to understand +that Russian economic life and the Russian army were not disorganised +on November 7th, 1917, but many months before, as the logical result of +a process which began as far back as 1915. The corrupt reactionaries in +control of the Tsar's Court deliberately undertook to wreck Russia in +order to make a separate peace with Germany. The lack of arms on the +front, which had caused the great retreat of the summer of 1915, the +lack of food in the army and in the great cities, the break-down of +manufactures and transportation in 1916--all these we know now were part +of a gigantic campaign of sabotage. This was halted just in time by the +March Revolution. + +For the first few months of the new regime, in spite of the confusion +incident upon a great Revolution, when one hundred and sixty millions +of the world's most oppressed peoples suddenly achieved liberty, both +the internal situation and the combative power of the army actually +improved. + +But the "honeymoon" was short. The propertied classes wanted merely a +political revolution, which would take the power from the Tsar and give +it to them. They wanted Russia to be a constitutional Republic, like +France or the United States; or a constitutional Monarchy, like +England. On the other hand, the masses of the people wanted real +industrial and agrarian democracy. + +William English Walling, in his book, "Russia's Message," an account of +the Revolution of 1905, describes very well the state of mind of the +Russian workers, who were later to support Bolshevism almost +unanimously: + +They (the working people) saw it was possible that even under a free +Government, if it fell into the hands of other social classes, they +might still continue to starve.... + +The Russian workman is revolutionary, but he is neither violent, +dogmatic, nor unintelligent. He is ready for barricades, but he has +studied them, and alone of the workers of the world he has learned +about them from actual experience. He is ready and willing to fight his +oppressor, the capitalist class, to a finish. But he does not ignore +the existence of other classes. He merely asks that the other classes +take one side or the other in the bitter conflict that draws near.... + +They (the workers) were all agreed that our (American) political +institutions were preferable to their own, but they were not very +anxious to exchange one despot for another (i.e., the capitalist +class).... + +The workingmen of Russia did not have themselves shot down, executed by +hundreds in Moscow, Riga and Odessa, imprisoned by thousands in every +Russian jail, and exiled to the deserts and the arctic regions, in +exchange for the doubtful privileges of the workingmen of Goldfields +and Cripple Creek.... + +And so developed in Russia, in the midst of a foreign war, the Social +Revolution on top of the Political Revolution, culminating in the +triumph of Bolshevism. + +Mr. A. J. Sack, director in this country of the Russian Information +Bureau, which opposes the Soviet Government, has this to say in his +book, "The Birth of the Russian Democracy": The Bolsheviks organised +their own cabinet, with Nicholas Lenine as Premier and Leon +Trotsky--Minister of Foreign Affairs. The inevitability of their +coming into power became evident almost immediately after the March +Revolution. The history of the Bolsheviki, after the Revolution, +is a history of their steady growth.... + +Foreigners, and Americans especially, frequently emphasise the +"ignorance" of the Russian workers. It is true they lacked the +political experience of the peoples of the West, but they were very +well trained in voluntary organisation. In 1917 there were more than +twelve million members of the Russian consumers' Cooperative societies; +and the Soviets themselves are a wonderful demonstration of their +organising genius. Moreover, there is probably not a people in the +world so well educated in Socialist theory and its practical +application. + +William English Walling thus characterises them: + +The Russian working people are for the most part able to read and +write. For many years the country has been in such a disturbed +condition that they have had the advantage of leadership not only of +intelligent individuals in their midst, but of a large part of the +equally revolutionary educated class, who have turned to the working +people with their ideas for the political and social regeneration of +Russia.... + +Many writers explain their hostility to the Soviet Government by +arguing that the last phase of the Russian Revolution was simply a +struggle of the "respectable" elements against the brutal attacks of +Bolshevism. However, it was the propertied classes, who, when they +realised the growth in power of the popular revolutionary +organisations, undertook to destroy them and to halt the Revolution. To +this end the propertied classes finally resorted to desperate measures. +In order to wreck the Kerensky Ministry and the Soviets, transportation +was disorganised and internal troubles provoked; to crush the +Factory-Shop Committees, plants were shut down, and fuel and raw +materials diverted; to break the Army Committees at the front, capital +punishment was restored and military defeat connived at. + +This was all excellent fuel for the Bolshevik fire. The Bolsheviki +retorted by preaching the class war, and by asserting the supremacy of +the Soviets. + +Between these two extremes, with the other factions which +whole-heartedly or half-heartedly supported them, were the so-called +"moderate" Socialists, the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries, +and several smaller parties. These groups were also attacked by the +propertied classes, but their power of resistance was crippled by their +theories. + +Roughly, the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries believed that +Russia was not economically ripe for a social revolution--that only a +_political_ revolution was possible. According to their interpretation, +the Russian masses were not educated enough to take over the power; any +attempt to do so would inevitably bring on a reaction, by means of +which some ruthless opportunist might restore the old regime. And so it +followed that when the "moderate" Socialists were forced to assume the +power, they were afraid to use it. + +They believed that Russia must pass through the stages of political and +economic development known to Western Europe, and emerge at last, with +the rest of the world, into full-fledged Socialism. Naturally, +therefore, they agreed with the propertied classes that Russia must +first be a parliamentary state--though with some improvements on the +Western democracies. As a consequence, they insisted upon the +collaboration of the propertied classes in the Government. + +From this it was an easy step to supporting them. The "moderate" +Socialists needed the bourgeoisie. But the bourgeoisie did not need the +"moderate" Socialists. So it resulted in the Socialist Ministers being +obliged to give way, little by little, on their entire program, while +the propertied classes grew more and more insistent. + +And at the end, when the Bolsheviki upset the whole hollow compromise, +the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries found themselves fighting +on the side of the propertied classes.... In almost every country in the +world to-day the same phenomenon is visible. + +Instead of being a destructive force, it seems to me that the +Bolsheviki were the only party in Russia with a constructive program +and the power to impose it on the country. If they had not succeeded to +the Government when they did, there is little doubt in my mind that the +armies of Imperial Germany would have been in Petrograd and Moscow in +December, and Russia would again be ridden by a Tsar.... + +It is still fashionable, after a whole year of the Soviet Government, +to speak of the Bolshevik insurrection as an "adventure." Adventure it +was, and one of the most marvellous mankind ever embarked upon, +sweeping into history at the head of the toiling masses, and staking +everything on their vast and simple desires. Already the machinery had +been set up by which the land of the great estates could be distributed +among the peasants. The Factory-Shop Committees and the Trade Unions +were there to put into operation workers' control of industry. In every +village, town, city, district and province there were Soviets of +Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, prepared to assume the task +of local administration. + +No matter what one thinks of Bolshevism, it is undeniable that the +Russian Revolution is one of the great events of human history, and the +rise of the Bolsheviki a phenomenon of world-wide importance. Just as +historians search the records for the minutest details of the story of +the Paris Commune, so they will want to know what happened in Petrograd +in November, 1917, the spirit which animated the people, and how the +leaders looked, talked and acted. It is with this in view that I have +written this book. + +In the struggle my sympathies were not neutral. But in telling the +story of those great days I have tried to see events with the eye of a +conscientious reporter, interested in setting down the truth. + + J. R. + New York, January 1st 1919. + + +Notes and Explanations + +To the average reader the multiplicity of Russian organisations--political +groups, Committees and Central Committees, Soviets, Dumas and +Unions--will prove extremely confusing. For this reason I am giving +here a few brief definitions and explanations. + + +Political Parties + +In the elections to the Constituent Assembly, there were seventeen +tickets in Petrograd, and in some of the provincial towns as many as +forty; but the following summary of the aims and composition of +political parties is limited to the groups and factions mentioned in +this book. Only the essence of their programmes and the general +character of their constituencies can be noticed.... + +1. _Monarchists,_ of various shades, _Octobrists,_ etc. These +once-powerful factions no longer existed openly; they either worked +underground, or their members joined the _Cadets,_ as the _Cadets_ +came by degrees to stand for their political programme. +Representatives in this book, Rodzianko, Shulgin. + +2. _Cadets._ So-called from the initials of its name, Constitutional +Democrats. Its official name is "Party of the People's Freedom." +Under the Tsar composed of Liberals from the propertied classes, +the _Cadets_ were the great party of _political_ reform, roughly +corresponding to the Progressive Party in America. When the +Revolution broke out in March, 1917, the _Cadets_ formed the first +Provisional Government. The _Cadet_ Ministry was overthrown in April +because it declared itself in favour of Allied imperialistic aims, +including the imperialistic aims of the Tsar's Government. As the +Revolution became more and more a _social economic_ Revolution, the +_Cadets_ grew more and more conservative. Its representatives in this +book are: Miliukov, Vinaver, Shatsky. + +2a. _Group of Public Men._ After the _Cadets_ had become unpopular +through their relations with the Kornilov counter-revolution, the +_Group of Public Men_ was formed in Moscow. Delegates from the _Group +of Public Men_ were given portfolios in the last Kerensky Cabinet. +The _Group_ declared itself non-partisan, although its intellectual +leaders were men like Rodzianko and Shulgin. It was composed of the +more "modern" bankers, merchants and manufacturers, who were +intelligent enough to realise that the Soviets must be fought by +their own weapon--economic organisation. Typical of the _Group:_ +Lianozov, Konovalov. + +3. _Populist Socialists,_ or _Trudoviki_ (Labour Group). Numerically +a small party, composed of cautious intellectuals, the leaders of +the Cooperative societies, and conservative peasants. Professing +to be Socialists, the _Populists_ really supported the interests +of the petty bourgeoisie--clerks, shopkeepers, etc. By direct +descent, inheritors of the compromising tradition of the Labour +Group in the Fourth Imperial Duma, which was composed largely of +peasant representatives. Kerensky was the leader of the _Trudoviki_ +in the Imperial Duma when the Revolution of March, 1917, broke out. +The _Populist Socialists_ are a nationalistic party. Their +representatives in this book are: Peshekhanov, Tchaikovsky. + +4. _Russian Social Democratic Labour Party._ Originally Marxian +Socialists. At a party congress held in 1903, the party split, on the +question of tactics, into two factions--the Majority (Bolshinstvo), +and the Minority (Menshinstvo). From this sprang the names +"Bolsheviki" and "Mensheviki"--"members of the majority" and "members +of the minority." These two wings became two separate parties, both +calling themselves "Russian Social Democratic Labour Party," and both +professing to be Marxians. Since the Revolution of 1905 the +Bolsheviki were really the minority, becoming again the majority in +September, 1917. + +a. _Mensheviki._ This party includes all shades of Socialists who +believe that society must progress by natural evolution toward +Socialism, and that the working-class must conquer political power +first. Also a nationalistic party. This was the party of the +Socialist intellectuals, which means: all the means of education +having been in the hands of the propertied classes, the intellectuals +instinctively reacted to their training, and took the side of the +propertied classes. Among their representatives in this book are: +Dan, Lieber, Tseretelli. + +b. _Mensheviki Internationalists._ The radical wing of the +_Mensheviki,_ internationalists and opposed to all coalition with +the propertied classes; yet unwilling to break loose from the +conservative Mensheviki, and opposed to the dictatorship of the +working-class advocated by the Bolsheviki. Trotzky was long a member +of this group. Among their leaders: Martov, Martinov. + +c. _Bolsheviki._ Now call themselves the _Communist Party,_ in +order to emphasise their complete separation from the tradition +of "moderate" or "parliamentary" Socialism, which dominates the +Mensheviki and the so-called Majority Socialists in all countries. +The _Bolsheviki_ proposed immediate proletarian insurrection, and +seizure of the reins of Government, in order to hasten the coming of +Socialism by forcibly taking over industry, land, natural resources +and financial institutions. This party expresses the desires chiefly +of the factory workers, but also of a large section of the poor +peasants. The name "Bolshevik" can _not_ be translated by "Maximalist." +The Maximalists are a separate group. (See paragraph 5b). Among the +leaders: Lenin, Trotzky, Lunatcharsky. + +d. _United Social Democrats Internationalists._ Also called the +_Novaya Zhizn_ (New Life) group, from the name of the very +influential newspaper which was its organ. A little group of +intellectuals with a very small following among the working-class, +except the personal following of Maxim Gorky, its leader. +Intellectuals, with almost the same programme as the _Mensheviki +Internationalists,_ except that the _Novaya Zhizn_ group refused to +be tied to either of the two great factions. Opposed the Bolshevik +tactics, but remained in the Soviet Government. Other representatives +in this book: Avilov, Kramarov. + +e. _Yedinstvo._ A very small and dwindling group, composed almost +entirely of the personal following of Plekhanov, one of the pioneers +of the Russian Social Democratic movement in the 80's, and its +greatest theoretician. Now an old man, Plekhanov was extremely +patriotic, too conservative even for the Mensheviki. After the +Bolshevik _coup d'etat, Yedinstvo_ disappeared. + +5. _Socialist Revolutionary party._ Called _Essaires_ from the +initials of their name. Originally the revolutionary party of the +peasants, the party of the Fighting Organisations--the Terrorists. +After the March Revolution, it was joined by many who had never been +Socialists. At that time it stood for the abolition of private +property in land only, the owners to be compensated in some fashion. +Finally the increasing revolutionary feeling of peasants forced the +_Essaires_ to abandon the "compensation" clause, and led to the +younger and more fiery intellectuals breaking off from the main party +in the fall of 1917 and forming a new party, the _Left Socialist +Revolutionary party._ The _Essaires,_ who were afterward always +called by the radical groups _"Right Socialist Revolutionaries,"_ +adopted the political attitude of the Mensheviki, and worked together +with them. They finally came to represent the wealthier peasants, the +intellectuals, and the politically uneducated populations of remote +rural districts. Among them there was, however, a wider difference of +shades of political and economic opinion than among the Mensheviki. +Among their leaders mentioned in these pages: Avksentiev, Gotz, +Kerensky, Tchernov, "Babuschka" Breshkovskaya. + +a. _Left Socialist Revolutionaries._ Although theoretically sharing +the Bolshevik programme of dictatorship of the working-class, at +first were reluctant to follow the ruthless Bolshevik tactics. +However, the _Left Socialist Revolutionaries_ remained in the Soviet +Government, sharing the Cabinet portfolios, especially that of +Agriculture. They withdrew from the Government several times, but +always returned. As the peasants left the ranks of the _Essaires_ in +increasing numbers, they joined the _Left Socialist Revolutionary +party,_ which became the great peasant party supporting the Soviet +Government, standing for confiscation without compensation of the +great landed estates, and their disposition by the peasants +themselves. Among the leaders: Spiridonova, Karelin, Kamkov, +Kalagayev. + +b. _Maximalists._ An off-shoot of the _Socialist Revolutionary +party_ in the Revolution of 1905, when it was a powerful peasant +movement, demanding the immediate application of the maximum +Socialist programme. Now an insignificant group of peasant +anarchists. + + +Parliamentary Procedure + +Russian meetings and conventions are organised after the continental +model rather than our own. The first action is usually the election +of officers and the _presidium._ + +The _presidium_ is a presiding committee, composed of representatives +of the groups and political factions represented in the assembly, +in proportion to their numbers. The _presidium_ arranges the Order +of Business, and its members can be called upon by the President to +take the chair _pro tem._ + +Each question (_vopros_) is stated in a general way and then debated, +and at the close of the debate resolutions are submitted by the +different factions, and each one voted on separately. The Order +of Business can be, and usually is, smashed to pieces in the first +half hour. On the plea of "emergency," which the crowd almost always +grants, anybody from the floor can get up and say anything on any +subject. The crowd controls the meeting, practically the only +functions of the speaker being to keep order by ringing a little +bell, and to recognise speakers. Almost all the real work of the +session is done in caucuses of the different groups and political +factions, which almost always cast their votes in a body and are +represented by floor-leaders. The result is, however, that at every +important new point, or vote, the session takes a recess to enable +the different groups and political factions to hold a caucus. + +The crowd is extremely noisy, cheering or heckling speakers, +over-riding the plans of the _presidium._ Among the customary cries +are: _"Prosim!_ Please! Go on!" _"Pravilno!"_ or _"Eto vierno!_ +That's true! Right!" _"Do volno!_ Enough!" _"Doloi!_ Down with him!" +_"Posor!_ Shame!" and _"Teesche!_ Silence! Not so noisy!" + + +Popular Organisations + +1. _Soviet._ The word _soviet_ means "council." Under the Tsar the +Imperial Council of State was called _Gosudarstvennyi Soviet._ Since +the Revolution, however, the term _Soviet_ has come to be associated +with a certain type of parliament elected by members of working-class +economic organisations--the Soviet of Workers', of Soldiers', or of +Peasants' Deputies. I have therefore limited the word to these +bodies, and wherever else it occurs I have translated it "Council." + +Besides the local _Soviets,_ elected in every city, town and +village of Russia--and in large cities, also Ward _(Raionny) +Soviets_--there are also the _oblastne_ or _gubiernsky_ (district or +provincial) _Soviets,_ and the Central Executive Committee of the +All-Russian _Soviets_ in the capital, called from its initials +_Tsay-ee-kah._ (See below, "Central Committees"). + +Almost everywhere the _Soviets_ of Workers' and of Soldiers' +Deputies combined very soon after the March Revolution. In special +matters concerning their peculiar interests, however, the Workers' +and the Soldiers' Sections continued to meet separately. The +_Soviets_ of Peasants' Deputies did not join the other two until +after the Bolshevik _coup d'etat._ They, too, were organised like the +workers and soldiers, with an Executive Committee of the All-Russian +Peasants' _Soviets_ in the capital. + +2. _Trade Unions._ Although mostly industrial in form, the Russian +labour unions were still called Trade Unions, and at the time of the +Bolshevik Revolution had from three to four million members. These +Unions were also organised in an All-Russian body, a sort of Russian +Federation of Labour, which had its Central Executive Committee in +the capital. + +3. _Factory-Shop Committees._ These were spontaneous organisations +created in the factories by the workers in their attempt to control +industry, taking advantage of the administrative break-down incident +upon the Revolution. Their function was by revolutionary action to +take over and run the factories. The _Factory-Shop Committees_ also +had their All-Russian organisation, with a Central Committee at +Petrograd, which co-operated with the Trade Unions. + +4. _Dumas._ The word _duma_ means roughly "deliberative body." The +old Imperial Duma, which persisted six months after the Revolution, +in a democratised form, died a natural death in September, 1917. The +_City Duma_ referred to in this book was the reorganised Municipal +Council, often called "Municipal Self-Government." It was elected by +direct and secret ballot, and its only reason for failure to hold the +masses during the Bolshevik Revolution was the general decline in +influence of all purely _political_ representation in the fact of the +growing power of organisations based on _economic_ groups. + +5. _Zemstvos._ May be roughly translated "county councils." Under +the Tsar semi-political, semi-social bodies with very little +administrative power, developed and controlled largely by +intellectual Liberals among the land-owning classes. Their most +important function was education and social service among the +peasants. During the war the _Zemstvos_ gradually took over the +entire feeding and clothing of the Russian Army, as well as the +buying from foreign countries, and work among the soldiers generally +corresponding to the work of the American Y. M. C. A. at the Front. +After the March Revolution the _Zemstvos_ were democratized, with a +view to making them the organs of local government in the rural +districts. But like the _City Dumas,_ they could not compete with the +_Soviets._ + +6. _Cooperatives._ These were the workers' and peasants' Consumers' +Cooperative societies, which had several million members all over +Russia before the Revolution. Founded by Liberals and "moderate" +Socialists, the Cooperative movement was not supported by the +revolutionary Socialist groups, because it was a substitute for the +complete transference of means of production and distribution into +the hands of the workers. After the March Revolution the +_Cooperatives_ spread rapidly, and were dominated by Populist +Socialists, Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries, and acted as a +conservative political force until the Bolshevik Revolution. However, +it was the _Cooperatives_ which fed Russia when the old structure of +commerce and transportation collapsed. + +7. _Army Committees._ The _Army Committees_ were formed by the +soldiers at the front to combat the reactionary influence of the old +regime officers. Every company, regiment, brigade, division and corps +had its committee, over all of which was elected the _Army +Committee._ The _Central Army Committee_ cooperated with the General +Staff. The administrative break-down in the army incident upon the +Revolution threw upon the shoulders of the _Army Committees_ most of +the work of the Quartermaster's Department, and in some cases, even +the command of troops. + +8. _Fleet Committees._ The corresponding organisations in the Navy. + + +Central Committees + +In the spring and summer of 1917, All-Russian conventions of every +sort of organisation were held at Petrograd. There were national +congresses of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Soviets, Trade +Unions, Factory-Shop Committees, Army and Fleet Committees--besides +every branch of the military and naval service, Cooperatives, +Nationalities, etc. Each of these conventions elected a Central +Committee, or a Central Executive Committee, to guard its particular +interests at the seat of Government. As the Provisional Government +grew weaker, these Central Committees were forced to assume more and +more administrative powers. + +The most important Central Committees mentioned in this book are: + +_Union of Unions._ During the Revolution of 1905, Professor +Miliukov and other Liberals established unions of professional +men--doctors, lawyers, physicians, etc. These were united under one +central organisation, the _Union of Unions._ In 1905 the _Union of +Unions_ acted with the revolutionary democracy; in 1917, however, the +_Union of Unions_ opposed the Bolshevik uprising, and united the +Government employees who went on strike against the authority of the +Soviets. + +_Tsay-ee-kah._ All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the +Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. So called from the +initials of its name. + +_Tsentroflot._ "Centre-Fleet"--the Central Fleet Committee. + +_Vikzhel._ All-Russian Central Committee of the Railway Workers' +Union. So called from the initials of its name. + +Other Organisations + +_Red Guards._ The armed factory workers of Russia. The _Red Guards_ +were first formed during the Revolution of 1905, and sprang into +existence again in the days of March, 1917, when a force was needed +to keep order in the city. At that time they were armed, and all +efforts of the Provisional Government to disarm them were more or +less unsuccessful. At every great crisis in the Revolution the _Red +Guards_ appeared on the streets, untrained and undisciplined, but +full of Revolutionary zeal. + + +_White Guards._ Bourgeois volunteers, who emerged in the last +stages of the Revolution, to defend private property from the +Bolshevik attempt to abolish it. A great many of them were University +students. + +_Tekhintsi._ The so-called "Savage Division" in the army, made up +of Mohametan tribesmen from Central Asia, and personally devoted to +General Kornilov. The _Tekhintsi_ were noted for their blind +obedience and their savage cruelty in warfare. + +_Death Battalions._ Or _Shock Battalions._ The Women's Battalion is +known to the world as the _Death Battalion,_ but there were many +_Death Battalions_ composed of men. These were formed in the summer +of 1917 by Kerensky, for the purpose of strengthening the discipline +and combative fire of the army by heroic example. The _Death +Battalions_ were composed mostly of intense young patriots. These +came for the most part from among the sons of the propertied classes. + +_Union of Officers._ An organisation formed among the reactionary +officers in the army to combat politically the growing power of the +Army Committees. + +_Knights of St. George._ The Cross of St. George was awarded for +distinguished action in battle. Its holder automatically became a +_"Knight of St. George."_ The predominant influence in the +organisation was that of the supporters of the military idea. + +_Peasants' Union._ In 1905, the _Peasants' Union_ was a +revolutionary peasants' organisation. In 1917, however, it had become +the political expression of the more prosperous peasants, to fight +the growing power and revolutionary aims of the Soviets of Peasants' +Deputies. + + +Chronology and Spelling + +I have adopted in this book our Calendar throughout, instead of the +former Russian Calendar, which was thirteen days earlier. + +In the spelling of Russian names and words, I have made no attempt +to follow any scientific rules for transliteration, but have tried to +give the spelling which would lead the English-speaking reader to the +simplest approximation of their pronunciation. + + +Sources + +Much of the material in this book is from my own notes. I have also +relied, however, upon a heterogeneous file of several hundred +assorted Russian newspapers, covering almost every day of the time +described, of files of the English paper, the _Russian Daily News,_ +and of the two French papers, _Journal de Russie_ and _Entente._ But +far more valuable than these is the _Bulletin de la Presse_ issued +daily by the French Information Bureau in Petrograd, which reports +all important happenings, speeches and the comment of the Russian +press. Of this I have an almost complete file from the spring of 1917 +to the end of January, 1918. + +Besides the foregoing, I have in my possession almost every +proclamation, decree and announcement posted on the walls of +Petrograd from the middle of September, 1917, to the end of January, +1918. Also the official publication of all Government decrees and +orders, and the official Government publication of the secret +treaties and other documents discovered in the Ministry of Foreign +Affairs when the Bolsheviki took it over. + + + +Ten Days That Shook The World + + +Chapter I + +Background + + +Toward the end of September, 1917, an alien Professor of Sociology +visiting Russia came to see me in Petrograd. He had been informed by +business men and intellectuals that the Revolution was slowing down. +The Professor wrote an article about it, and then travelled around +the country, visiting factory towns and peasant communities--where, to +his astonishment, the Revolution seemed to be speeding up. Among the +wage-earners and the land-working people it was common to hear talk +of "all land to the peasants, all factories to the workers." If the +Professor had visited the front, he would have heard the whole Army +talking Peace.... + +The Professor was puzzled, but he need not have been; both +observations were correct. The property-owning classes were becoming +more conservative, the masses of the people more radical. + +There was a feeling among business men and the _intelligentzia_ +generally that the Revolution had gone quite far enough, and lasted +too long; that things should settle down. This sentiment was shared +by the dominant "moderate" Socialist groups, the _oborontsi_ (See +App. I, Sect. 1) Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries, who +supported the Provisional Government of Kerensky. + +On October 14th the official organ of the "moderate" Socialists said: + +The drama of Revolution has two acts; the destruction of the old +regime and the creation of the new one. The first act has lasted long +enough. Now it is time to go on to the second, and to play it as +rapidly as possible. As a great revolutionist put it, "Let us hasten, +friends, to terminate the Revolution. He who makes it last too long +will not gather the fruits...." + +Among the worker, soldier and peasant masses, however, there was a +stubborn feeling that the "first act" was not yet played out. On the +front the Army Committees were always running foul of officers who +could not get used to treating their men like human beings; in the +rear the Land Committees elected by the peasants were being jailed +for trying to carry out Government regulations concerning the land; +and the workmen (See App. I, Sect. 2) in the factories were fighting +black-lists and lockouts. Nay, furthermore, returning political +exiles were being excluded from the country as "undesirable" +citizens; and in some cases, men who returned from abroad to their +villages were prosecuted and imprisoned for revolutionary acts +committed in 1905. + +To the multiform discontent of the people the "moderate" Socialists +had one answer: Wait for the Constituent Assembly, which is to meet +in December. But the masses were not satisfied with that. The +Constituent Assembly was all well and good; but there were certain +definite things for which the Russian Revolution had been made, and +for which the revolutionary martyrs rotted in their stark Brotherhood +Grave on Mars Field, that must be achieved Constituent Assembly or no +Constituent Assembly: Peace, Land, and Workers' Control of Industry. +The Constituent Assembly had been postponed and postponed--would +probably be postponed again, until the people were calm +enough--perhaps to modify their demands! At any rate, here were eight +months of the Revolution gone, and little enough to show for it.... + +Meanwhile the soldiers began to solve the peace question by simply +deserting, the peasants burned manor-houses and took over the great +estates, the workers sabotaged and struck.... Of course, as was +natural, the manufacturers, land-owners and army officers exerted all +their influence against any democratic compromise.... + +The policy of the Provisional Government alternated between +ineffective reforms and stern repressive measures. An edict from the +Socialist Minister of Labour ordered all the Workers' Committees +henceforth to meet only after working hours. Among the troops at the +front, "agitators" of opposition political parties were arrested, +radical newspapers closed down, and capital punishment applied--to +revolutionary propagandists. Attempts were made to disarm the Red +Guard. Cossacks were sent to keep order in the provinces.... + +These measures were supported by the "moderate" Socialists and their +leaders in the Ministry, who considered it necessary to cooperate +with the propertied classes. The people rapidly deserted them, and +went over to the Bolsheviki, who stood for Peace, Land, and Workers' +Control of Industry, and a Government of the working-class. In +September, 1917, matters reached a crisis. Against the overwhelming +sentiment of the country, Kerensky and the "moderate" Socialists +succeeded in establishing a Government of Coalition with the +propertied classes; and as a result, the Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries lost the confidence of the people forever. + +An article in _Rabotchi Put_ (Workers' Way) about the middle of +October, entitled "The Socialist Ministers," expressed the feeling of +the masses of the people against the "moderate" Socialists: + +Here is a list of their services.(See App. I, Sect. 3) + +Tseretelli: disarmed the workmen with the assistance of General +Polovtsev, checkmated the revolutionary soldiers, and approved of +capital punishment in the army. + +Skobeliev: commenced by trying to tax the capitalists 100% of their +profits, and finished--and finished by an attempt to dissolve the +Workers' Committees in the shops and factories. + +Avksentiev: put several hundred peasants in prison, members of the +Land Committees, and suppressed dozens of workers' and soldiers' +newspapers. + +Tchernov: signed the "Imperial" manifest, ordering the dissolution of +the Finnish Diet. + +Savinkov: concluded an open alliance with General Kornilov. If this +saviour of the country was not able to betray Petrograd, it was due +to reasons over which he had no control. + +Zarudny: with the sanction of Alexinsky and Kerensky, put some of the +best workers of the Revolution, soldiers and sailors, in prison. + +Nikitin: acted as a vulgar policeman against the Railway Workers. + +Kerensky: it is better not to say anything about him. The list of his +services is too long.... + +A Congress of delegates of the Baltic Fleet, at Helsingfors, passed a +resolution which began as follows: + +We demand the immediate removal from the ranks of the Provisional +Government of the "Socialist," the political adventurer--Kerensky, as +one who is scandalising and ruining the great Revolution, and with it +the revolutionary masses, by his shameless political blackmail on +behalf of the bourgeoisie.... + +The direct result of all this was the rise of the Bolsheviki.... + +Since March, 1917, when the roaring torrents of workmen and soldiers +beating upon the Tauride Palace compelled the reluctant Imperial Duma +to assume the supreme power in Russia, it was the masses of the +people, workers, soldiers and peasants, which forced every change in +the course of the Revolution. They hurled the Miliukov Ministry down; +it was their Soviet which proclaimed to the world the Russian peace +terms--"No annexations, no indemnities, and the right of +self-determination of peoples"; and again, in July, it was the +spontaneous rising of the unorganised proletariat which once more +stormed the Tauride Palace, to demand that the Soviets take over the +Government of Russia. + +The Bolsheviki, then a small political sect, put themselves at the +head of the movement. As a result of the disastrous failure of the +rising, public opinion turned against them, and their leaderless +hordes slunk back into the Viborg Quarter, which is Petrograd's _St. +Antoine._ Then followed a savage hunt of the Bolsheviki; hundreds +were imprisoned, among them Trotzky, Madame Kollontai and Kameniev; +Lenin and Zinoviev went into hiding, fugitives from justice; the +Bolshevik papers were suppressed. Provocators and reactionaries +raised the cry that the Bolsheviki were German agents, until people +all over the world believed it. + +But the Provisional Government found itself unable to substantiate +its accusations; the documents proving pro-German conspiracy were +discovered to be forgeries;[1] and one by one the Bolsheviki were +released from prison without trial, on nominal or no bail-until only +six remained. The impotence and indecision of the ever-changing +Provisional Government was an argument nobody could refute. The +Bolsheviki raised again the slogan so dear to the masses, "All Power +to the Soviets!"--and they were not merely self-seeking, for at that +time the majority of the Soviets was "moderate" Socialist, their +bitter enemy. + +[1] Part of the famous "Sisson Documents". + +But more potent still, they took the crude, simple desires of the +workers, soldiers and peasants, and from them built their immediate +programme. And so, while the _oborontsi_ Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries involved themselves in compromise with the +bourgeoisie, the Bolsheviki rapidly captured the Russian masses. In +July they were hunted and despised; by September the metropolitan +workmen, the sailors of the Baltic Fleet, and the soldiers, had been +won almost entirely to their cause. The September municipal elections +in the large cities (See App. I, Sect. 4) were significant; only 18 +per cent of the returns were Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary, +against more than 70 per cent in June.... + +There remains a phenomenon which puzzled foreign observers: the fact +that the Central Executive Committees of the Soviets, the Central +Army and Fleet Committees,[2] and the Central Committees of some of +the Unions--notably, the Post and Telegraph Workers and the Railway +Workers--opposed the Bolsheviki with the utmost violence. These +Central Committees had all been elected in the middle of the summer, +or even before, when the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries had +an enormous following; and they delayed or prevented any new +elections. Thus, according to the constitution of the Soviets of +Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, the All-Russian Congress _should +have been called in September;_ but the _Tsay-ee-kah_[2] would not +call the meeting, on the ground that the Constituent Assembly was +only two months away, at which time, they hinted, the Soviets would +abdicate. Meanwhile, one by one, the Bolsheviki were winning in the +local Soviets all over the country, in the Union branches and the +ranks of the soldiers and sailors. The Peasants' Soviets remained +still conservative, because in the sluggish rural districts political +consciousness developed slowly, and the Socialist Revolutionary party +had been for a generation the party which had agitated among the +peasants.... But even among the peasants a revolutionary wing was +forming. It showed itself clearly in October, when the left wing of +the Socialist Revolutionaries split off, and formed a new political +faction, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. + +[2] See Notes and Explanations. + +At the same time there were signs everywhere that the forces of +reaction were gaining confidence.(See App. I, Sect. 5) At the +Troitsky Farce theatre in Petrograd, for example, a burlesque called +_Sins of the Tsar_ was interrupted by a group of Monarchists, who +threatened to lynch the actors for "insulting the Emperor." Certain +newspapers began to sigh for a "Russian Napoleon." It was the usual +thing among bourgeois _intelligentzia_ to refer to the Soviets of +Workers' Deputies (Rabotchikh Deputatov) as _Sabatchikh_ +Deputatov--Dogs' Deputies. + +On October 15th I had a conversation with a great Russian capitalist, +Stepan Georgevitch Lianozov, known as the "Russian Rockefeller"--a +Cadet by political faith. + +"Revolution," he said, "is a sickness. Sooner or later the foreign +powers must intervene here--as one would intervene to cure a sick +child, and teach it how to walk. Of course it would be more or less +improper, but the nations must realise the danger of Bolshevism in +their own countries--such contagious ideas as 'proletarian +dictatorship,' and 'world social revolution'... There is a chance that +this intervention may not be necessary. Transportation is +demoralised, the factories are closing down, and the Germans are +advancing. Starvation and defeat may bring the Russian people to +their senses...." + +Mr. Lianozov was emphatic in his opinion that whatever happened, it +would be impossible for merchants and manufacturers to permit the +existence of the workers' Shop Committees, or to allow the workers +any share in the management of industry. + +"As for the Bolsheviki, they will be done away with by one of two +methods. The Government can evacuate Petrograd, then a state of siege +declared, and the military commander of the district can deal with +these gentlemen without legal formalities.... _Or if, for example, the +Constituent Assembly manifests any Utopian tendencies, it can be +dispersed by force of arms...."_ + +Winter was coming on--the terrible Russian winter. I heard business +men speak of it so: "Winter was always Russia's best friend. Perhaps +now it will rid us of Revolution." On the freezing front miserable +armies continued to starve and die, without enthusiasm. The railways +were breaking down, food lessening, factories closing. The desperate +masses cried out that the bourgeoisie was sabotaging the life of the +people, causing defeat on the Front. Riga had been surrendered just +after General Kornilov said publicly, "Must we pay with Riga the +price of bringing the country to a sense of its duty?"[3] + +[3] See "Kornilov to Brest-Litovsk" by John Reed. Boni and Liveright +N.Y., 1919. + +To Americans it is incredible that the class war should develop to +such a pitch. But I have personally met officers on the Northern +Front who frankly preferred military disaster to cooperation with the +Soldiers' Committees. The secretary of the Petrograd branch of the +Cadet party told me that the break-down of the country's economic +life was part of a campaign to discredit the Revolution. An Allied +diplomat, whose name I promised not to mention, confirmed this from +his own knowledge. I know of certain coal-mines near Kharkov which +were fired and flooded by their owners, of textile factories at +Moscow whose engineers put the machinery out of order when they left, +of railroad officials caught by the workers in the act of crippling +locomotives.... + +A large section of the propertied classes preferred the Germans to +the Revolution--even to the Provisional Government--and didn't hesitate +to say so. In the Russian household where I lived, the subject of +conversation at the dinner table was almost invariably the coming of +the Germans, bringing "law and order."... One evening I spent at the +house of a Moscow merchant; during tea we asked the eleven people at +the table whether they preferred "Wilhelm or the Bolsheviki." The +vote was ten to one for Wilhelm... + +The speculators took advantage of the universal disorganisation to +pile up fortunes, and to spend them in fantastic revelry or the +corruption of Government officials. Foodstuffs and fuel were hoarded, +or secretly sent out of the country to Sweden. In the first four +months of the Revolution, for example, the reserve food-supplies were +almost openly looted from the great Municipal warehouses of +Petrograd, until the two-years' provision of grain had fallen to less +than enough to feed the city for one month.... According to the +official report of the last Minister of Supplies in the Provisional +Government, coffee was bought wholesale in Vladivostok for two rubles +a pound, and the consumer in Petrograd paid thirteen. In all the +stores of the large cities were tons of food and clothing; but only +the rich could buy them. + +In a provincial town I knew a merchant family turned +speculator--_maradior_ (bandit, ghoul) the Russians call it. The three +sons had bribed their way out of military service. One gambled in +foodstuffs. Another sold illegal gold from the Lena mines to +mysterious parties in Finland. The third owned a controlling interest +in a chocolate factory, which supplied the local Cooperative +societies--on condition that the Cooperatives furnished him everything +he needed. And so, while the masses of the people got a quarter pound +of black bread on their bread cards, he had an abundance of white +bread, sugar, tea, candy, cake and butter.... Yet when the soldiers at +the front could no longer fight from cold, hunger and exhaustion, how +indignantly did this family scream "Cowards!"--how "ashamed" they were +"to be Russians"... When finally the Bolsheviki found and requisitioned +vast hoarded stores of provisions, what "Robbers" they were. + +Beneath all this external rottenness moved the old-time Dark Forces, +unchanged since the fall of Nicholas the Second, secret still and +very active. The agents of the notorious _Okhrana_ still functioned, +for and against the Tsar, for and against Kerensky--whoever would +pay.... In the darkness, underground organisations of all sorts, such +as the Black Hundreds, were busy attempting to restore reaction in +some form or other. + +In this atmosphere of corruption, of monstrous half-truths, one clear +note sounded day after day, the deepening chorus of the Bolsheviki, +"All Power to the Soviets! All power to the direct representatives of +millions on millions of common workers, soldiers, peasants. Land, +bread, an end to the senseless war, an end to secret diplomacy, +speculation, treachery.... The Revolution is in danger, and with it +the cause of the people all over the world!" + +The struggle between the proletariat and the middle class, between +the Soviets and the Government, which had begun in the first March +days, was about to culminate. Having at one bound leaped from the +Middle Ages into the twentieth century, Russia showed the startled +world two systems of Revolution--the political and the social--in +mortal combat. + +What a revelation of the vitality of the Russian Revolution, after +all these months of starvation and disillusionment! The bourgeoisie +should have better known its Russia. Not for a long time in Russia +will the "sickness" of Revolution have run its course.... + +Looking back, Russia before the November insurrection seems of +another age, almost incredibly conservative. So quickly did we adapt +ourselves to the newer, swifter life; just as Russian politics swung +bodily to the Left--until the Cadets were outlawed as "enemies of the +people," Kerensky became a "counter-revolutionist," the "middle" +Socialist leaders, Tseretelli, Dan, Lieber, Gotz and Avksentiev, were +too reactionary for their following, and men like Victor Tchernov, +and even Maxim Gorky, belonged to the Right Wing.... + +About the middle of December, 1917, a group of Socialist +Revolutionary leaders paid a private visit to Sir George Buchanan, +the British Ambassador, and implored him not to mention the fact that +they had been there, because they were "considered too far Right." + +"And to think," said Sir George. "One year ago my Government +instructed me not to receive Miliukov, because he was so dangerously +Left!" + +September and October are the worst months of the Russian +year--especially the Petrograd year. Under dull grey skies, in the +shortening days, the rain fell drenching, incessant. The mud +underfoot was deep, slippery and clinging, tracked everywhere by +heavy boots, and worse than usual because of the complete break-down +of the Municipal administration. Bitter damp winds rushed in from the +Gulf of Finland, and the chill fog rolled through the streets. At +night, for motives of economy as well as fear of Zeppelins, the +street-lights were few and far between; in private dwellings and +apartment-houses the electricity was turned on from six o'clock until +midnight, with candles forty cents apiece and little kerosene to be +had. It was dark from three in the afternoon to ten in the morning. +Robberies and housebreakings increased. In apartment houses the men +took turns at all-night guard duty, armed with loaded rifles. This +was under the Provisional Government. + +Week by week food became scarcer. The daily allowance of bread fell +from a pound and a half to a pound, then three quarters, half, and a +quarter-pound. Toward the end there was a week without any bread at +all. Sugar one was entitled to at the rate of two pounds a month--if +one could get it at all, which was seldom. A bar of chocolate or a +pound of tasteless candy cost anywhere from seven to ten rubles--at +least a dollar. There was milk for about half the babies in the city; +most hotels and private houses never saw it for months. In the fruit +season apples and pears sold for a little less than a ruble apiece on +the street-corner.... + +For milk and bread and sugar and tobacco one had to stand in _queue_ +long hours in the chill rain. Coming home from an all-night meeting I +have seen the _kvost_ (tail) beginning to form before dawn, mostly +women, some with babies in their arms.... Carlyle, in his _French +Revolution,_ has described the French people as distinguished above +all others by their faculty of standing in _queue._ Russia had +accustomed herself to the practice, begun in the reign of Nicholas +the Blessed as long ago as 1915, and from then continued +intermittently until the summer of 1917, when it settled down as the +regular order of things. Think of the poorly-clad people standing on +the iron-white streets of Petrograd whole days in the Russian winter! +I have listened in the bread-lines, hearing the bitter, acrid note of +discontent which from time to time burst up through the miraculous +goodnature of the Russian crowd.... + +Of course all the theatres were going every night, including Sundays. +Karsavina appeared in a new Ballet at the Marinsky, all dance-loving +Russia coming to see her. Shaliapin was singing. At the Alexandrinsky +they were reviving Meyerhold's production of Tolstoy's "Death of Ivan +the Terrible"; and at that performance I remember noticing a student +of the Imperial School of Pages, in his dress uniform, who stood up +correctly between the acts and faced the empty Imperial box, with its +eagles all erased.... The _Krivoye Zerkalo_ staged a sumptuous version +of Schnitzler's "Reigen." + +Although the Hermitage and other picture galleries had been evacuated +to Moscow, there were weekly exhibitions of paintings. Hordes of the +female _intelligentzia_ went to hear lectures on Art, Literature and +the Easy Philosophies. It was a particularly active season for +Theosophists. And the Salvation Army, admitted to Russia for the +first time in history, plastered the walls with announcements of +gospel meetings, which amused and astounded Russian audiences.... + +As in all such times, the petty conventional life of the city went +on, ignoring the Revolution as much as possible. The poets made +verses--but not about the Revolution. The realistic painters painted +scenes from mediaeval Russian history--anything but the Revolution. +Young ladies from the provinces came up to the capital to learn +French and cultivate their voices, and the gay young beautiful +officers wore their gold-trimmed crimson _bashliki_ and their +elaborate Caucasian swords around the hotel lobbies. The ladies of +the minor bureaucratic set took tea with each other in the afternoon, +carrying each her little gold or silver or jewelled sugar-box, and +half a loaf of bread in her muff, and wished that the Tsar were back, +or that the Germans would come, or anything that would solve the +servant problem.... The daughter of a friend of mine came home one +afternoon in hysterics because the woman street-car conductor had +called her "Comrade!" + +All around them great Russia was in travail, bearing a new world. The +servants one used to treat like animals and pay next to nothing, were +getting independent. A pair of shoes cost more than a hundred rubles, +and as wages averaged about thirty-five rubles a month the servants +refused to stand in _queue_ and wear out their shoes. But more than +that. In the new Russia every man and woman could vote; there were +working-class newspapers, saying new and startling things; there were +the Soviets; and there were the Unions. The _izvoshtchiki_ +(cab-drivers) had a Union; they were also represented in the +Petrograd Soviet. The waiters and hotel servants were organised, and +refused tips. On the walls of restaurants they put up signs which +read, "No tips taken here--" or, "Just because a man has to make his +living waiting on table is no reason to insult him by offering him a +tip!" + +At the Front the soldiers fought out their fight with the officers, +and learned self-government through their committees. In the +factories those unique Russian organisations, the Factory-Shop +Committees,[4] gained experience and strength and a realisation of +their historical mission by combat with the old order. All Russia was +learning to read, and _reading_--politics, economics, history--because +the people wanted to _know...._ In every city, in most towns, along the +Front, each political faction had its newspaper--sometimes several. +Hundreds of thousands of pamphlets were distributed by thousands of +organisations, and poured into the armies, the villages, the +factories, the streets. The thirst for education, so long thwarted, +burst with the Revolution into a frenzy of expression. From Smolny +Institute alone, the first six months, went out every day tons, +car-loads, train-loads of literature, saturating the land. Russia +absorbed reading matter like hot sand drinks water, insatiable. And +it was not fables, falsified history, diluted religion, and the cheap +fiction that corrupts--but social and economic theories, philosophy, +the works of Tolstoy, Gogol, and Gorky.... + +[4] See Notes and Explanations. + +Then the Talk, beside which Carlyle's "flood of French speech" was a +mere trickle. Lectures, debates, speeches--in theatres, circuses, +school-houses, clubs, Soviet meeting-rooms, Union headquarters, +barracks.... Meetings in the trenches at the Front, in village squares, +factories.... What a marvellous sight to see Putilovsky Zavod (the +Putilov factory) pour out its forty thousand to listen to Social +Democrats, Socialist Revolutionaries, Anarchists, anybody, whatever +they had to say, as long as they would talk! For months in Petrograd, +and all over Russia, every street-corner was a public tribune. In +railway trains, street-cars, always the spurting up of impromptu +debate, everywhere.... + +And the All-Russian Conferences and Congresses, drawing together the +men of two continents--conventions of Soviets, of Cooperatives, +Zemstvos,[5] nationalities, priests, peasants, political parties; the +Democratic Conference, the Moscow Conference, the Council of the +Russian Republic. There were always three or four conventions going +on in Petrograd. At every meeting, attempts to limit the time of +speakers voted down, and every man free to express the thought that +was in him.... + +[5] See Notes and Explanations. + +We came down to the front of the Twelfth Army, back of Riga, where +gaunt and bootless men sickened in the mud of desperate trenches; and +when they saw us they started up, with their pinched faces and the +flesh showing blue through their torn clothing, demanding eagerly, +"Did you bring anything to _read?"_ + +What though the outward and visible signs of change were many, what +though the statue of Catharine the Great before the Alexandrinsky +Theatre bore a little red flag in its hand, and others--somewhat +faded--floated from all public buildings; and the Imperial monograms +and eagles were either torn down or covered up; and in place of the +fierce _gorodovoye_ (city police) a mild-mannered and unarmed citizen +militia patrolled the streets--still, there were many quaint +anachronisms. + +For example, Peter the Great's _Tabel o Rangov--_Table of Ranks--which +he rivetted upon Russia with an iron hand, still held sway. Almost +everybody from the school-boy up wore his prescribed uniform, with +the insignia of the Emperor on button and shoulder-strap. Along about +five o'clock in the afternoon the streets were full of subdued old +gentlemen in uniform, with portfolios, going home from work in the +huge, barrack-like Ministries or Government institutions, calculating +perhaps how great a mortality among their superiors would advance +them to the coveted _tchin_ (rank) of Collegiate Assessor, or Privy +Councillor, with the prospect of retirement on a comfortable pension, +and possibly the Cross of St. Anne.... + +There is the story of Senator Sokolov, who in full tide of Revolution +came to a meeting of the Senate one day in civilian clothes, and was +not admitted because he did not wear the prescribed livery of the +Tsar's service! + +It was against this background of a whole nation in ferment and +disintegration that the pageant of the Rising of the Russian Masses +unrolled.... + + + + +Chapter II + +The Coming Storm + + +In September General Kornilov marched on Petrograd to make himself +military dictator of Russia. Behind him was suddenly revealed the +mailed fist of the bourgeoisie, boldly attempting to crush the +Revolution. Some of the Socialist Ministers were implicated; even +Kerensky was under suspicion. (See App. II, Sect. 1) Savinkov, +summoned to explain to the Central Committee of his party, the +Socialist Revolutionaries, refused and was expelled. Kornilov was +arrested by the Soldiers' Committees. Generals were dismissed, +Ministers suspended from their functions, and the Cabinet fell. + +Kerensky tried to form a new Government, including the Cadets, party +of the bourgeoisie. His party, the Socialist Revolutionaries, +ordered him to exclude the Cadets. Kerensky declined to obey, and +threatened to resign from the Cabinet if the Socialists insisted. +However, popular feeling ran so high that for the moment he did not +dare oppose it, and a temporary Directorate of Five of the old +Ministers, with Kerensky at the head, assumed the power until the +question should be settled. + +The Kornilov affair drew together all the Socialist +groups--"moderates" as well as revolutionists--in a passionate impulse +of self-defence. There must be no more Kornilovs. A new Government +must be created, responsible to the elements supporting the +Revolution. So the _Tsay-ee-kah_ invited the popular organisations +to send delegates to a Democratic Conference, which should meet at +Petrograd in September. + +In the _Tsay-ee-kah_ three factions immediately appeared. The +Bolsheviki demanded that the All-Russian Congress of Soviets be +summoned, and that they take over the power. The "centre" Socialist +Revolutionaries, led by Tchernov, joined with the Left Socialist +Revolutionaries, led by Kamkov and Spiridonova, the Mensheviki +Internationalists under Martov, and the "centre" Mensheviki,[6] +represented by Bogdanov and Skobeliev, in demanding a purely +Socialist Government. Tseretelli, Dan and Lieber, at the head of the +right wing Mensheviki, and the right Socialist Revolutionaries under +Avksentiev and Gotz, insisted that the propertied classes must be +represented in the new Government. + +[6] See Notes and Explanations. + +Almost immediately the Bolsheviki won a majority in the Petrograd +Soviet, and the Soviets of Moscow, Kiev, Odessa and other cities +followed suit. + +Alarmed, the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries in control of +the _Tsay-ee-kah_ decided that after all they feared the danger of +Kornilov less than the danger of Lenin. They revised the plan of +representation in the Democratic Conference, (See App. II, Sect. 2) +admitting more delegates from the Cooperative Societies and other +conservative bodies. Even this packed assembly at first voted for a +_Coalition Government without the Cadets._ Only Kerensky's open +threat of resignation, and the alarming cries of the "moderate" +Socialists that "the Republic is in danger" persuaded the +Conference, by a small majority, to declare in favour of the +principle of coalition with the bourgeoisie, and to sanction the +establishment of a sort of consultative Parliament, without any +legislative power, called the Provisional Council of the Russian +Republic. In the new Ministry the propertied classes practically +controlled, and in the Council of the Russian Republic they occupied +a disproportionate number of seats. + +The fact is that the _Tsay-ee-kah_ no longer represented the rank +and file of the Soviets, and had illegally refused to call another +All-Russian Congress of Soviets, due in September. It had no +intention of calling this Congress or of allowing it to be called. +Its official organ, _Izviestia_ (News), began to hint that the +function of the Soviets was nearly at an end, (See App. II, Sect. 3) +and that they might soon be dissolved... At this time, too, the new +Government announced as part of its policy the liquidation of +"irresponsible organisations"--i.e. the Soviets. + +The Bolsheviki responded by summoning the All-Russian Soviets to +meet at Petrograd on November 2, and take over the Government of +Russia. At the same time they withdrew from the Council of the +Russian Republic, stating that they would not participate in a +"Government of Treason to the People." (See App. II, Sect. 4) + +The withdrawal of the Bolsheviki, however, did not bring +tranquillity to the ill-fated Council. The propertied classes, now +in a position of power, became arrogant. The Cadets declared that +the Government had no legal right to declare Russia a republic. They +demanded stern measures in the Army and Navy to destroy the +Soldiers' and Sailors' Committees, and denounced the Soviets. On the +other side of the chamber the Mensheviki Internationalists and the +Left Socialist Revolutionaries advocated immediate peace, land to +the peasants, and workers' control of industry--practically the +Bolshevik programme. + +I heard Martov's speech in answer to the Cadets. Stooped over the +desk of the tribune like the mortally sick man he was, and speaking +in a voice so hoarse it could hardly be heard, he shook his finger +toward the right benches: + +"You call us defeatists; but the real defeatists are those who wait +for a more propitious moment to conclude peace, insist upon +postponing peace until later, until nothing is left of the Russian +army, until Russia becomes the subject of bargaining between the +different imperialist groups.... You are trying to impose upon the +Russian people a policy dictated by the interests of the +bourgeoisie. The question of peace should be raised without delay.... +You will see then that not in vain has been the work of those whom +you call German agents, of those Zimmerwaldists[7] who in all the +lands have prepared the awakening of the conscience of the +democratic masses...." + +[7] Members of the revoloutionary internationalist wing of the +Socialists of Europe, so-called because of their participation +in the International Conference held at Zimmerwald, Switzerland, +in 1915. + +Between these two groups the Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries wavered, irresistibly forced to the left by the +pressure of the rising dissatisfaction of the masses. Deep hostility +divided the chamber into irreconcilable groups. + +This was the situation when the long-awaited announcement of the +Allied Conference in Paris brought up the burning question of +foreign policy.... + +Theoretically all Socialist parties in Russia were in favour of the +earliest possible peace on democratic terms. As long ago as May, +1917, the Petrograd Soviet, then under control of the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolutionaries, had proclaimed the famous Russian +peace-conditions. They had demanded that the Allies hold a +conference to discuss war-aims. This conference had been promised +for August; then postponed until September; then until October; and +now it was fixed for November 10th. + +The Provisional Government suggested two representatives--General +Alexeyev, reactionary military man, and Terestchenko, Minister of +Foreign Affairs. The Soviets chose Skobeliev to speak for them and +drew up a manifesto, the famous _nakaz_--(See App. II, Sect. 5) +instructions. The Provisional Government objected to Skobeliev and +his _nakaz;_ the Allied ambassadors protested and finally Bonar Law +in the British House of Commons, in answer to a question, responded +coldly, "As far as I know the Paris Conference will not discuss the +aims of the war at all, but only the methods of conducting it...." + +At this the conservative Russian press was jubilant, and the +Bolsheviki cried, "See where the compromising tactics of the +Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries have led them!" + +Along a thousand miles of front the millions of men in Russia's +armies stirred like the sea rising, pouring into the capital their +hundreds upon hundreds of delegations, crying "Peace! Peace!" + +I went across the river to the Cirque Moderne, to one of the great +popular meetings which occurred all over the city, more numerous +night after night. The bare, gloomy amphitheatre, lit by five tiny +lights hanging from a thin wire, was packed from the ring up the +steep sweep of grimy benches to the very roof--soldiers, sailors, +workmen, women, all listening as if their lives depended upon it. A +soldier was speaking--from the Five Hundred and Forty-eight Division, +wherever and whatever that was: + +"Comrades," he cried, and there was real anguish in his drawn face +and despairing gestures. "The people at the top are always calling +upon us to sacrifice more, sacrifice more, while those who have +everything are left unmolested. + +"We are at war with Germany. Would we invite German generals to +serve on our Staff? Well we're at war with the capitalists too, and +yet we invite them into our Government.... + +"The soldier says, 'Show me what I am fighting for. Is it +Constantinople, or is it free Russia? Is it the democracy, or is it +the capitalist plunderers? If you can prove to me that I am +defending the Revolution then I'll go out and fight without capital +punishment to force me.' + +"When the land belongs to the peasants, and the factories to the +workers, and the power to the Soviets, then we'll know we have +something to fight for, and we'll fight for it!" + +In the barracks, the factories, on the street-corners, end less +soldier speakers, all clamouring for an end to the war, declaring +that if the Government did not make an energetic effort to get +peace, the army would leave the trenches and go home. + +The spokesman for the Eighth Army: + +"We are weak, we have only a few men left in each company. They must +give us food and boots and reinforcements, or soon there will be +left only empty trenches. Peace or supplies... either let the +Government end the war or support the Army...." + +For the Forty-sixth Siberian Artillery: + +"The officers will not work with our Committees, they betray us to +the enemy, they apply the death penalty to our agitators; and the +counter-revolutionary Government supports them. We thought that the +Revolution would bring peace. But now the Government forbids us even +to talk of such things, and at the same time doesn't give us enough +food to live on, or enough ammunition to fight with...." + +From Europe came rumours of peace at the expense of Russia. (See +App. II, Sect. 6)... + +News of the treatment of Russian troops in France added to the +discontent. The First Brigade had tried to replace its officers with +Soldiers' Committees, like their comrades at home, and had refused +an order to go to Salonika, demanding to be sent to Russia. They had +been surrounded and starved, and then fired on by artillery, and +many killed. (See App. II, Sect. 7)... + +On October 29th I went to the white-marble and crimson hall of the +Marinsky palace, where the Council of the Republic sat, to hear +Terestchenko's declaration of the Government's foreign policy, +awaited with such terrible anxiety by all the peace-thirsty and +exhausted land. + +A tall, impeccably-dressed young man with a smooth face and high +cheek-bones, suavely reading his careful, non-committal speech. (See +App. II, Sect. 8) Nothing.... Only the same platitudes about crushing +German militarism with the help of the Allies--about the "state +interests" of Russia, about the "embarrassment" caused by +Skobeliev's _nakaz._ He ended with the key-note: + +"Russia is a great power. Russia will remain a great power, whatever +happens. We must all defend her, we must show that we are defenders +of a great ideal, and children of a great power." + +Nobody was satisfied. The reactionaries wanted a "strong" +imperialist policy; the democratic parties wanted an assurance that +the Government would press for peace.... I reproduce an editorial in +_Rabotchi i Soldat_ (Worker and Soldier), organ of the Bolshevik +Petrograd Soviet: + +THE GOVERNMENT'S ANSWER TO THE TRENCHES + +The most taciturn of our Ministers, Mr. Terestchenko, has actually +told the trenches the following: + +1. We are closely united with our Allies. (Not with the peoples, but +with the Governments.) + +2. There is no use for the democracy to discuss the possibility or +impossibility of a winter campaign. That will be decided by the +Governments of our Allies. + +3. The 1st of July offensive was beneficial and a very happy affair. +(He did not mention the consequences.) + +4. It is not true that our Allies do not care about us. The Minister +has in his possession very important declarations. (Declarations? +What about deeds? What about the behaviour of the British fleet? +(See App. II, Sect. 9) The parleying of the British king with exiled +counter-revolutionary General Gurko? The Minister did not mention +all this.) + +5. The _nakaz_ to Skobeliev is bad; the Allies don't like it and the +Russian diplomats don't like it. In the Allied Conference we must +all 'speak one language.' + +And is that all? That is all. What is the way out? The solution is, +faith in the Allies and in Terestchenko. When will peace come? When +the Allies permit. + +That is how the Government replied to the trenches about peace! + +Now in the background of Russian politics began to form the vague +outlines of a sinister power--the Cossacks. _Novaya Zhizn_ (New +Life), Gorky's paper, called attention to their activities: + +At the beginning of the Revolution the Cossacks refused to shoot +down the people. When Kornilov marched on Petrograd they refused to +follow him. From passive loyalty to the Revolution the Cossacks have +passed to an active political offensive (against it). From the +back-ground of the Revolution they have suddenly advanced to the +front of the stage.... + +Kaledin, _ataman_ of the Don Cossacks, had been dismissed by the +Provisional Government for his complicity in the Kornilov affair. He +flatly refused to resign, and surrounded by three immense Cossack +armies lay at Novotcherkask, plotting and menacing. So great was his +power that the Government was forced to ignore his insubordination. +More than that, it was compelled formally to recognise the Council +of the Union of Cossack Armies, and to declare illegal the +newly-formed Cossack Section of the Soviets.... + +In the first part of October a Cossack delegation called upon +Kerensky, arrogantly insisting that the charges against Kaledin be +dropped, and reproaching the Minister-President for yielding to the +Soviets. Kerensky agreed to let Kaledin alone, and then is reported +to have said, "In the eyes of the Soviet leaders I am a despot and a +tyrant.... As for the Provisional Government, not only does it not +depend upon the Soviets, but it considers it regrettable that they +exist at all." + +At the same time another Cossack mission called upon the British +ambassador, treating with him boldly as representatives of "the free +Cossack people." + +In the Don something very like a Cossack Republic had been +established. The Kuban declared itself an independent Cossack State. +The Soviets of Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg were dispersed by +armed Cossacks, and the headquarters of the Coal Miners' Union at +Kharkov raided. In all its manifestations the Cossack movement was +anti-Socialist and militaristic. Its leaders were nobles and great +land-owners, like Kaledin, Kornilov, Generals Dutov, Karaulov and +Bardizhe, and it was backed by the powerful merchants and bankers of +Moscow.... + +Old Russia was rapidly breaking up. In Ukraine, in Finland, Poland, +White Russia, the nationalist movements gathered strength and became +bolder. The local Governments, controlled by the propertied classes, +claimed autonomy, refusing to obey orders from Petrograd. At +Helsingfors the Finnish Senate declined to loan money to the +Provisional Government, declared Finland autonomous, and demanded +the withdrawal of Russian troops. The bourgeois Rada at Kiev +extended the boundaries of Ukraine until they included all the +richest agricultural lands of South Russia, as far east as the +Urals, and began the formation of a national army. Premier +Vinnitchenko hinted at a separate peace with Germany--and the +Provisional Government was helpless. Siberia, the Caucasus, demanded +separate Constituent Assemblies. And in all these countries there +was the beginning of a bitter struggle between the authorities and +the local Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.... + +Conditions were daily more chaotic. Hundreds of thousands of +soldiers were deserting the front and beginning to move in vast, +aimless tides over the face of the land. The peasants of Tambov and +Tver Governments, tired of waiting for the land, exasperated by the +repressive measures of the Government, were burning manor-houses and +massacring land-owners. Immense strikes and lock-outs convulsed +Moscow, Odessa and the coal-mines of the Don. Transportation was +paralysed; the army was starving and in the big cities there was no +bread. + +The Government, torn between the democratic and reactionary +factions, could do nothing: when forced to act it always supported +the interests of the propertied classes. Cossacks were sent to +restore order among the peasants, to break the strikes. In Tashkent, +Government authorities suppressed the Soviet. In Petrograd the +Economic Council, established to rebuild the shattered economic life +of the country, came to a deadlock between the opposing forces of +capital and labour, and was dissolved by Kerensky. The old regime +military men, backed by Cadets, demanded that harsh measures be +adopted to restore discipline in the Army and the Navy. In vain +Admiral Verderevsky, the venerable Minister of Marine, and General +Verkhovsky, Minister of War, insisted that only a new, voluntary, +democratic discipline, based on cooperation with the soldiers' and +sailors' Committees, could save the army and navy. Their +recommendations were ignored. + +The reactionaries seemed determined to provoke popular anger. The +trial of Kornilov was coming on. More and more openly the bourgeois +press defended him, speaking of him as "the great Russian patriot." +Burtzev's paper, _Obshtchee Dielo_ (Common Cause), called for a +dictatorship of Kornilov, Kaledin and Kerensky! + +I had a talk with Burtzev one day in the press gallery of the +Council of the Republic. A small, stooped figure with a wrinkled +face, eyes near-sighted behind thick glasses, untidy hair and beard +streaked with grey. + +"Mark my words, young man! What Russia needs is a Strong Man. We +should get our minds off the Revolution now and concentrate on the +Germans. Bunglers, bunglers, to defeat Kornilov; and back of the +bunglers are the German agents. Kornilov should have won...." + +On the extreme right the organs of the scarcely-veiled Monarchists, +Purishkevitch's _Narodny Tribun_ (People's Tribune), _Novaya Rus_ +(New Russia), and _Zhivoye Slovo_ (Living Word), openly advocated +the extermination of the revolutionary democracy.... + +On the 23rd of October occurred the naval battle with a German +squadron in the Gulf of Riga. On the pretext that Petrograd was in +danger, the Provisional Government drew up plans for evacuating the +capital. First the great munitions works were to go, distributed +widely throughout Russia; and then the Government itself was to move +to Moscow. Instantly the Bolsheviki began to cry out that the +Government was abandoning the Red Capital in order to weaken the +Revolution. Riga had been sold to the Germans; now Petrograd was +being betrayed! + +The bourgeois press was joyful. "At Moscow," said the Cadet paper +_Ryetch_ (Speech), "the Government can pursue its work in a tranquil +atmosphere, without being interfered with by anarchists." Rodzianko, +leader of the right wing of the Cadet party, declared in _Utro +Rossii_ (The Morning of Russia) that the taking of Petrograd by the +Germans would be a blessing, because it would destroy the Soviets +and get rid of the revolutionary Baltic Fleet: + +Petrograd is in danger (he wrote). I say to myself, "Let God take +care of Petrograd." They fear that if Petrograd is lost the central +revolutionary organisations will be destroyed. To that I answer that +I rejoice if all these organisations are destroyed; for they will +bring nothing but disaster upon Russia.... + +With the taking of Petrograd the Baltic Fleet will also be +destroyed.... But there will be nothing to regret; most of the +battleships are completely demoralised.... + +In the face of a storm of popular disapproval the plan of evacuation +was repudiated. + +Meanwhile the Congress of Soviets loomed over Russia like a +thunder-cloud, shot through with lightnings. It was opposed, not +only by the Government but by all the "moderate" Socialists. The +Central Army and Fleet Committees, the Central Committees of some of +the Trade Unions, the Peasants' Soviets, but most of all the +_Tsay-ee-kah_ itself, spared no pains to prevent the meeting. +_Izviestia_ and _Golos Soldata_ (Voice of the Soldier), newspapers +founded by the Petrograd Soviet but now in the hands of the +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ fiercely assailed it, as did the entire artillery of +the Socialist Revolutionary party press, _Dielo Naroda_ (People's +Cause) and _Volia Naroda_ (People's Will). + +Delegates were sent through the country, messages flashed by wire to +committees in charge of local Soviets, to Army Committees, +instructing them to halt or delay elections to the Congress. Solemn +public resolutions against the Congress, declarations that the +democracy was opposed to the meeting so near the date of the +Constituent Assembly, representatives from the Front, from the Union +of Zemstvos, the Peasants' Union, Union of Cossack Armies, Union of +Officers, Knights of St. George, Death Battalions,[8] protesting.... +The Council of the Russian Republic was one chorus of disapproval. +The entire machinery set up by the Russian Revolution of March +functioned to block the Congress of Soviets.... + +[8] See Notes and Explanations. + +On the other hand was the shapeless will of the proletariat--the +workmen, common soldiers and poor peasants. Many local Soviets were +already Bolshevik; then there were the organisations of the +industrial workers, the _Fabritchno-Zavodskiye Comitieti_--Factory-Shop +Committees; and the insurgent Army and Fleet organisations. In some +places the people, prevented from electing their regular Soviet +delegates, held rump meetings and chose one of their number to +go to Petrograd. In others they smashed the old obstructionist +committees and formed new ones. A ground-swell of revolt heaved +and cracked the crust which had been slowly hardening on the +surface of revolutionary fires dormant all those months. Only +an spontaneous mass-movement could bring about the All-Russian +Congress of Soviets.... + +Day after day the Bolshevik orators toured the barracks and +factories, violently denouncing "this Government of civil war." One +Sunday we went, on a top-heavy steam tram that lumbered through +oceans of mud, between stark factories and immense churches, to +_Obukhovsky Zavod,_ a Government munitions-plant out on the +Schluesselburg Prospekt. + +The meeting took place between the gaunt brick walls of a huge +unfinished building, ten thousand black-clothed men and women packed +around a scaffolding draped in red, people heaped on piles of lumber +and bricks, perched high upon shadowy girders, intent and +thunder-voiced. Through the dull, heavy sky now and again burst the +sun, flooding reddish light through the skeleton windows upon the +mass of simple faces upturned to us. + +Lunatcharsky, a slight, student-like figure with the sensitive face +of an artist, was telling why the power must be taken by the +Soviets. Nothing else could guarantee the Revolution against its +enemies, who were deliberately ruining the country, ruining the +army, creating opportunities for a new Konilov. + +A soldier from the Rumanian front, thin, tragical and fierce, cried, +"Comrades! We are starving at the front, we are stiff with cold. We +are dying for no reason. I ask the American comrades to carry word +to America, that the Russians will never give up their Revolution +until they die. We will hold the fort with all our strength until +the peoples of the world rise and help us! Tell the American workers +to rise and fight for the Social Revolution!" + +Then came Petrovsky, slight, slow-voiced, implacable: "Now is the +time for deeds, not words. The economic situation is bad, but we +must get used to it. They are trying to starve us and freeze us. +They are trying to provoke us. But let them know that they can go +too far--that if they dare to lay their hands upon the organisations +of the proletariat we will sweep them away like scum from the face +of the earth!" + +The Bolshevik press suddenly expanded. Besides the two party papers, +_Rabotchi Put_ and _Soldat_ (Soldier), there appeared a new paper +for the peasants, _Derevenskaya Byednota_ (Village Poorest), poured +out in a daily half-million edition; and on October 17th, _Rabotchi +i Soldat._ Its leading article summed up the Bolshevik point of view: + +The fourth year's campaign will mean the annihilation of the army +and the country.... There is danger for the safety of Petrograd.... +Counter-revolutionists rejoice in the people's misfortunes.... The +peasants brought to desperation come out in open rebellion; the +landlords and Government authorities massacre them with punitive +expeditions; factories and mines are closing down, workmen are +threatened with starvation.... The bourgeoisie and its Generals want +to restore a blind discipline in the army.... Supported by the +bourgeoisie, the Kornilovtsi are openly getting ready to break up +the meeting of the Constituent Assembly.... + +The Kerensky Government is against the people. He will destroy the +country.... This paper stands for the people and by the people--the +poor classes, workers, soldiers and peasants. The people can only be +saved by the completion of the Revolution... and for this purpose the +full power must be in the hands of the Soviets.... + +This paper advocates the following: All power to the Soviets--both in +the capital and in the provinces. + +Immediate truce on all fronts. An honest peace between peoples. + +Landlord estates--without compensation--to the peasants. + +Workers' control over industrial production. + +A faithfully and honestly elected Constituent Assembly. + +It is interesting to reproduce here a passage from that same +paper--the organ of those Bolsheviki so well known to the world as +German agents: + +The German kaiser, covered with the blood of millions of dead +people, wants to push his army against Petrograd. Let us call to the +German workmen, soldiers and peasants, who want peace not less than +we do, to... stand up against this damned war! + +This can be done only by a revolutionary Government, which would +speak really for the workmen, soldiers and peasants of Russia, and +would appeal over the heads of the diplomats directly to the German +troops, fill the German trenches with proclamations in the German +language.... Our airmen would spread these proclamations all over +Germany.... + +In the Council of the Republic the gulf between the two sides of the +chamber deepened day by day. + +"The propertied classes," cried Karelin, for the Left Socialist +Revolutionaries, "want to exploit the revolutionary machine of the +State to bind Russia to the war-chariot of the Allies! The +revolutionary parties are absolutely against this policy...." + +Old Nicholas Tchaikovsky, representing the Populist Socialists, +spoke against giving the land to the peasants, and took the side of +the Cadets: "We must have immediately strong discipline in the +army.... Since the beginning of the war I have not ceased to insist +that it is a crime to undertake social and economic reforms in +war-time. We are committing that crime, and yet I am not the enemy +of these reforms, because I am a Socialist." + +Cries from the Left, "We don't believe you!" Mighty applause from +the Right.... + +Adzhemov, for the Cadets, declared that there was no necessity to +tell the army what it was fighting for, since every soldier ought to +realise that the first task was to drive the enemy from Russian +territory. + +Kerensky himself came twice, to plead passionately for national +unity, once bursting into tears at the end. The assembly heard him +coldly, interrupting with ironical remarks. + +Smolny Institute, headquarters of the _Tsay-ee-kah_ and of the +Petrograd Soviet, lay miles out on the edge of the city, beside the +wide Neva. I went there on a street-car, moving snail-like with a +groaning noise through the cobbled, muddy streets, and jammed with +people. At the end of the line rose the graceful smoke-blue cupolas +of Smolny Convent outlined in dull gold, beautiful; and beside it +the great barracks like facade of Smolny Institute, two hundred +yards long and three lofty stories high, the Imperial arms carved +hugely in stone still insolent over the entrance.... + +Under the old regime a famous convent-school for the daughters of +the Russian nobility, patronised by the Tsarina herself, the +Institute had been taken over by the revolutionary organisations of +workers and soldiers. Within were more than a hundred huge rooms, +white and bare, on their doors enamelled plaques still informing the +passerby that within was "Ladies' Class-room Number 4" or "Teachers' +Bureau"; but over these hung crudely-lettered signs, evidence of the +vitality of the new order: "Central Committee of the Petrograd +Soviet" and _"Tsay-ee-kah"_ and "Bureau of Foreign Affairs"; "Union +of Socialist Soldiers," "Central Committee of the All-Russian Trade +Unions," "Factory-Shop Committees," "Central Army Committee"; and +the central offices and caucus-rooms of the political parties.... + +The long, vaulted corridors, lit by rare electric lights, were +thronged with hurrying shapes of soldiers and workmen, some bent +under the weight of huge bundles of newspapers, proclamations, +printed propaganda of all sorts. The sound of their heavy boots made +a deep and incessant thunder on the wooden floor.... Signs were posted +up everywhere: "Comrades! For the sake of your health, preserve +cleanliness!" Long tables stood at the head of the stairs on every +floor, and on the landings, heaped with pamphlets and the literature +of the different political parties, for sale.... + +The spacious, low-ceilinged refectory downstairs was still a +dining-room. For two rubles I bought a ticket entitling me to +dinner, and stood in line with a thousand others, waiting to get to +the long serving-tables, where twenty men and women were ladling +from immense cauldrons cabbage soup, hunks of meat and piles of +_kasha,_ slabs of black bread. Five kopeks paid for tea in a tin +cup. From a basket one grabbed a greasy wooden spoon.... The benches +along the wooden tables were packed with hungry proletarians, +wolfing their food, plotting, shouting rough jokes across the room.... + + +[Graphic, page 33: text of placard in russian, translation follows] + +COMRADES +FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR HEALTH, +PRESERVE CLEANLINESS. + +Upstairs was another eating-place, reserved for the _Tsay-ee-kah--_ +though every one went there. Here could be had bread thickly +buttered and endless glasses of tea.... + +In the south wing on the second floor was the great hall of +meetings, the former ball-room of the Institute. A lofty white room +lighted by glazed-white chandeliers holding hundreds of ornate +electric bulbs, and divided by two rows of massive columns; at one +end a dais, flanked with two tall many-branched light standards, and +a gold frame behind, from which the Imperial portrait had been cut. +Here on festal occasions had been banked brilliant military and +ecclesiastical uniforms, a setting for Grand Duchesses.... + +Just across the hall outside was the office of the Credentials +Committee for the Congress of Soviets. I stood there watching the +new delegates come in--burly, bearded soldiers, workmen in black +blouses, a few long-haired peasants. The girl in charge--a member of +Plekhanov's _Yedinstvo_[9] group--smiled contemptuously. "These are +very different people from the delegates to the first _Siezd_ +(Congress)," she remarked. "See how rough and ignorant they look! +The Dark People...." It was true; the depths of Russia had been +stirred, and it was the bottom which came uppermost now. The +Credentials Committee, appointed by the old _Tsay-ee-kah,_ was +challenging delegate after delegate, on the ground that they had +been illegally elected. Karakhan, member of the Bolshevik Central +Committee, simply grinned. "Never mind," he said, "When the time +comes we'll see that you get your seats...." + +[9] See Notes and Explanations. + +_Rabotchi i Soldat_ said: + +The attention of delegates to the new All-Russian Congress is called +to attempts of certain members of the Organising Committee to break +up the Congress, by asserting that it will not take place, and that +delegates had better leave Petrograd.... Pay no attention to these +lies.... Great days are coming.... + +It was evident that a quorum would not come together by November 2, +so the opening of the Congress was postponed to the 7th. But the +whole country was now aroused; and the Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries, realising that they were defeated, suddenly changed +their tactics and began to wire frantically to their provincial +organisations to elect as many "moderate" Socialist delegates as +possible. At the same time the Executive Committee of the Peasants' +Soviets issued an emergency call for a Peasants' Congress, to meet +December 13th and offset whatever action the workers and soldiers +might take... + +What would the Bolsheviki do? Rumours ran through the city that +there would be an armed "demonstration," a _vystuplennie_--"coming +out" of the workers and soldiers. The bourgeois and reactionary +press prophesied insurrection, and urged the Government to arrest +the Petrograd Soviet, or at least to prevent the meeting of the +Congress. Such sheets as _Novaya Rus_ advocated a general Bolshevik +massacre. + +Gorky's paper, _Novaya Zhizn,_ agreed with the Bolsheviki that the +reactionaries were attempting to destroy the Revolution, and that if +necessary they must be resisted by force of arms; but all the +parties of the revolutionary democracy must present a united front. + +As long as the democracy has not organised its principal forces, so +long as the resistance to its influence is still strong, there is no +advantage in passing to the attack. But if the hostile elements +appeal to force, then the revolutionary democracy should enter the +battle to seize the power, and it will be sustained by the most +profound strata of the people.... + +Gorky pointed out that both reactionary and Government newspapers +were inciting the Bolsheviki to violence. An insurrection, however, +would prepare the way for a new Kornilov. He urged the Bolsheviki to +deny the rumours. Potressov, in the Menshevik _Dien_ (Day), +published a sensational story, accompanied by a map, which professed +to reveal the secret Bolshevik plan of campaign. + +As if by magic, the walls were covered with warnings, (See App. II, +Sect. 10) proclamations, appeals, from the Central Committees of the +"moderate" and conservative factions and the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ +denouncing any "demonstrations," imploring the workers and soldiers +not to listen to agitators. For instance, this from the Military +Section of the Socialist Revolutionary party: + +Again rumours are spreading around the town of an intended +_vystuplennie._ What is the source of these rumours? What +organisation authorises these agitators who preach insurrection? The +Bolsheviki, to a question addressed to them in the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ +denied that they have anything to do with it.... But these rumours +themselves carry with them a great danger. It may easily happen +that, not taking into consideration the state of mind of the +majority of the workers, soldiers and peasants, individual hot-heads +will call out part of the workers and soldiers on the streets, +inciting them to an uprising.... In this fearful time through which +revolutionary Russia is passing, any insurrection can easily turn +into civil war, and there can result from it the destruction of all +organisations of the proletariat, built up with so much labour.... The +counter-revolutionary plotters are planning to take advantage of +this insurrection to destroy the Revolution, open the front to +Wilhelm, and wreck the Constituent Assembly.... Stick stubbornly to +your posts! Do not come out! + +On October 28th, in the corridors of Smolny, I spoke with Kameniev, +a little man with a reddish pointed beard and Gallic gestures. He +was not at all sure that enough delegates would come. "If there _is_ +a Congress," he said, "it will represent the overwhelming sentiment +of the people. If the majority is Bolshevik, as I think it will be, +we shall demand that the power be given to the Soviets, and the +Provisional Government must resign...." + +Volodarsky, a tall, pale youth with glasses and a bad complexion, +was more definite. "The 'Lieber-Dans' and the other compromisers are +sabotaging the Congress. If they succeed in preventing its +meeting,--well, then we are realists enough not to depend on _that!_" + +Under date of October 29th I find entered in my notebook the +following items culled from the newspapers of the day: + +Moghilev (General Staff Headquarters). Concentration here of loyal +Guard Regiments, the Savage Division, Cossacks and Death Battalions. + +The _yunkers_ of the Officers' Schools of Pavlovsk, Tsarskoye Selo +and Peterhof ordered by the Government to be ready to come to +Petrograd. Oranienbaum _yunkers_ arrive in the city. + +Part of the Armoured Car Division of the Petrograd garrism stationed +in the Winter Palace. + +Upon orders signed by Trotzky, several thousand rifles delivered by +the Government Arms Factory at Sestroretzk to delegates of the +Petrograd workmen. + +At a meeting of the City Militia of the Lower Liteiny Quarter, a +resolution demanding that all power be given to the Soviets. + +This is just a sample of the confused events of those feverish days, +when everybody knew that something was going to happen, but nobody +knew just what. + +At a meeting of the Petrograd Soviet in Smolny, the night of October +30th, Trotzky branded the assertions of the bourgeois press that the +Soviet contemplated armed insurention as "an attempt of the +reactionaries to discredit and wreck the Congress of Soviets.... The +Petrograd Soviet," he declared, "had not ordered any _uystuplennie._ +If it is necessary we shall do so, and we will be supported by the +Petrogruad garrison.... They (the Government) are preparing a +counter-revolution; and we shall answer with an offensive which will +be merciless and decisive." + +It is true that the Petrograd Soviet had not ordered a +demonstration, but the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party was +considering the question of insurrection. All night long the 23d +they met. There were present all the party intellectuals, the +leaders--and delegates of the Petrograd workers and garrison. Alone +of the intellectuals Lenin and Trotzky stood for insurrection. Even +the military men opposed it. A vote was taken. Insurrection was +defeated! + +Then arose a rough workman, his face convulsed with rage. "I speak +for the Petrograd proletariat," he said, harshly. "We are in +favour of insurrection. Have it your own way, but I tell you now +that if you allow the Soviets to be destroyed, _we're through with +you!_" Some soldiers joined him.... And after that they voted +again--insurrection won.... + +However, the right wing of the Bolsheviki, led by Riazanov, Kameniev +and Zinoviev, continued to campaign against an armed rising. On the +morning of October 31st appeared in _Rabotchi Put_ the first +instalment of Lenin's "Letter to the Comrades," (See App. II, Sect. +11) one of the most audacious pieces of political propaganda the +world has ever seen. In it Lenin seriously presented the arguments +in favour of insurrection, taking as text the objections of Kameniev +and Riazonov. + +"Either we must abandon our slogan, 'All Power to the Soviets,'" he +wrote, "or else we must make an insurrection. There is no middle +course...." + +That same afternoon Paul Miliukov, leader of the Cadets, made a +brilliant, bitter speech (See App. II, Sect. 12) in the Council of +the Republic, branding the Skobeliev _nakaz_ as pro-German, +declaring that the "revolutionary democracy" was destroying Russia, +sneering at Terestchenko, and openly declaring that he preferred +German diplomacy to Russian.... The Left benches were one roaring +tumult all through.... + +On its part the Government could not ignore the significance of the +success of the Bolshevik propaganda. On the 29th joint commission of +the Government and the Council of the Republic hastily drew up two +laws, one for giving the land temporarily to the peasants, and the +other for pushing an energetic foreign policy of peace. The next day +Kerensky suspended capital punishment in the army. That same +afternoon was opened with great ceremony the first session of the +new "Commission for Strengthening the Republican Regime and Fighting +Against Anarchy and Counter-Revolution"--of which history shows not +the slightest further trace.... The following morning with two other +correspondents I interviewed Kerensky (See App. II, Sect. 13)--the +last time he received journalists. + +"The Russian people," he said, bitterly, "are suffering from +economic fatigue--and from disillusionment with the Allies! The world +thinks that the Russian Revolution is at an end. Do not be mistaken. +The Russian Revolution is just beginning...." Words more prophetic, +perhaps, than he knew. + +Stormy was the all-night meeting of the Petrograd Soviet the 30th of +October, at which I was present. The "moderate" Socialist +intellectuals, officers, members of Army Committees, the +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ were there in force. Against them rose up workmen, +peasants and common soldiers, passionate and simple. + +A peasant told of the disorders in Tver, which he said were caused +by the arrest of the Land Committees. "This Kerensky is nothing but +a shield to the _pomieshtchiki_ (landowners)," he cried. "They know +that at the Constituent Assembly we will take the land anyway, so +they are trying to destroy the Constituent Assembly!" + +A machinist from the Putilov works described how the superintendents +were closing down the departments one by one on the pretext that +there was no fuel or raw materials. The Factory-Shop Committee, he +declared, had discovered huge hidden supplies. + +"It is a _provocatzia,"_ said he. "They want to starve us--or drive +us to violence!" + +Among the soldiers one began, "Comrades! I bring you greetings from +the place where men are digging their graves and call them trenches!" + +Then arose a tall, gaunt young soldier, with flashing eyes, met with +a roar of welcome. It was Tchudnovsky, reported killed in the July +fighting, and now risen from the dead. + +"The soldier masses no longer trust their officers. Even the Army +Committees, who refused to call a meeting of our Soviet, betrayed +us.... The masses of the soldiers want the Constituent Assembly to be +held exactly when it was called for, and those who dare to postpone +it will be cursed--and not only platonic curses either, for the Army +has guns too...." + +He told of the electoral campaign for the Constituent now raging in +the Fifth Army. "The officers, and especially the Mensheviki and the +Socialist Revolutionaries, are trying deliberately to cripple the +Bolsheviki. Our papers are not allowed to circulate in the trenches. +Our speakers are arrested--" + +"Why don't you speak about the lack of bread?" shouted another +soldier. + +"Man shall not live by bread alone," answered Tchudnovsky, sternly.... + +Followed him an officer, delegate from the Vitebsk Soviet, a +Menshevik _oboronetz._ "It isn't the question of who has the power. +The trouble is not with the Government, but with the war.... and the +war must be won before any change--" At this, hoots and ironical +cheers. "These Bolshevik agitators are demagogues!" The hall rocked +with laughter. "Let us for a moment forget the class struggle--" But +he got no farther. A voice yelled, "Don't you wish we would!" + +Petrograd presented a curious spectacle in those days. In the +factories the committee-rooms were filled with stacks of rifles, +couriers came and went, the Red Guard[10] drilled.... In all the +barracks meetings every night, and all day long interminable hot +arguments. On the streets the crowds thickened toward gloomy +evening, pouring in slow voluble tides up and down the Nevsky, +fighting for the newspapers.... Hold-ups increased to such an extent +that it was dangerous to walk down side streets.... On the Sadovaya +one afternoon I saw a crowd of several hundred people beat and +trample to death a soldier caught stealing.... Mysterious individuals +circulated around the shivering women who waited in _queue_ long +cold hours for bread and milk, whispering that the Jews had cornered +the food supply--and that while the people starved, the Soviet +members lived luxuriously.... + +[10] See Notes and Explanations. + +At Smolny there were strict guards at the door and the outer gates, +demanding everybody's pass. The committee-rooms buzzed and hummed +all day and all night, hundreds of soldiers and workmen slept on the +floor, wherever they could find room. Upstairs in the great hall a +thousand people crowded to the uproarious sessions of the Petrograd +Soviet.... + +Gambling clubs functioned hectically from dusk to dawn, with +champagne flowing and stakes of twenty thousand rubles. In the +centre of the city at night prostitutes in jewels and expensive furs +walked up and down, crowded the cafes.... + +Monarchist plots, German spies, smugglers hatching schemes.... + +And in the rain, the bitter chill, the great throbbing city under +grey skies rushing faster and faster toward--what? + + + + +Chapter III + +On the Eve + + +In the relations of a weak Government and a rebellious people there +comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the +masses, and every refusal to act excites their contempt.... + +The proposal to abandon Petrograd raised a hurricane; Kerensky's +public denial that the Government had any such intention was met with +hoots of derision. + +Pinned to the wall by the pressure of the Revolution (cried _Rabotchi +Put),_ the Government of "provisional" bourgeois tries to get free by +giving out lying assurances that it never thought of fleeing from +Petrograd, and that it didn't wish to surrender the capital.... + +In Kharkov thirty thousand coal miners organised, adopting the +preamble of the I. W. W. constitution: "The working class and the +employing class have nothing in common." Dispersed by Cossacks, some +were locked out by the mine-owners, and the rest declared a general +strike. Minister of Commerce and Industry Konovalov appointed his +assistant, Orlov, with plenary powers, to settle the trouble. Orlov +was hated by the miners. But the _Tsay-ee-kah_ not only supported his +appointment, but refused to demand that the Cossacks be recalled from +the Don Basin.... + +This was followed by the dispersal of the Soviet at Kaluga. The +Bolsheviki, having secured a majority in the Soviet, set free some +political prisoners. With the sanction of the Government Commissar +the Municipal Duma called in troops from Minsk, and bombarded the +Soviet headquarters with artillery. The Bolsheviki yielded, but as +they left the building Cossacks attacked them, crying, "This is what +we'll do to all the other Bolshevik Soviets, including those of +Moscow and Petrograd!" This incident sent a wave of panic rage +throughout Russia.... + +In Petrograd was ending a regional Congress of Soviets of the North, +presided over by the Bolshevik Krylenko. By an immense majority it +resolved that all power should be assumed by the All-Russian +Congress; and concluded by greeting the Bolsheviki in prison, bidding +them rejoice, for the hour of their liberation was at hand. At the +same time the first All-Russian Conference of Factory-Shop Committees +(See App. III, Sect. 1) declared emphatically for the Soviets, and +continued significantly, + +After liberating themselves politically from Tsardom, the +working-class wants to see the democratic regime triumphant in the +sphere of its productive activity. This is best expressed by Workers' +Control over industrial production, which naturally arose in the +atmosphere of economic decomposition created by the criminal policy +of the dominating classes.... + +The Union of Railwaymen was demanding the resignation of Liverovsky, +Minister of Ways and Communications.... + +In the name of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ Skobeliev insisted that the _nakaz_ +be presented at the Allied Conference, and formally protested against +the sending of Terestchenko to Paris. Terestchenko offered to resign.... + +General Verkhovsky, unable to accomplish his reorganisation of the +army, only came to Cabinet meetings at long intervals.... + +On November 3d Burtzev's _Obshtchee Dielo_ came out with great +headlines: + +Citizens! Save the fatherland! + +I have just learned that yesterday, at a meeting of the Commission +for National Defence, Minister of War General Verkhovsky, one of the +principal persons responsible for the fall of Kornilov, proposed to +sign a separate peace, independently of the Allies. + +That is treason to Russia! + +Terestchenko declared that the Provisional Government had not even +examined Verkhovsky's proposition. + +"You might think," said Terestchenko, "that we were in a madhouse!" + +The members of the Commission were astounded at the General's words. + +General Alexeyev wept. + +No! It is not madness! It is worse. It is direct treason to Russia! + +Kerensky, Terestchenko and Nekrassov must immediately answer us +concerning the words of Verkhovsky. + +Citizens, arise! + +Russia is being sold! + +Save her! + +What Verkhovsky really said was that the Allies must be pressed to +offer peace, because the Russian army could fight no longer.... + +Both in Russia and abroad the sensation was tremendous. Verkhovsky +was given "indefinite leave of absence for ill-health," and left the +Government. _Obshtchee Dielo_ was suppressed.... + +Sunday, November 4th, was designated as the Day of the Petrograd +Soviet, with immense meetings planned all over the city, ostensibly +to raise money for the organisation and the press; really, to make a +demonstration of strength. Suddenly it was announced that on the same +day the Cossacks would hold a _Krestny Khod_--Procession of the +Cross--in honour of the Ikon of 1612, through whose miraculous +intervention Napoleon had been driven from Moscow. The atmosphere was +electric; a spark might kindle civil war. The Petrograd Soviet issued +a manifesto, headed "Brothers--Cossacks!" + +You, Cossacks, are being incited against us, workers and soldiers. +This plan of Cain is being put into operation by our common enemies, +the oppressors, the privileged classes--generals, bankers, landlords, +former officials, former servants of the Tsar.... We are hated by all +grafters, rich men, princes, nobles, generals, including your Cossack +generals. They are ready at any moment to destroy the Petrograd +Soviet and crush the Revolution.... + +On the 4th of November somebody is organising a Cossack religious +procession. It is a question of the free consciousness of every +individual whether he will or will not take part in this procession. +We do not interfere in this matter, nor do we obstruct anybody.... +However, we warn you, Cossacks! Look out and see to it that under the +pretext of a _Krestni Khod,_ your Kaledins do not instigate you +against workmen, against soldiers.... + +The procession was hastily called off.... + +In the barracks and the working-class quarters of the town the +Bolsheviki were preaching, "All Power to the Soviets!" and agents of +the Dark Forces were urging the people to rise and slaughter the +Jews, shop-keepers, Socialist leaders.... + +On one side the Monarchist press, inciting to bloody repression--on +the other Lenin's great voice roaring, "Insurrection!.... We cannot +wait any longer!" + +Even the bourgeois press was uneasy. (See App. III, Sect. 2) +_Birjevya Viedomosti_ (Exchange Gazette) called the Bolshevik +propaganda an attack on "the most elementary principles of +society--personal security and the respect for private property." + +[Graphic, page 46: Appeal of the Petrograd Soviet] + +Appeal of the Petrograd Soviet to the Cosacks to call off their +_Krestny Khod_--the religious procession planned for November 4th (our +calendar). "Brothers--Cossacks!" it begins. "The Petrograd Soviet of +Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies addresses you." + +But it was the "moderate" Socialist journals which were the most +hostile. (See App. III, Sect. 3) "The Bolsheviki are the most +dangerous enemies of the Revolution," declared _Dielo Naroda._ Said +the Menshevik _Dien,_ "The Government ought to defend itself and +defend us." Plekhanov's paper, _Yedinstvo_ (Unity) (See App. III, +Sect. 4), called the attention of the Government to the fact that the +Petrograd workers were being armed, and demanded stern measures +against the Bolsheviki. + +Daily the Government seemed to become more helpless. Even the +Municipal administration broke down. The columns of the morning +papers were filled with accounts of the most audacious robberies and +murders, and the criminals were unmolested. + +On the other hand armed workers patrolled the streets at night, doing +battle with marauders and requisitioning arms wherever they found +them. + +On the first of November Colonel Polkovnikov, Military Commander of +Petrograd, issued a proclamation: + +Despite the difficult days through which the country is passing, +irresponsible appeals to armed demonstrations and massacres are still +being spread around Petrograd, and from day to day robbery and +disorder increase. + +This state of things is disorganising the life of the citizens, and +hinders the systematic work of the Government and the Municipal +Institutions. + +In full consciousness of my responsibility and my duty before my +country, I command: + +1. Every military unit, in accordance with special instructions and +within the territory of its garrison, to afford every assistance to +the Municipality, to the Commissars, and to the militia, in the +guarding of Government institutions. + +2. The organisation of patrols, in co-operation with the District +Commander and the representatives of the city militia, and the taking +of measures for the arrest of criminals and deserters. + +3. The arrest of all persons entering barracks and inciting to armed +demonstrations and massacres, and their delivery to the headquarters +of the Second Commander of the city. + +4. To suppress any armed demonstration or riot at its start, with all +armed forces at hand. + +5. To afford assistance to the Commissars in preventing unwarranted +searches in houses and unwarranted arrests. + +6. To report immediately all that happens in the district under +charge to the Staff of the Petrograd Military District. + +I call upon all Army Committees and organisations to afford their +help to the commanders in fulfilment of the duties with which they +are charged. + +In the Council of the Republic Kerensky declared that the Government +was fully aware of the Bolshevik preparations, and had sufficient +force to cope with any demonstration. (See App. III, Sect. 5) He +accused _Novaya Rus_ and _Robotchi Put_ of both doing the same kind +of subversive work. "But owing to the absolute freedom of the press," +he added, "the Government is not in a position to combat printed +lies.[11]...." Declaring that these were two aspects of the same +propaganda, which had for its object the counter-revolution, so +ardently desired by the Dark Forces, he went on: + +"I am a doomed man, it doesn't matter what happens to me, and I have +the audacity to say that the other enigmatic part is that of the +unbelievable provocation created in the city by the Bolsheviki!" + +[11] This was not quite candid. The Provisional Government had +suppressed Bolshevik papers before, in July, and was planning to +do so again. + +On November 2d only fifteen delegates to the Congress of Soviets had +arrived. Next day there were a hundred, and the morning after that a +hundred and seventy-five, of whom one hundred and three were +Bolsheviki.... Four hundred constituted a quorum, and the Congress was +only three days off.... + +I spent a great deal of time at Smolny. It was no longer easy to get +in. Double rows of sentries guarded the outer gates, and once inside +the front door there was a long line of people waiting to be let in, +four at a time, to be questioned as to their identity and their +business. Passes were given out, and the pass system was changed +every few hours; for spies continually sneaked through.... + +[Graphic, page 49: Russian Pass to Reed, translation follows] + +Pass to Smolny Institute, issued by the Military Revolutionary +Committee, giving me the right of entry at any time. (Translation) + + Military Revolutionary Committee + attached to the + Petrograd Soviet of W. & S. D. + Commandant's office + 16th November, 1917 + No. 955 + Smolny Institute + + PASS + +Is given by the present to John Reed, correspondent of +the American Socialist press, until December 1, the right of free +entry into Smolny Institute. Commandant + Adjutant + +One day as I came up to the outer gate I saw Trotzky and his wife +just ahead of me. They were halted by a soldier. Trotzky searched +through his pockets, but could find no pass. + +"Never mind," he said finally. "You know me. My name is Trotzky." + +"You haven't got a pass," answered the soldier stubbornly. + +"You cannot go in. Names don't mean anything to me." + +"But I am the president of the Petrograd Soviet." + +"Well," replied the soldier, "if you're as important a fellow as that +you must at least have one little paper." + +Trotzky was very patient. "Let me see the Commandant," he said. The +soldier hesitated, grumbling something about not wanting to disturb +the Commandant for every devil that came along. He beckoned finally +to the soldier in command of the guard. Trotzky explained matters to +him. "My name is Trotzky," he repeated. + +"Trotzky?" The other soldier scratched his head. "I've heard the name +somewhere," he said at length. "I guess it's all right. You can go on +in, comrade...." + +In the corridor I met Karakhan, member of the Bolshevik Central +Committee, who explained to me what the new Government would be like. + +"A loose organisation, sensitive to the popular will as expressed +through the Soviets, allowing local forces full play. At present the +Provisional Government obstructs the action of the local democratic +will, just as the Tsar's Government did. The initiative of the new +society shall come from below.... The form of the Government will be +modelled on the Constitution of the Russian Social Democratic Labour +Party. The new _Tsay-ee-kah,_ responsible to frequent meetings of the +All-Russian Congress of Soviets, will be the parliament; the various +Ministries will be headed by _collegia_--committees--instead of by +Ministers, and will be directly responsible to the Soviets...." + +On October 30th, by appointment, I went up to a small, bare room in +the attic of Smolny, to talk with Trotzky. In the middle of the room +he sat on a rough chair at a bare table. Few questions from me were +necessary; he talked rapidly and steadily, for more than an hour. The +substance of his talk, in his own words, I give here: + +"The Provisional Government is absolutely powerless. The bourgeoisie +is in control, but this control is masked by a fictitious coalition +with the _oborontsi_ parties. Now, during the Revolution, one sees +revolts of peasants who are tired of waiting for their promised land; +and all over the country, in all the toiling classes, the same +disgust is evident. This domination by the bourgeoisie is only +possible by means of civil war. The Kornilov method is the only way +by which the bourgeoisie can control. But it is force which the +bourgeoisie lacks.... The Army is with us. The conciliators and +pacifists, Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviki, have lost all +authority--because the struggle between the peasants and the +landlords, between the workers and the employers, between the +soldiers and the officers, has become more bitter, more +irreconcilable than ever. Only by the concerted action of the popular +mass, only by the victory of proletarian dictatorship, can the +Revolution be achieved and the people saved.... + +"The Soviets are the most perfect representatives of the +people--perfect in their revolutionary experience, in their ideas and +objects. Based directly upon the army in the trenches, the workers in +the factories, and the peasants in the fields, they are the backbone +of the Revolution. + +"There has been an attempt to create a power without the Soviets--and +only powerlessness has been created. Counter-revolutionary schemes of +all sorts are now being hatched in the corridors of the Council of the +Russian Republic. The Cadet party represents the counter-revolution +militant. On the other side, the Soviets represent the cause of +the people. Between the two camps there are no groups of serious +importance.... It is the _lutte finale._ The bourgeois counter-revolution +organises all its forces and waits for the moment to attack us. Our +answer will be decisive. We will complete the work scarcely begun in +March, and advanced during the Kornilov affair...." + +He went on to speak of the new Government's foreign policy: + +"Our first act will be to call for an immediate armistice on all +fronts, and a conference of peoples to discuss democratic peace +terms. The quantity of democracy we get in the peace settlement +depends on the quantity of revolutionary response there is in Europe. +If we create here a Government of the Soviets, that will be a +powerful factor for immediate peace in Europe; for this Government +will address itself directly and immediately to all peoples, over the +heads of their Governments, proposing an armistice. At the moment of +the conclusion of peace the pressure of the Russian Revolution will +be in the direction of 'no annexations, no indemnities, the right of +self-determination of peoples,' and a _Federated Republic of Europe._... + +"At the end of this war I see Europe recreated, not by the diplomats, +but by the proletariat. The Federated Republic of Europe--the United +States of Europe--that is what must be. National autonomy no longer +suffices. Economic evolution demands the abolition of national +frontiers. If Europe is to remain split into national groups, then +Imperialism will recommence its work. Only a Federated Republic of +Europe can give peace to the world." He smiled--that fine, faintly +ironical smile of his. "But without the action of the European +masses, these ends cannot be realised--now...." + +Now while everybody was waiting for the Bolsheviki to appear suddenly +on the streets one morning and begin to shoot down people with white +collars on, the real insurrection took its way quite naturally and +openly. + +The Provisional Government planned to send the Petrograd garrison to +the front. + +The Petrograd garrison numbered about sixty thousand men, who had +taken a prominent part in the Revolution. It was they who had turned +the tide in the great days of March, created the Soviets of Soldiers' +Deputies, and hurled back Kornilov from the gates of Petrograd. + +Now a large part of them were Bolsheviki. When the Provisional +Government talked of evacuating the city, it was the Petrograd +garrison which answered, "If you are not capable of defending the +capital, conclude peace; if you cannot conclude peace, go away and +make room for a People's Government which can do both...." + +It was evident that any attempt at insurrection depended upon the +attitude of the Petrograd garrison. The Government's plan was to +replace the garrison regiments with "dependable" troops--Cossacks, +Death Battalions. The Army Committees, the "moderate" Socialists and +the _Tsay-ee-kah_ supported the Government. A wide-spread agitation +was carried on at the Front and in Petrograd, emphasizing the fact +that for eight months the Petrograd garrison had been leading an easy +life in the barracks of the capital, while their exhausted comrades +in the trenches starved and died. + +Naturally there was some truth in the accusation that the garrison +regiments were reluctant to exchange their comparative comfort for +the hardships of a winter campaign. But there were other reasons why +they refused to go. The Petrograd Soviet feared the Government's +intentions, and from the Front came hundreds of delegates, chosen by +the common soldiers, crying, "It is true we need reinforcements, but +more important, we must know that Petrograd and the Revolution are +well-guarded.... Do you hold the rear, comrades, and we will hold the +front!" + +On October 25th, behind closed doors, the Central Committee of the +Petrograd Soviet discussed the formation of a special Military +Committee to decide the whole question. The next day a meeting of the +Soldiers' Section of the Petrograd Soviet elected a Committee, which +immediately proclaimed a boycott of the bourgeois newspapers, and +condemned the _Tsay-ee-kah_ for opposing the Congress of Soviets. On +the 29th, in open session of the Petrograd Soviet, Trotzky proposed +that the Soviet formally sanction the Military Revolutionary +Committee. "We ought," he said, "to create our special organisation +to march to battle, and if necessary to die...." It was decided to send +to the front two delegations, one from the Soviet and one from the +garrison, to confer with the Soldiers' Committees and the General +Staff. + +At Pskov, the Soviet delegates were met by General Tcheremissov, +commander of the Northern Front, with the curt declaration that he +had ordered the Petrograd garrison to the trenches, and that was all. +The garrison committee was not allowed to leave Petrograd.... + +A delegation of the Soldiers' Section of the Petrograd Soviet asked +that a representative be admitted to the Staff of the Petrograd +District. Refused. The Petrograd Soviet demanded that no orders be +issued without the approval of the Soldiers' Section. Refused. The +delegates were roughly told, "We only recognise the _Tsay-ee-kah._ We +do not recognise you; if you break any laws, we shall arrest you." + +On the 30th a meeting of representatives of all the Petrograd +regiments passed a resolution: _"The Petrograd garrison no longer +recognises the Provisional Government. The Petrograd Soviet is our +Government. We will obey only the orders of the Petrograd Soviet, +through the Military Revolutionary Committee."_ The local military +units were ordered to wait for instructions from the Soldiers' +Section of the Petrograd Soviet. + +Next day the _Tsay-ee-kah_ summoned its own meeting, composed largely +of officers, formed a Committee to cooperate with the Staff, and +detailed Commissars in all quarters of the city. + +A great soldier meeting at Smolny on the 3d resolved: + +Saluting the creation of the Military Revolutionary Committee, the +Petrograd garrison promises it complete support in all its actions, +to unite more closely the front and the rear in the interests of the +Revolution. + +The garrison moreover declares that with the revolutionary +proletariat it assures the maintenance of revolutionary order in +Petrograd. Every attempt at provocation on the part of the +Kornilovtsi or the bourgeoisie will be met with merciless resistance. + +Now conscious of its power, the Military Revolutionary Committee +peremptorily summoned the Petrograd Staff to submit to its control. +To all printing plants it gave orders not to publish any appeals or +proclamations without the Committee's authorisation. Armed Commissars +visited the Kronversk arsenal and seized great quantities of arms and +ammunition, halting a shipment of ten thousand bayonets which was +being sent to Novotcherkask, headquarters of Kaledin.... + +Suddenly awake to the danger, the Government offered immunity if the +Committee would disband. Too late. At midnight November 5th Kerensky +himself sent Malevsky to offer the Petrograd Soviet representation on +the Staff. The Military Revolutionary Committee accepted. An hour +later General Manikovsky, acting Minister of war, countermanded the +offer.... + +Tuesday morning, November 6th, the city was thrown into excitement by +the appearance of a placard signed, "Military Revolutionary Committee +attached to the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies." + +To the Population of Petrograd. Citizens! + +Counter-revolution has raised its criminal head. The Kornilovtsi are +mobilising their forces in order to crush the All-Russian Congress of +Soviets and break the Constituent Assembly. At the same time the +_pogromists_ may attempt to call upon the people of Petrograd for +trouble and bloodshed. The Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies takes upon itself the guarding of revolutionary order in the +city against counter-revolutionary and _pogrom_ attempts. + +The Petrograd garrison will not allow any violence or disorders. The +population is invited to arrest hooligans and Black Hundred agitators +and take them to the Soviet Commissars at the nearest barracks. At +the first attempt of the Dark Forces to make trouble on the streets +of Petrograd, whether robbery or fighting, the criminals will be +wiped off the face of the earth! + +Citizens! We call upon you to maintain complete quiet and +self-possession. The cause of order and Revolution is in strong hands. + +List of regiments where there are Commissars of the Military +Revolutionary Committee.... + +On the 3rd the leaders of the Bolsheviki had another historic meeting +behind closed doors. Notified by Zalkind, I waited in the corridor +outside the door; and Volodarsky as he came out told me what was +going on. + +Lenin spoke: "November 6th will be too early. We must have an +all-Russian basis for the rising; and on the 6th all the delegates to +the Congress will not have arrived.... On the other hand, November 8th +will be too late. By that time the Congress will be organised, and it +is difficult for a large organised body of people to take swift, +decisive action. We must act on the 7th, the day the Congress meets, +so that we may say to it, 'Here is the power! What are you going to +do with it?'" + +In a certain upstairs room sat a thin-faced, long-haired individual, +once an officer in the armies of the Tsar, then revolutionist and +exile, a certain Avseenko, called Antonov, mathematician and +chess-player; he was drawing careful plans for the seizure of the +capital. + +On its side the Government was preparing. Inconspicuously certain of +the most loyal regiments, from widely-separated divisions, were +ordered to Petrograd. The _yunker_ artillery was drawn into the +Winter Palace. Patrols of Cossacks made their appearance in the +streets, for the first time since the July days. Polkovnikov issued +order after order, threatening to repress all insubordination with +the "utmost energy." Kishkin, Minister of Public Instruction, the +worst-hated member of the Cabinet, was appointed Special Commissar to +keep order in Petrograd; he named as assistants two men no less +unpopular, Rutenburg and Paltchinsky. Petrograd, Cronstadt and +Finland were declared in a state of siege--upon which the bourgeois +_Novoye Vremya_ (New Times) remarked ironically: + +Why the state of siege? The Government is no longer a power. It has +no moral authority and it does not possess the necessary apparatus to +use force.... In the most favourable circumstances it can only +negotiate with any one who consents to parley. Its authority goes no +farther.... + +Monday morning, the 5th, I dropped in at the Marinsky Palace, to +see what was happening in the Council of the Russian Republic. +Bitter debate on Terestchenko's foreign policy. Echoes of the +Burtzev-Verkhovski affair. All the diplomats present except the +Italian ambassador, who everybody said was prostrated by the Carso +disaster.... + +As I came in, the Left Socialist Revolutionary Karelin was reading +aloud an editorial from the London _Times_ which said, "The remedy +for Bolshevism is bullets!" Turning to the Cadets he cried, "That's +what _you_ think, too!" + +Voices from the Right, "Yes! Yes!" + +"Yes, I know you think so," answered Karelin, hotly. "But you haven't +the courage to try it!" + +Then Skobeliev, looking like a matinee idol with his soft blond beard +and wavy yellow hair, rather apologetically defending the Soviet +_nakaz._ Terestchenko followed, assailed from the Left by cries of +"Resignation! Resignation!" He insisted that the delegates of the +Government and of the _Tsay-ee-kah_ to Paris should have a common +point of view--his own. A few words about the restoration of +discipline in the army, about war to victory.... Tumult, and over the +stubborn opposition of the truculent Left, the Council of the +Republic passed to the simple order of the day. + +There stretched the rows of Bolshevik seats--empty since that first +day when they left the Council, carrying with them so much life. As I +went down the stairs it seemed to me that in spite of the bitter +wrangling, no real voice from the rough world outside could penetrate +this high, cold hall, and that the Provisional Government was +wrecked--on the same rock of War and Peace that had wrecked the +Miliukov Ministry.... The doorman grumbled as he put on my coat, "I +don't know what is becoming of poor Russia. All these Mensheviki and +Bolsheviki and Trudoviki.... This Ukraine and this Finland and the +German imperialists and the English imperialists. I am forty-five +years old, and in all my life I never heard so many words as in this +place...." + +In the corridor I met Professor Shatsky, a rat-faced individual in a +dapper frock-coat, very influential in the councils of the Cadet +party. I asked him what he thought of the much-talked-of Bolshevik +_vystuplennie._ He shrugged, sneering. + +"They are cattle--_canaille,"_ he answered. "They will not dare, or if +they dare they will soon be sent flying. From our point of view it +will not be bad, for then they will ruin themselves and have no power +in the Constituent Assembly.... + +"But, my dear sir, allow me to outline to you my plan for a form of +Government to be submitted to the Constituent Assembly. You see, I am +chairman of a commission appointed from this body, in conjunction +with the Provisional Government, to work out a constitutional +project.... We will have a legislative assembly of two chambers, such +as you have in the United States. In the lower chamber will be +territorial representatives; in the upper, representatives of the +liberal professions, zemstvos, Cooperatives--and Trade Unions...." + +Outside a chill, damp wind came from the west, and the cold mud +underfoot soaked through my shoes. Two companies of _yunkers_ passed +swinging up the Morskaya, tramping stiffly in their long coats and +singing an oldtime crashing chorus, such as the soldiers used to sing +under the Tsar.... At the first cross-street I noticed that the City +Militiamen were mounted, and armed with revolvers in bright new +holsters; a little group of people stood silently staring at them. At +the corner of the Nevsky I bought a pamphlet by Lenin, "Will the +Bolsheviki be Able to Hold the Power?" paying for it with one of the +stamps which did duty for small change. The usual street-cars crawled +past, citizens and soldiers clinging to the outside in a way to make +Theodore P. Shonts green with envy.... Along the sidewalk a row of +deserters in uniform sold cigarettes and sunflower seeds.... + +Up the Nevsky in the sour twilight crowds were battling for the +latest papers, and knots of people were trying to make out the +multitudes of appeals (See App. III, Sect. 6) and proclamations +pasted in every flat place; from the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ the +Peasants' Soviets, the "moderate" Socialist parties, the Army +Committees--threatening, cursing, beseeching the workers and soldiers +to stay home, to support the Government.... + +An armoured automobile went slowly up and down, siren screaming. On +every corner, in every open space, thick groups were clustered; +arguing soldiers and students. Night came swiftly down, the +wide-spaced street-lights flickered on, the tides of people flowed +endlessly.... It is always like that in Petrograd just before trouble.... + +The city was nervous, starting at every sharp sound. But still no +sign from the Bolsheviki; the soldiers stayed in the barracks, the +workmen in the factories.... We went to a moving picture show near the +Kazan Cathedral--a bloody Italian film of passion and intrigue. Down +front were some soldiers and sailors, staring at the screen in +childlike wonder, totally unable to comprehend why there should be so +much violent running about, and so much homicide.... + +From there I hurried to Smolny. In room 10 on the top floor, the +Military Revolutionary Committee sat in continuous session, under the +chairmanship of a tow-headed, eighteen-year-old boy named Lazimir. He +stopped, as he passed, to shake hands rather bashfully. + +"Peter-Paul Fortress has just come over to us," said he, with a +pleased grin. "A minute ago we got word from a regiment that was +ordered by the Government to come to Petrograd. The men were +suspicious, so they stopped the train at Gatchina and sent a +delegation to us. 'What's the matter?' they asked. 'What have you got +to say? We have just passed a resolution, "All Power to the +Soviets."'... The Military Revolutionary Committee sent back word, +'Brothers! We greet you in the name of the Revolution. Stay where you +are until further instructions!'" + +All telephones, he said, were cut off: but communication with the +factories and barracks was established by means of military +telephonograph apparatus.... + +A steady stream of couriers and Commissars came and went. Outside the +door waited a dozen volunteers, ready to carry word to the farthest +quarters of the city. One of them, a gypsy-faced man in the uniform +of a lieutenant, said in French, "Everything is ready to move at the +push of a button...." + +There passed Podvoisky, the thin, bearded civillian whose brain +conceived the strategy of insurrection; Antonov, unshaven, his collar +filthy, drunk with loss of sleep; Krylenko, the squat, wide-faced +soldier, always smiling, with his violent gestures and tumbling +speech; and Dybenko, the giant bearded sailor with the placid face. +These were the men of the hour--and of other hours to come. + +Downstairs in the office of the Factory-Shop Committees sat Seratov, +signing orders on the Government Arsenal for arms--one hundred and +fifty rifles for each factory.... Delegates waited in line, forty of +them.... + +In the hall I ran into some of the minor Bolshevik leaders. One +showed me a revolver. "The game is on," he said, and his face was +pale. "Whether we move or not the other side knows it must finish us +or be finished...." + +The Petrograd Soviet was meeting day and night. As I came into the +great hall Trotzky was just finishing. + +"We are asked," he said, "if we intend to have a _vystuplennie._ I +can give a clear answer to that question. The Petrograd Soviet feels +that at last the moment has arrived when the power must fall into the +hands of the Soviets. This transfer of government will be +accomplished by the All-Russian Congress. Whether an armed +demonstration is necessary will depend on... those who wish to +interfere with the All-Russian Congress.... + +"We feel that our Government, entrusted to the personnel of the +Provisional Cabinet, is a pitiful and helpless Government, which only +awaits the sweep of the broom of History to give way to a really +popular Government. But we are trying to avoid a conflict, even now, +to-day. We hope that the All-Russian Congress will take... into its +hands that power and authority which rests upon the organised freedom +of the people. If, however, the Government wants to utilise the short +period it is expected to live--twenty-four, forty-eight, or +seventy-two hours--to attack us, then we shall answer with +counter-attacks, blow for blow, steel for iron!" + +Amid cheers he announced that the Left Socialist Revolutionaries had +agreed to send representatives into the Military Revolutionary +Committee.... + +As I left Smolny, at three o'clock in the morning, I noticed that two +rapid-firing guns had been mounted, one on each side of the door, and +that strong patrols of soldiers guarded the gates and the near-by +street-corners. Bill Shatov[12] came bounding up the steps. "Well," he +cried, "We're off! Kerensky sent the _yunkers_ to close down our +papers, _Soldat_ and _Rabotchi Put._ But our troops went down and +smashed the Government seals, and now we're sending detachments to +seize the bourgeois newspaper offices!" Exultantly he slapped me on +the shoulder, and ran in.... + +[12] Well known in the American labor movement. + +On the morning of the 6th I had business with the censor, whose +office was in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Everywhere, on all the +walls, hysterical appeals to the people to remain "calm." Polkovnikov +emitted _prikaz_ after _prikaz:_ + +I order all military units and detachments to remain in their +barracks until further orders from the Staff of the Military +District.... All officers who act without orders from their superiors +will be court-martialled for mutiny. I forbid absolutely any +execution by soldiers of instructions from other organisations.... + +The morning papers announced that the Government had suppressed the +papers _Novaya Rus, Zhivoye Slovo, Rabotchi Put_ and _Soldat,_ and +decreed the arrest of the leaders of the Petrograd Soviet and the +members of the Military Revolutionary Committee.... + +As I crossed the Palace Square several batteries of _yunker_ +artillery came through the Red Arch at a jingling trot, and drew up +before the Palace. The great red building of the General Staff was +unusually animated, several armoured automobiles ranked before the +door, and motors full of officers were coming and going.... The censor +was very much excited, like a small boy at a circus. Kerensky, he +said, had just gone to the Council of the Republic to offer his +resignation. I hurried down to the Marinsky Palace, arriving at the +end of that passionate and almost incoherent speech of Kerensky's, +full of self-justification and bitter denunciation of his enemies. + +"I will cite here the most characteristic passage from a whole series +of articles published in _Rabotchi Put_ by Ulianov-Lenin, a state +criminal who is in hiding and whom we are trying to find.... This state +criminal has invited the proletariat and the Petrograd garrison to +repeat the experience of the 16th-18th of July, and insists upon the +immediate necessity for an armed rising.... Moreover, other Bolshevik +leaders have taken the floor in a series of meetings, and also made +an appeal to immediate insurrection. Particularly should be noticed +the activity of the present president of the Petrograd Soviet, +Bronstein-Trotzky.... + +"I ought to bring to your notice... that the expressions and the style +of a whole series of articles in _Rabotchi Put_ and _Soldat_ resemble +absolutely those of _Novaya Rus...._ We have to do not so much with the +movement of such and such political party, as with the exploitation +of the political ignorance and criminal instincts of a part of the +population, a sort of organisation whose object it is to provoke in +Russia, cost what it may, an inconscient movement of destruction and +pillage; for given the state of mind of the masses, any movement at +Petrograd will be followed by the most terrible massacres, which will +cover with eternal shame the name of free Russia.... + +"... By the admission of Ulianov-Lenin himself, the situation of the +extreme left wing of the Social Democrats in Russia is very +favourable." (Here Kerensky read the following quotation from Lenin's +article.): + +Think of it!... The German comrades have only one Liebknecht, without +newspapers, without freedom of meeting, without a Soviet.... They are +opposed by the incredible hostility of all classes of society--and yet +the German comrades try to act; while we, having dozens of +newspapers, freedom of meeting, the majority of the Soviets, we, the +best-placed international proletarians of the entire world, can we +refuse to support the German revolutionists and insurrectionary +organisations?... + +Kerensky then continued: + +"The organisers of rebellion recognise thus implicitly that the most +perfect conditions for the free action of a political party obtain +now in Russia, administered by a Provisional Government at the head +of which is, in the eyes of this party, 'a usurper and a man who has +sold himself to the bourgeoisie, the Minister-President Kerensky....' + +"... The organisers of the insurrection do not come to the aid of the +German proletariat, but of the German governing classes, and they +open the Russian front to the iron fists of Wilhelm and his friends.... +Little matter to the Provisional Government the motives of these +people, little matter if they act consciously or unconsciously; but +in any case, from this tribune, in full consciousness of my +responsibility, I quality such acts of a Russian political party as +acts of treason to Russia! + +"... I place myself at the point of view of the Right, and I propose +immediately to proceed to an investigation and make the necessary +arrests." (Uproar from the Left.) "Listen to me!" he cried in a +powerful voice. "At the moment when the state is in danger, because +of conscious or unconscious treason, the Provisional Government, and +myself among others, prefer to be killed rather than betray the life, +the honour and the independence of Russia...." + +At this moment a paper was handed to Kerensky. + +"I have just received the proclamation which they are distributing to +the regiments. Here is the contents." Reading: _"'The Petrograd +Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies is menaced. We order +immediately the regiments to mobilise on a war footing and to await +new orders. All delay or non-execution of this order will be +considered as an act of treason to the Revolution. The Military +Revolutionary Committee. For the President, Podvoisky. The Secretary, +Antonov.'_ + +"In reality, this is an attempt to raise the populace against the +existing order of things, to break the Constituent and to open the +front to the regiments of the iron fist of Wilhelm.... + +"I say 'populace' intentionally, because the conscious democracy and +its _Tsay-ee-kah,_ all the Army organisations, all that free Russia +glorifies, the good sense, the honour and the conscience of the great +Russian democracy, protests against these things.... + +"I have not come here with a prayer, but to state my firm conviction +that the Provisional Government, which defends at this moment our new +liberty--that the new Russian state, destined to a brilliant future, +will find unanimous support except among those who have never dared +to face the truth.... + +"... The Provisional Government has never violated the liberty of all +citizens of the State to use their political rights.... But now the +Provisional Government.... declares: in this moment those elements of +the Russian nation, those groups and parties who have dared to lift +their hands against the free will of the Russian people, at the same +time threatening to open the front to Germany, must be liquidated +with decision!... + +"Let the population of Petrograd understand that it will encounter a +firm power, and perhaps at the last moment good sense, conscience and +honour will triumph in the hearts of those who still possess them...." + +All through this speech, the hall rang with deafening clamour. When +the Minister-President had stepped down, pale-faced and wet with +perspiration, and strode out with his suite of officers, speaker +after speaker from the Left and Centre attacked the Right, all one +angry roaring. Even the Socialist Revolutionaries, through Gotz: + +"The policy of the Bolsheviki is demagogic and criminal, in their +exploitation of the popular discontent. But there is a whole series +of popular demands which have received no satisfaction up to now.... +The questions of peace, land and the democratization of the army +ought to be stated in such a fashion that no soldier, peasant or +worker would have the least doubt that our Government is attempting, +firmly and infallibly, to solve them.... + +"We Mensheviki do not wish to provoke a Cabinet crisis, and we are +ready to defend the Provisional Government with all our energy, to +the last drop of our blood--if only the Provisional Government, on all +these burning questions, will speak the clear and precise words +awaited by the people with such impatience...." + +Then Martov, furious: + +"The words of the Minister-President, who allowed himself to speak of +'populace' when it is question of the movement of important sections +of the proletariat and the army--although led in the wrong +direction--are nothing but an incitement to civil war." + +The order of the day proposed by the Left was voted. It amounted +practically to a vote of lack of confidence. + +1. The armed demonstration which has been preparing for some days +past has for its object a _coup d'etat,_ threatens to provoke +civil war, creates conditions favourable to _pogroms_ and +counterrevolution, the mobilization of counter-revolutionary forces, +such as the Black Hundreds, which will inevitably bring about the +impossibility of convoking the Constituent, will cause a military +catastrophe, the death of the Revolution, paralyse the economic life +of the country and destroy Russia; + +2. The conditions favourable to this agitation have been created by +delay in passing urgent measures, as well as objective conditions +caused by the war and the general disorder. It is necessary before +everything to promulgate at once a decree transmitting the land to +the peasants' Land Committees, and to adopt an energetic course of +action abroad in proposing to the Allies to proclaim their peace +terms and to begin peace-parleys; + +3. To cope with Monarchist manifestations and _pogromist_ movements, +it is indispensable to take immediate measures to suppress these +movements, and for this purpose to create at Petrograd a Committee of +Public Safety, composed of representatives of the Municipality and +the organs of the revolutionary democracy, acting in contact with the +Provisional Government.... + +It is interesting to note that the Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries all rallied to this resolution.... When Kerensky saw +it, however, he summoned Avksentiev to the Winter Palace to explain. +If it expressed a lack of confidence in the Provisional Government, +he begged Avksentiev to form a new Cabinet. Dan, Gotz and Avksentiev, +the leaders of the "compromisers," performed their last compromise.... +They explained to Kerensky that it was not meant as a criticism of +the Government! + +At the corner of the Morskaya and the Nevsky, squads of soldiers with +fixed bayonets were stopping all private automobiles, turning out the +occupants, and ordering them toward the Winter Palace. A large crowd +had gathered to watch them. Nobody knew whether the soldiers belonged +to the Government or the Military Revolutionary Committee. Up in +front of the Kazan Cathedral the same thing was happening, machines +being directed back up the Nevsky. Five or six sailors with rifles +came along, laughing excitedly, and fell into conversation with two +of the soldiers. On the sailors' hat bands were _Avrora_ and _Zaria +Svobody,_--the names of the leading Bolshevik cruisers of the Baltic +Fleet. One of them said, "Cronstadt is coming!"... It was as if, in +1792, on the streets of Paris, some one had said: "The Marseillais +are coming!" For at Cronstadt were twenty-five thousand sailors, +convinced Bolsheviki and not afraid to die.... + +_Rabotchi i Soldat_ was just out, all its front page one huge +proclamation: SOLDIERS! WORKERS! CITIZENS! + +The enemies of the people passed last night to the offensive. The +Kornilovists of the Staff are trying to draw in from the suburbs +_yunkers_ and volunteer battalions. The Oranienbaum _yunkers_ and the +Tsarskoye Selo volunteers refused to come out. A stroke of high +treason is being contemplated against the Petrograd Soviet.... The +campaign of the counter-revolutionists is being directed against the +All-Russian Congress of Soviets on the eve of its opening, against +the Constituent Assembly, against the people. The Petrograd Soviet is +guarding the Revolution. The Military Revolutionary Committee is +directing the repulse of the conspirators' attack. The entire +garrison and proletariat of Petrograd are ready to deal the enemy of +the people a crushing blow. + +The Military Revolutionary Committee decrees: + +1. All regimental, division and battle-ship Committees, together with +the Soviet Commissars, and all revolutionary organisations, shall +meet in continuous session, concentrating in their hands all +information about the plans of the conspirators. + +2. Not one soldier shall leave his division without permission of the +Committee. + +3. To send to Smolny at once two delegates from each military unit +and five from each Ward Soviet. + +4. All members of the Petrograd Soviet and all delegates to the +All-Russian Congress are invited immediately to Smolny for an +extraordinary meeting. + +Counter-revolution has raised its criminal head. + +A great danger threatens all the conquests and hopes of the soldiers +and workers. + +But the forces of the Revolution by far exceed those of its enemies. + +The cause of the People is in strong hands. The conspirators will be +crushed. + +No hesitation or doubts! Firmness, steadfastness, discipline, +determination! + +Long live the Revolution! + +_The Military Revolutionary Committee._ + +The Petrograd Soviet was meeting continuously at Smolny, a centre of +storm, delegates falling down asleep on the floor and rising again to +take part in the debate, Trotzky, Kameniev, Volodarsky speaking six, +eight, twelve hours a day.... + +I went down to room 18 on the first floor where the Bolshevik +delegates were holding caucus, a harsh voice steadily booming, the +speaker hidden by the crowd: "The compromisers say that we are +isolated. Pay no attention to them. Once it begins they must be +dragged along with us, or else lose their following...." + +Here he held up a piece of paper. "We are dragging them! A message +has just come from the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries! They +say that they condemn our action, but that if the Government attacks +us they will not oppose the cause of the proletariat!" Exultant +shouting.... + +As night fell the great hall filled with soldiers and workmen, a +monstrous dun mass, deep-humming in a blue haze of smoke. The old +_Tsay-ee-kah_ had finally decided to welcome the delegates to that +new Congress which would mean its own ruin--and perhaps the ruin of +the revolutionary order it had built. At this meeting, however, only +members of the _Tsay-ee-kah_ could vote.... + +It was after midnight when Gotz took the chair and Dan rose to speak, +in a tense silence, which seemed to me almost menacing. + +"The hours in which we live appear in the most tragic colours," he +said. "The enemy is at the gates of Petrograd, the forces of the +democracy are trying to organise to resist him, and yet we await +bloodshed in the streets of the capital, and famine threatens to +destroy, not only our homogeneous Government, but the Revolution +itself.... + +"The masses are sick and exhausted. They have no interest in the +Revolution. If the Bolsheviki start anything, that will be the end of +the Revolution..." (Cries, "That's a lie!)" "The counter-revolutionists +are waiting with the Bolsheviki to begin riots and massacres.... If +there is any _vystuplennie,_ there will be no Constituent Assembly...." +(Cries, "Lie! Shame!") + +"It is inadmissible that in the zone of military operations the +Petrograd garrison shall not submit to the orders of the Staff.... You +must obey the orders of the Staff and of the _Tsay-ee-kah_ elected by +you. All Power to the Soviets--that means death! Robbers and thieves +are waiting for the moment to loot and burn.... When you have such +slogans put before you, 'Enter the houses, take away the shoes and +clothes from the bourgeoisie--'" (Tumult. Cries, "No such slogan! A +lie! A lie!") "Well, it may start differently, but it will end that +way! + +"The _Tsay-ee-kah_ has full power to act, and must be obeyed.... We are +not afraid of bayonets.... The _Tsay-ee-kah_ will defend the Revolution +with its body...." (Cries, "It was a dead body long ago!") + +Immense continued uproar, in which his voice could be heard +screaming, as he pounded the desk, "Those who are urging this are +committing a crime!" + +Voice: "You committed a crime long ago, when you captured the power +and turned it over to the bourgeoisie!" + +Gotz, ringing the chairman's bell: "Silence, or I'll have you put +out!" + +Voice: "Try it!" (Cheers and whistling.) + +"Now concerning our policy about peace." (Laughter.) "Unfortunately +Russia can no longer support the continuation of the war. There is +going to be peace, but not permanent peace--not a democratic peace.... +To-day, at the Council of the Republic, in order to avoid bloodshed, +we passed an order of the day demanding the surrender of the land to +the Land Committees and immediate peace negotiations...." (Laughter, +and cries, "Too late!") + +Then for the Bolsheviki, Trotzky mounted the tribune, borne on a wave +of roaring applause that burst into cheers and a rising house, +thunderous. His thin, pointed face was positively Mephistophelian in +its expression of malicious irony. + +"Dan's tactics prove that the masses--the great, dull, indifferent +masses--are absolutely with him!" (Titantic mirth.) He turned toward +the chairman, dramatically. "When we spoke of giving the land to the +peasants, you were against it. We told the peasants, 'If they don't +give it to you, take it yourselves!' and the peasants followed our +advice. And now you advocate what we did six months ago.... + +"I don't think Kerensky's order to suspend the death penalty in the +army was dictated by his ideals. I think Kerensky was persuaded by +the Petrograd garrison, which refused to obey him.... + +"To-day Dan is accused of having made a speech in the Council of the +Republic which proves him to be a secret Bolshevik.... The time may +come when Dan will say that the flower of the Revolution participated +in the rising of July 16th and 18th.... In Dan's resolution to-day at +the Council of the Republic there was no mention of enforcing +discipline in the army, although that is urged in the propaganda of +his party.... + +"No. The history of the last seven months shows that the masses have +left the Mensheviki. The Mensheviki and the Socialist Revolutionaries +conquered the Cadets, and then when they got the power, they gave it +to the Cadets.... + +"Dan tells you that you have no right to make an insurrection. +Insurrection is the right of all revolutionists! When the +down-trodden masses revolt, it is their right...." + +Then the long-faced, cruel-tongued Lieber, greeted with groans and +laughter. + +"Engels and Marx said that the proletariat had no right to take power +until it was ready for it. In a bourgeois revolution like this.... the +seizure of power by the masses means the tragic end of the +Revolution.... Trotzky, as a Social Democratic theorist, is himself +opposed to what he is now advocating...." (Cries, "Enough! Down with +him!") + +Martov, constantly interrupted: "The Internationalists are not +opposed to the transmission of power to the democracy, but they +disapprove of the methods of the Bolsheviki. This is not the moment +to seize the power...." + +Again Dan took the floor, violently protesting against the action of +the Military Revolutionary Committee, which had sent a Commissar to +seize the office of _Izviestia_ and censor the paper. The wildest +uproar followed. Martov tried to speak, but could not be heard. +Delegates of the Army and the Baltic Fleet stood up all over the +hall, shouting that the Soviet was _their_ Government.... + +Amid the wildest confusion Ehrlich offered a resolution, appealing to +the workers and soldiers to remain calm and not to respond to +provocations to demonstrate, recognising the necessity of immediately +creating a Committee of Public Safety, and asking the Provisional +Government at once to pass decrees transferring the land to the +peasants and beginning peace negotiations.... + +Then up leaped Volodarsky, shouting harshly that the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ +on the eve of the Congress, had no right to assume the functions of +the Congress. The _Tsay-ee-kah_ was practically dead, he said, and +the resolution was simply a trick to bolster up its waning power.... + +"As for us, Bolsheviki, we will not vote on this resolution!" +Whereupon all the Bolsheviki left the hall and the resolution was +passed.... + +Toward four in the morning I met Zorin in the outer hall, a rifle +slung from his shoulder. + +"We're moving!" (See App. III, Sect. 7) said he, calmly but with +satisfaction. "We pinched the Assistant Minister of Justice and the +Minister of Religions. They're down cellar now. One regiment is on +the march to capture the Telephone Exchange, another the Telegraph +Agency, another the State Bank. The Red Guard is out...." + +On the steps of Smolny, in the chill dark, we first saw the Red +Guard--a huddled group of boys in workmen's clothes, carrying guns +with bayonets, talking nervously together. + +Far over the still roofs westward came the sound of scattered rifle +fire, where the _yunkers_ were trying to open the bridges over the +Neva, to prevent the factory workers and soldiers of the Viborg +quarter from joining the Soviet forces in the centre of the city; and +the Cronstadt sailors were closing them again.... + +Behind us great Smolny, bright with lights, hummed like a gigantic +hive.... + + + + +Chapter IV + +The Fall of the Provisional Government + + +Wednesday, November 7th, I rose very late. The noon cannon boomed +from Peter-Paul as I went down the Nevsky. It was a raw, chill day. +In front of the State Bank some soldiers with fixed bayonets were +standing at the closed gates. + +"What side do you belong to?" I asked. "The Government?" + +"No more Government," one answered with a grin, "_Slava Bogu!_ Glory +to God!" That was all I could get out of him.... + +The street-cars were running on the Nevsky, men, women and small +boys hanging on every projection. Shops were open, and there seemed +even less uneasiness among the street crowds than there had been the +day before. A whole crop of new appeals against insurrection had +blossomed out on the walls during the night--to the peasants, to the +soldiers at the front, to the workmen of Petrograd. One read: + +FROM THE PETROGRAD MUNICIPAL DUMA: + +The Municipal Duma informs the citizens that in the extraordinary +meeting of November 6th the Duma formed a Committee of Public +Safety, composed of members of the Central and Ward Dumas, and +representatives of the following revolutionary democratic +organizations: The _Tsay-ee-kah,_ the All-Russian Executive +Committee of Peasant Deputies, the Army organisations, the +_Tsentroflot,_ the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies (!), the Council of Trade Unions, and others. + +Members of the Committee of Public Safety will be on duty in the +building of the Municipal Duma. Telephones No. 15-40, 223-77, 138-36. + +November 7th, 1917. + +Though I didn't realize it then, this was the Duma's declaration of +war against the Bolsheviki. + +I bought a copy of _Rabotchi Put,_ the only newspaper which seemed +on sale, and a little later paid a soldier fifty kopeks for a +second-hand copy of _Dien._ The Bolshevik paper, printed on +large-sized sheets in the conquered office of the _Russkaya Volia,_ +had huge headlines: "ALL POWER--TO THE SOVIETS OF WORKERS, SOLDIERS +AND PEASANTS! PEACE! BREAD! LAND!" The leading article was signed +"Zinoviev,"--Lenin's companion in hiding. It began: + +Every soldier, every worker, every real Socialist, every honest +democrat realises that there are only two alternatives to the +present situation. + +Either--the power will remain in the hands of the bourgeois-landlord +crew, and this will mean every kind of repression for the workers, +soldiers and peasants, continuation of the war, inevitable hunger +and death.... + +Or--the power will be transferred to the hands of the revolutionary +workers, soldiers and peasants; and in that case it will mean a +complete abolition of landlord tyranny, immediate check of the +capitalists, immediate proposal of a just peace. Then the land is +assured to the peasants, then control of industry is assured to the +workers, then bread is assured to the hungry, then the end of this +nonsensical war!... + +_Dien_ contained fragmentary news of the agitated night. Bolsheviki +capture of the Telephone Exchange, the Baltic station, the Telegraph +Agency; the Peterhof _yunkers_ unable to reach Petrograd; the +Cossacks undecided; arrest of some of the Ministers; shooting of +Chief of the City Militia Meyer; arrests, counter-arrests, +skirmishes between clashing patrols of soldiers, _yunkers_ and Red +Guards. (See App. IV, Sect. 1) + +On the corner of the Morskaya I ran into Captain Gomberg, Menshevik +_oboronetz,_ secretary of the Military Section of his party. When I +asked him if the insurrection had really happened he shrugged his +shoulders in a tired manner and replied, "_Tchort znayet!_ The devil +knows! Well, perhaps the Bolsheviki can seize the power, but they +won't be able to hold it more than three days. They haven't the men +to run a government. Perhaps it's a good thing to let them try--that +will furnish them...." + +The Military Hotel at the corner of St. Isaac's Square was picketed +by armed sailors. In the lobby were many of the smart young +officers, walking up and down or muttering together; the sailors +wouldn't let them leave.... + +Suddenly came the sharp crack of a rifle outside, followed by a +scattered burst of firing. I ran out. Something unusual was going on +around the Marinsky Palace, where the Council of the Russian +Republic met. Diagonally across the wide square was drawn a line of +soldiers, rifles ready, staring at the hotel roof. + +"_Provacatzia!_ Shot at us!" snapped one, while another went running +toward the door. + +At the western corner of the Palace lay a big armoured car with a +red flag flying from it, newly lettered in red paint: "S.R.S.D." +(_Soviet Rabotchikh Soldatskikh Deputatov_); all the guns trained +toward St. Isaac's. A barricade had been heaped up across the mouth +of Novaya Ulitza--boxes, barrels, an old bed-spring, a wagon. A pile +of lumber barred the end of the Moika quay. Short logs from a +neighbouring wood-pile were being built up along the front of the +building to form breastworks.... + +"Is there going to be any fighting?" I asked. + +"Soon, soon," answered a soldier, nervously. "Go away, comrade, +you'll get hurt. They will come from that direction," pointing +toward the Admiralty. + +"Who will?" + +"That I couldn't tell you, brother," he answered, and spat. + +Before the door of the Palace was a crowd of soldiers and sailors. A +sailor was telling of the end of the Council of the Russian +Republic. "We walked in there," he said, "and filled all the doors +with comrades. I went up to the counter-revolutionist Kornilovitz +who sat in the president's chair. 'No more Council,' I says. 'Run +along home now!'" + +There was laughter. By waving assorted papers I managed to get +around to the door of the press gallery. There an enormous smiling +sailor stopped me, and when I showed my pass, just said, "If you +were Saint Michael himself, comrade, you couldn't pass here!" +Through the glass of the door I made out the distorted face and +gesticulating arms of a French correspondent, locked in.... + +Around in front stood a little, grey-moustached man in the uniform +of a general, the centre of a knot of soldiers. He was very red in +the face. + +"I am General Alexeyev," he cried. "As your superior officer and as +a member of the Council of the Republic I demand to be allowed to +pass!" The guard scratched his head, looking uneasily out of the +corner of his eye; he beckoned to an approaching officer, who grew +very agitated when he saw who it was and saluted before he realised +what he was doing. + +"_Vashe Vuisokoprevoskhoditelstvo_--your High Excellency--" he +stammered, in the manner of the old regime, "Access to the Palace is +strictly forbidden--I have no right--" + +An automobile came by, and I saw Gotz sitting inside, laughing +apparently with great amusement. A few minutes later another, with +armed soldiers on the front seat, full of arrested members of the +Provisional Government. Peters, Lettish member of the Military +Revolutionary Committee, came hurrying across the Square. + +"I thought you bagged all those gentlemen last night," said I, +pointing to them. + +"Oh," he answered, with the expression of a disappointed small boy. +"The damn fools let most of them go again before we made up our +minds...." + +Down the Voskressensky Prospect a great mass of sailors were drawn +up, and behind them came marching soldiers, as far as the eye could +reach. + +We went toward the Winter Palace by way of the Admiralteisky. All +the entrances to the Palace Square were closed by sentries, and a +cordon of troops stretched clear across the western end, besieged by +an uneasy throng of citizens. Except for far-away soldiers who +seemed to be carrying wood out of the Palace courtyard and piling it +in front of the main gateway, everything was quiet. + +We couldn't make out whether the sentries were pro-Government or +pro-Soviet. Our papers from Smolny had no effect, however, so we +approached another part of the line with an important air and showed +our American passports, saying "Official business!" and shouldered +through. At the door of the Palace the same old _shveitzari,_ in +their brass-buttoned blue uniforms with the red-and-gold collars, +politely took our coats and hats, and we went up-stairs. In the +dark, gloomy corridor, stripped of its tapestries, a few old +attendants were lounging about, and in front of Kerensky's door a +young officer paced up and down, gnawing his moustache. We asked if +we could interview the Minister-president. He bowed and clicked his +heels. + +"No, I am sorry," he replied in French. "Alexander Feodorvitch is +extremely occupied just now...." He looked at us for a moment. "In +fact, he is not here...." + +"Where is he?" + +"He has gone to the Front. (See App. IV, Sect. 2) And do you know, +there wasn't enough gasoline for his automobile. We had to send to +the English Hospital and borrow some." + +"Are the Ministers here?" + +"They are meeting in some room--I don't know where.' + +"Are the Bolsheviki coming?" + +"Of course. Certainly, they are coming. I expect a telephone call +every minute to say that they are coming. But we are ready. We have +_yunkers_ in the front of the Palace. Through that door there." + +"Can we go in there?" + +"No. Certainly not. It is not permitted." Abruptly he shook hands +all around and walked away. We turned to the forbidden door, set in +a temporary partition dividing the hall and locked on the outside. +On the other side were voices, and somebody laughing. Except for +that the vast spaces of the old Palace were silent as the grave. An +old _shveitzar_ ran up. "No, _barin,_ you must not go in there." + +"Why is the door locked?" + +"To keep the soldiers in," he answered. After a few minutes he said +something about having a glass of tea and went back up the hall. We +unlocked the door. + +Just inside a couple of soldiers stood on guard, but they said +nothing. At the end of the corridor was a large, ornate room with +gilded cornices and enormous crystal lustres, and beyond it several +smaller ones, wainscoted with dark wood. On both sides of the +parquetted floor lay rows of dirty mattresses and blankets, upon +which occasional soldiers were stretched out; everywhere was a +litter of cigarette-butts, bits of bread, cloth, and empty bottles +with expensive French labels. More and more soldiers, with the red +shoulder-straps of the _yunker_-schools, moved about in a stale +atmosphere of tobacco-smoke and unwashed humanity. One had a bottle +of white Burgundy, evidently filched from the cellars of the Palace. +They looked at us with astonishment as we marched past, through room +after room, until at last we came out into a series of great +state-salons, fronting their long and dirty windows on the Square. +The walls were covered with huge canvases in massive gilt +frames--historical battle-scenes.... "12 October 1812" and "6 November +1812" and "16/28 August 1813." ... One had a gash across the upper +right hand corner. + +The place was all a huge barrack, and evidently had been for weeks, +from the look of the floor and walls. Machine guns were mounted on +window-sills, rifles stacked between the mattresses. + +As we were looking at the pictures an alcoholic breath assailed me +from the region of my left ear, and a voice said in thick but fluent +French, "I see, by the way you admire the paintings, that you are +foreigners." He was a short, puffy man with a baldish head as he +removed his cap. + +"Americans? Enchanted. I am Stabs--Capitan Vladimir Artzibashev, +absolutely at your service." It did not seem to occur to him that +there was anything unusual in four strangers, one a woman, wandering +through the defences of an army awaiting attack. He began to +complain of the state of Russia. + +"Not only these Bolsheviki," he said, "but the fine traditions of +the Russian army are broken down. Look around you. These are all +students in the officers' training schools. But are they gentlemen? +Kerensky opened the officers' schools to the ranks, to any soldier +who could pass an examination. Naturally there are many, many who +are contaminated by the Revolution...." + +Without consequence he changed the subject. "I am very anxious to go +away from Russia. I have made up my mind to join the American army. +Will you please go to your Consul and make arrangements? I will give +you my address." In spite of our protestations he wrote it on a +piece of paper, and seemed to feel better at once. I have it +still--"_Oranien-baumskaya Shkola Praporshtchikov 2nd, Staraya +Peterhof._" + +"We had a review this morning early," he went on, as he guided us +through the rooms and explained everything. "The Women's Battalion +decided to remain loyal to the Government." + +"Are the women soldiers in the Palace?" + +"Yes, they are in the back rooms, where they won't be hurt if any +trouble comes." He sighed. "It is a great responsibility," said he. + +For a while we stood at the window, looking down on the Square +before the Palace, where three companies of long-coated +_yunkers_ were drawn up under arms, being harangued by a tall, +energetic-looking officer I recognised as Stankievitch, chief +Military Commissar of the Provisional Government. After a few +minutes two of the companies shouldered arms with a clash, barked +three sharp shouts, and went swinging off across the Square, +disappearing through the Red Arch into the quiet city. + +"They are going to capture the Telephone Exchange," said some one. +Three cadets stood by us, and we fell into conversation. They said +they had entered the schools from the ranks, and gave their +names--Robert Olev, Alexei Vasilienko and Erni Sachs, an Esthonian. +But now they didn't want to be officers any more, because officers +were very unpopular. They didn't seem to know what to do, as a +matter of fact, and it was plain that they were not happy. + +But soon they began to boast. "If the Bolsheviki come we shall show +them how to fight. They do not dare to fight, they are cowards. But +if we should be overpowered, well, every man keeps one bullet for +himself...." + +At this point there was a burst of rifle-fire not far off. Out on +the Square all the people began to run, falling flat on their faces, +and the _izvoshtchiki,_ standing on the corners, galloped in every +direction. Inside all was uproar, soldiers running here and there, +grabbing up guns, rifle-belts and shouting, "Here they come! Here +they come!" ... But in a few minutes it quieted down again. The +_izvoshtchiki_ came back, the people lying down stood up. Through +the Red Arch appeared the _yunkers,_ marching a little out of step, +one of them supported by two comrades. + +It was getting late when we left the Palace. The sentries in the +Square had all disappeared. The great semi-circle of Government +buildings seemed deserted. We went into the Hotel France for dinner, +and right in the middle of soup the waiter, very pale in the face, +came up and insisted that we move to the main dining-room at the +back of the house, because they were going to put out the lights in +the cafe. "There will be much shooting," he said. + +When we came out on the Morskaya again it was quite dark, except for +one flickering street-light on the corner of the Nevsky. Under this +stood a big armored automobile, with racing engine and oil-smoke +pouring out of it. A small boy had climbed up the side of the thing +and was looking down the barrel of a machine gun. Soldiers and +sailors stood around, evidently waiting for something. We walked +back up to the Red Arch, where a knot of soldiers was gathered +staring at the brightly-lighted Winter Palace and talking in loud +tones. + +"No, comrades," one was saying. "How can we shoot at them? The +Women's Battalion is in there--they will say we have fired on Russian +women." + +As we reached the Nevsky again another armoured car came around the +corner, and a man poked his head out of the turret-top. + +"Come on!" he yelled. "Let's go on through and attack!" + +The driver of the other car came over, and shouted so as to be heard +above the roaring engine. "The Committee says to wait. They have got +artillery behind the wood-piles in there...." + +Here the street-cars had stopped running, few people passed, and +there were no lights; but a few blocks away we could see the trams, +the crowds, the lighted shop-windows and the electric signs of the +moving-picture shows--life going on as usual. We had tickets to the +Ballet at the Marinsky Theatre--all theatres were open--but it was too +exciting out of doors.... + +In the darkness we stumbled over lumber-piles barricading the Police +Bridge, and before the Stroganov Palace made out some soldiers +wheeling into position a three-inch field-gun. Men in various +uniforms were coming and going in an aimless way, and doing a great +deal of talking.... + +Up the Nevsky the whole city seemed to be out promenading. On every +corner immense crowds were massed around a core of hot discussion. +Pickets of a dozen soldiers with fixed bayonets lounged at the +street-crossings, red-faced old men in rich fur coats shook their +fists at them, smartly-dressed women screamed epithets; the soldiers +argued feebly, with embarrassed grins.... Armoured cars went up and +down the street, named after the first Tsars--Oleg, Rurik, +Svietoslav--and daubed with huge red letters, "R. S. D. R. P." +_(Rossiskaya Partia_)[13]. At the Mikhailovsky a man appeared with an +armful of newspapers, and was immediately stormed by frantic people, +offering a rouble, five roubles, ten roubles, tearing at each other +like animals. It was _Rabotchi i Soldat,_ announcing the victory of +the Proletarian Revolution, the liberation of the Bolsheviki still +in prison, calling upon the Army front and rear for support... a +feverish little sheet of four pages, running to enormous type, +containing no news.... + +[13] (Russian Social Democratic Labor Party). + +On the corner of the Sadovaya about two thousand citizens had +gathered, staring up at the roof of a tall building, where a tiny +red spark glowed and waned. + +"See!" said a tall peasant, pointing to it. "It is a provocator. +Presently he will fire on the people...." Apparently no one thought of +going to investigate. + +The massive facade of Smolny blazed with lights as we drove up, and +from every street converged upon it streams of hurrying shapes dim +in the gloom. Automobiles and motorcycles came and went; an enormous +elephant-coloured armoured automobile, with two red flags flying +from the turret, lumbered out with screaming siren. It was cold, and +at the outer gate the Red Guards had built themselves a bon-fire. At +the inner gate, too, there was a blaze, by the light of which the +sentries slowly spelled out our passes and looked us up and down. +The canvas covers had been taken off the four rapid-fire guns on +each side of the doorway, and the ammunition-belts hung snakelike +from their breeches. A dun herd of armoured cars stood under the +trees in the court-yard, engines going. The long, bare, +dimly-illuminated halls roared with the thunder of feet, calling, +shouting.... There was an atmosphere of recklessness. A crowd came +pouring down the staircase, workers in black blouses and round black +fur hats, many of them with guns slung over their shoulders, +soldiers in rough dirt-coloured coats and grey fur _shapki_ pinched +flat, a leader or so--Lunatcharsky, Kameniev--hurrying along in the +centre of a group all talking at once, with harassed anxious faces, +and bulging portfolios under their arms. The extraordinary meeting +of the Petrograd Soviet was over. I stopped Kameniev--a quick moving +little man, with a wide, vivacious face set close to his shoulders. +Without preface he read in rapid French a copy of the resolution +just passed: + +The Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, saluting +the victorious Revolution of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison, +particularly emphasises the unity, organisation, discipline, and +complete cooperation shown by the masses in this rising; rarely has +less blood been spilled, and rarely has an insurrection succeeded so +well. + +The Soviet expresses its firm conviction that the Workers' and +Peasants' Government which, as the government of the Soviets, will +be created by the Revolution, and which will assure the industrial +proletariat of the support of the entire mass of poor peasants, will +march firmly toward Socialism, the only means by which the country +can be spared the miseries and unheard-of horrors of war. + +The new Workers' and Peasants' Government will propose immediately a +just and democratic peace to all the belligerent countries. + +It will suppress immediately the great landed property, and transfer +the land to the peasants. It will establish workmen's control over +production and distribution of manufactured products, and will set +up a general control over the banks, which it will transform into a +state monopoly. + +The Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies calls upon +the workers and the peasants of Russia to support with all their +energy and all their devotion the Proletarian Revolution. The Soviet +expresses its conviction that the city workers, allies of the poor +peasants, will assure complete revolutionary order, indispensable +to the victory of Socialism. The Soviet is convinced that the +proletariat of the countries of Western Europe will aid us in +conducting the cause of Socialism to a real and lasting victory. + +"You consider it won then?" + +He lifted his shoulders. "There is much to do. Horribly much. It is +just beginning...." + +On the landing I met Riazanov, vice-president of the Trade Unions, +looking black and biting his grey beard. "It's insane! Insane!" he +shouted. "The European working-class won't move! All Russia--" He +waved his hand distractedly and ran off. Riazanov and Kameniev had +both opposed the insurrection, and felt the lash of Lenin's terrible +tongue.... + +It had been a momentous session. In the name of the Military +Revolutionary Committee Trotzky had declared that the Provisional +Government no longer existed. + +"The characteristic of bourgeois governments," he said, "is to +deceive the people. We, the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and +Peasants' Deputies, are going to try an experiment unique in +history; we are going to found a power which will have no other aim +but to satisfy the needs of the soldiers, workers, and peasants." + +Lenin had appeared, welcomed with a mighty ovation, prophesying +world-wide Social Revolution.... And Zinoviev, crying, "This day we +have paid our debt to the international proletariat, and struck a +terrible blow at the war, a terrible body-blow at all the +imperialists and particularly at Wilhelm the Executioner...." + +Then Trotzky, that telegrams had been sent to the front announcing +the victorious insurrection, but no reply had come. Troops were said +to be marching against Petrograd--a delegation must be sent to tell +them the truth. + +Cries, "You are anticipating the will of the All-Russian Congress of +Soviets!" + +Trotzky, coldly, "The will of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets +has been anticipated by the rising of the Petrograd workers and +soldiers!" + +So we came into the great meeting-hall, pushing through the +clamorous mob at the door. In the rows of seats, under the white +chandeliers, packed immovably in the aisles and on the sides, +perched on every window-sill, and even the edge of the platform, the +representatives of the workers and soldiers of all Russia waited in +anxious silence or wild exultation the ringing of the chairman's +bell. There was no heat in the hall but the stifling heat of +unwashed human bodies. A foul blue cloud of cigarette smoke rose +from the mass and hung in the thick air. Occasionally some one in +authority mounted the tribune and asked the comrades not to smoke; +then everybody, smokers and all, took up the cry "Don't smoke, +comrades!" and went on smoking. Petrovsky, Anarchist delegate from +the Obukhov factory, made a seat for me beside him. Unshaven and +filthy, he was reeling from three nights' sleepless work on the +Military Revolutionary Committee. + +On the platform sat the leaders of the old _Tsay-ee-kah_--for the +last time dominating the turbulent Soviets, which they had ruled +from the first days, and which were now risen against them. It was +the end of the first period of the Russian revolution, which these +men had attempted to guide in careful ways.... The three greatest of +them were not there: Kerensky, flying to the front through country +towns all doubtfully heaving up; Tcheidze, the old eagle, who had +contemptuously retired to his own Georgian mountains, there to +sicken with consumption; and the high-souled Tseretelli, also +mortally stricken, who, nevertheless, would return and pour out his +beautiful eloquence for a lost cause. Gotz sat there, Dan, Lieber, +Bogdanov, Broido, Fillipovsky,--white-faced, hollow-eyed and +indignant. Below them the second _siezd_ of the All-Russian Soviets +boiled and swirled, and over their heads the Military Revolutionary +Committee functioned white-hot, holding in its hands the threads of +insurrection and striking with a long arm.... It was 10.40 P. M. + +Dan, a mild-faced, baldish figure in a shapeless military surgeon's +uniform, was ringing the bell. Silence fell sharply, intense, broken +by the scuffling and disputing of the people at the door.... + +"We have the power in our hands," he began sadly, stopped for a +moment, and then went on in a low voice. "Comrades! The Congress of +Soviets in meeting in such unusual circumstances and in such an +extraordinary moment that you will understand why the _Tsay-ee-kah_ +considers it unnecessary to address you with a political speech. +This will become much clearer to you if you will recollect that I am +a member of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ and that at this very moment our +party comrades are in the Winter Palace under bombardment, +sacrificing themselves to execute the duty put on them by the +_Tsay-ee-kah."_ (Confused uproar.) + +"I declare the first session of the Second Congress of Soviets of +Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies open!" + +The election of the presidium took place amid stir and moving about. +Avanessov announced that by agreement of the Bolsheviki, Left +Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviki Internationalists, it was +decided to base the presidium upon proportionality. Several Mensheviki +leaped to their feet protesting. A bearded soldier shouted at them, +"Remember what you did to us Bolsheviki when _we_ were the minority!" +Result--14 Bolsheviki, 7 Socialist Revolutionaries, 3 Mensheviki and +1 Internationalist (Gorky's group). Hendelmann, for the right and +centre Socialist Revolutionaries, said that they refused to take +part in the presidium; the same from Kintchuk, for the Mensheviki; +and from the Mensheviki Internationalists, that until the verification +of certain circumstances, they too could not enter the presidium. +Scattering applause and hoots. One voice, "Renegades, you call +yourselves Socialists!" A representative of the Ukrainean delegates +demanded, and received, a place. Then the old _Tsay-ee-kah_ stepped +down, and in their places appeared Trotzky, Kameniev, Lunatcharsky, +Madame Kollentai, Nogin.... The hall rose, thundering. How far they +had soared, these Bolsheviki, from a despised and hunted sect less +than four months ago, to this supreme place, the helm of great Russia +in full tide of insurrection! + +The order of the day, said Kameniev, was first, Organisation of +Power; second, War and Peace; and third, the Constituent Assembly. +Lozovsky, rising, announced that upon agreement of the bureau of all +factions, it was proposed to hear and discuss the report of the +Petrograd Soviet, then to give the floor to members of the +_Tsay-ee-kah_ and the different parties, and finally to pass to the +order of the day. + +But suddenly a new sound made itself heard, deeper than the tumult +of the crowd, persistent, disquieting,--the dull shock of guns. +People looked anxiously toward the clouded windows, and a sort of +fever came over them. Martov, demanding the floor, croaked hoarsely, +"The civil war is beginning, comrades! The first question must be a +peaceful settlement of the crisis. On principle and from a political +standpoint we must urgently discuss a means of averting civil war. +Our brothers are being shot down in the streets! At this moment, +when before the opening of the Congress of Soviets the question of +Power is being settled by means of a military plot organised by one +of the revolutionary parties--" for a moment he could not make +himself heard above the noise, "All of the revolutionary parties +must face the fact! The first _vopros_ (question) before the +Congress is the question of Power, and this question is already +being settled by force of arms in the streets!... We must create a +power which will be recognised by the whole democracy. If the +Congress wishes to be the voice of the revolutionary democracy it +must not sit with folded hands before the developing civil war, the +result of which may be a dangerous outburst of counter-revolution.... +The possibility of a peaceful outcome lies in the formation of a +united democratic authority.... We must elect a delegation to +negotiate with the other Socialist parties and organisation...." + +Always the methodical muffled boom of cannon through the windows, +and the delegates, screaming at each other.... So, with the crash of +artillery, in the dark, with hatred, and fear, and reckless daring, +new Russia was being born. + +The Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the United Social Democrats +supported Martov's proposition. It was accepted. A soldier announced +that the All-Russian Peasants' Soviets had refused to send delegates +to the Congress; he proposed that a committee be sent with a formal +invitation. "Some delegates are present," he said. "I move that they +be given votes." Accepted. + +Kharash, wearing the epaulets of a captain, passionately demanded +the floor. "The political hypocrites who control this Congress," he +shouted, "told us we were to settle the question of Power--and it is +being settled behind our backs, before the Congress opens! Blows are +being struck against the Winter Palace, and it is by such blows that +the nails are being driven into the coffin of the political party +which has risked such an adventure!" Uproar. Followed him Gharra: +"While we are here discussing propositions of peace, there is a +battle on in the streets.... The Socialist Revolutionaries and the +Mensheviki refuse to be involved in what is happening, and call upon +all public forces to resist the attempt to capture the power...." +Kutchin, delegate of the 12th Army and representative of the +Troudoviki: "I was sent here only for information, and I am +returning at once to the Front, where all the Army Committees +consider that the taking of power by the Soviets, only three weeks +before the Constituent Assembly, is a stab in the back of the Army +and a crime against the people--!" Shouts of "Lie! You lie!"... When he +could be heard again, "Let's make an end of this adventure in +Petrograd! I call upon all delegates to leave this hall in order to +save the country and the Revolution!" As he went down the aisle in +the midst of a deafening noise, people surged in upon him, +threatening.... Then Khintchuk, an officer with a long brown goatee, +speaking suavely and persuasively: "I speak for the delegates from +the Front. The Army is imperfectly represented in this Congress, and +furthermore, the Army does not consider the Congress of Soviets +necessary at this time, only three weeks before the opening of the +Constituent--" shouts and stamping, always growing more violent. "The +Army does not consider that the Congress of Soviets has the +necessary authority--" Soldiers began to stand up all over the hall. + +"Who are you speaking for? What do you represent?" they cried. + +"The Central Executive Committee of the Soviet of the Fifth Army, +the Second F-- regiment, the First N-- Regiment, the Third S-- Rifles...." + +"When were you elected? You represent the officers, not the +soldiers! What do the soldiers say about it?" Jeers and hoots. + +"We, the Front group, disclaim all responsibility for what has +happened and is happening, and we consider it necessary to mobilise +all self-conscious revolutionary forces for the salvation of the +Revolution! The Front group will leave the Congress.... The place to +fight is out on the streets!" + +Immense bawling outcry. "You speak for the Staff--not for the Army!" + +"I appeal to all reasonable soldiers to leave this Congress!" + +"Kornilovitz! Counter-revolutionist! Provocator!" were hurled at him. + +On behalf of the Mensheviki, Khintchuk then announced that the only +possibility of a peaceful solution was to begin negotiations with +the Provisional Government for the formation of a new Cabinet, which +would find support in all strata of society. He could not proceed +for several minutes. Raising his voice to a shout he read the +Menshevik declaration: + +"Because the Bolsheviki have made a military conspiracy with the aid +of the Petrograd Soviet, without consulting the other factions and +parties, we find it impossible to remain in the Congress, and +therefore withdraw, inviting the other groups to follow us and to +meet for discussion of the situation!" + +"Deserter!" At intervals in the almost continuous disturbance +Hendelman, for the Socialist Revolutionaries, could be heard +protesting against the bombardment of the Winter Palace.... "We are +opposed to this kind of anarchy...." + +Scarcely had he stepped down than a young, lean-faced soldier, with +flashing eyes, leaped to the platform, and dramatically lifted his +hand: + +"Comrades!" he cried and there was a hush. "My _familia_ (name) is +Peterson--I speak for the Second Lettish Rifles. You have heard the +statements of two representatives of the Army committees; these +statements would have some value _if their authors had been +representatives of the Army_--" Wild applause. _"But they do not +represent the soldiers!"_ Shaking his fist. "The Twelfth Army has +been insisting for a long time upon the re-election of the Great +Soviet and the Army Committee, but just as your own _Tsay-ee-kah,_ +our Committee refused to call a meeting of the representatives of +the masses until the end of September, so that the reactionaries +could elect their own false delegates to this Congress. I tell you +now, the Lettish soldiers have many times said, 'No more +resolutions! No more talk! We want deeds--the Power must be in our +hands!' Let these impostor delegates leave the Congress! The Army is +not with them!" + +The hall rocked with cheering. In the first moments of the session, +stunned by the rapidity of events, startled by the sound of cannon, +the delegates had hesitated. For an hour hammer-blow after +hammer-blow had fallen from that tribune, welding them together but +beating them down. Did they stand then alone? Was Russia rising +against them? Was it true that the Army was marching on Petrograd? +Then this clear-eyed young soldier had spoken, and in a flash they +knew it for the truth.... _This_ was the voice of the soldiers--the +stirring millions of uniformed workers and peasants were men like +them, and their thoughts and feelings were the same... + +More soldiers ... Gzhelshakh; for the Front delegates, announcing that +they had only decided to leave the Congress by a small majority, and +that _the Bolshevik members had not even taken part in the vote,_ as +they stood for division according to political parties, and not +groups. "Hundreds of delegates from the Front," he said, "are being +elected without the participation of the soldiers because the Army +Committees are no longer the real representatives of the rank and +file...." Lukianov, crying that officers like Kharash and Khintchuk +could not represent the Army in this congress,--but only the high +command. "The real inhabitants of the trenches want with all their +hearts the transfer of Power into the hands of the Soviets, and they +expect very much from it!"... The tide was turning. + +Then came Abramovitch, for the _Bund,_ the organ of the Jewish +Social Democrats--his eyes snapping behind thick glasses, trembling +with rage. + +"What is taking place now in Petrograd is a monstrous calamity! The +_Bund_ group joins with the declaration of the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolutionaries and will leave the Congress!" He raised +his voice and hand. "Our duty to the Russian proletariat doesn't +permit us to remain here and be responsible for these crimes. +Because the firing on the Winter Palace doesn't cease, the Municipal +Duma together with the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries, and +the Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviet, has decided to +perish with the Provisional Government, and we are going with them! +Unarmed we will expose our breasts to the machine guns of the +Terrorists.... We invite all delegates to this Congress--" The rest was +lost in a storm of hoots, menaces and curses which rose to a hellish +pitch as fifty delegates got up and pushed their way out.... + +Kameniev jangled the bell, shouting, "Keep your seats and we'll go +on with our business!" And Trotzky, standing up with a pale, cruel +face, letting out his rich voice in cool contempt, "All these +so-called Socialist compromisers, these frightened Mensheviki, +Socialist Revolutionaries, _Bund_--let them go! They are just so much +refuse which will be swept into the garbage-heap of history!" + +Riazanov, for the Bolsheviki, stated that at the request of the City +Duma the Military Revolutionary Committee had sent a delegation to +offer negotiations to the Winter Palace. "In this way we have done +everything possible to avoid blood-shed...." + +We hurried from the place, stopping for a moment at the room where +the Military Revolutionary Committee worked at furious speed, +engulfing and spitting out panting couriers, despatching Commissars +armed with power of life and death to all the corners of the city, +amid the buzz of the telephonographs. The door opened, a blast of +stale air and cigarette smoke rushed out, we caught a glimpse of +dishevelled men bending over a map under the glare of a shaded +electric-light.... Comrade Josephov-Dukhvinski, a smiling youth with a +mop of pale yellow hair, made out passes for us. + +When we came into the chill night, all the front of Smolny was one +huge park of arriving and departing automobiles, above the sound of +which could be heard the far-off slow beat of the cannon. A great +motor-truck stood there, shaking to the roar of its engine. Men were +tossing bundles into it, and others receiving them, with guns beside +them. + +"Where are you going?" I shouted. + +"Down-town--all over--everywhere!" answered a little workman, +grinning, with a large exultant gesture. + +We showed our passes. "Come along!" they invited. "But there'll +probably be shooting--" We climbed in; the clutch slid home with a +raking jar, the great car jerked forward, we all toppled backward on +top of those who were climbing in; past the huge fire by the gate, +and then the fire by the outer gate, glowing red on the faces of the +workmen with rifles who squatted around it, and went bumping at top +speed down the Suvorovsky Prospect, swaying from side to side.... One +man tore the wrapping from a bundle and began to hurl handfuls of +papers into the air. We imitated him, plunging down through the dark +street with a tail of white papers floating and eddying out behind. +The late passerby stooped to pick them up; the patrols around +bonfires on the corners ran out with uplifted arms to catch them. +Sometimes armed men loomed up ahead, crying "_Shtoi!_" and raising +their guns, but our chauffeur only yelled something unintelligible +and we hurtled on.... + +I picked up a copy of the paper, and under a fleeting street-light +read: + +TO THE CITIZENS OF RUSSIA! + +The Provisional Government is deposed. The State Power has passed +into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and +Soldiers' Deputies, the Military Revolutionary Committee, which +stands at the head of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison. + +The cause for which the people were fighting: immediate proposal of +a democratic peace, abolition of landlord property-rights over the +land, labor control over production, creation of a Soviet +Government--that cause is securely achieved. + +LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION OF WORKMEN, SOLDIERS AND PEASANTS! + +_Military Revolutionary Committee_ + +_Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies._ + +[Graphic, page 96: Proclamation in Russian, title follows] + +Proclamation of the Fall of the Provisional Government issued by the +Military Revolutionary Committee on the night of November 7th (our +calendar), which we helped to distribute from a motor-truck just +after the surrender of the Winter Palace. + +A slant-eyed, Mongolian-faced man who sat beside me, dressed in a +goat-skin Caucasian cape, snapped, "Look out! Here the provocators +always shoot from the windows!" We turned into Znamensky Square, +dark and almost deserted, careened around Trubetskoy's brutal statue +and swung down the wide Nevsky, three men standing up with rifles +ready, peering at the windows. Behind us the street was alive with +people running and stooping. We could no longer hear the cannon, and +the nearer we drew to the Winter Palace end of the city the quieter +and more deserted were the streets. The City Duma was all brightly +lighted. Beyond that we made out a dark mass of people, and a line +of sailors, who yelled furiously at us to stop. The machine slowed +down, and we climbed out. + +It was an astonishing scene. Just at the corner of the Ekaterina +Canal, under an arc-light, a cordon of armed sailors was drawn +across the Nevsky, blocking the way to a crowd of people in column +of fours. There were about three or four hundred of them, men in +frock coats, well-dressed women, officers--all sorts and conditions +of people. Among them we recognised many of the delegates from the +Congress, leaders of the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries; +Avksentiev, the lean, red-bearded president of the Peasants' +Soviets, Sarokin, Kerensky's spokesman, Khintchuk, Abramovitch; and +at the head white-bearded old Schreider, Mayor of Petrograd, and +Prokopovitch, Minister of Supplies in the Provisional Government, +arrested that morning and released. I caught sight of Malkin, +reporter for the _Russian Daily News._ "Going to die in the Winter +Palace," he shouted cheerfully. The procession stood still, but from +the front of it came loud argument. Schreider and Prokopovitch were +bellowing at the big sailor who seemed in command. + +"We demand to pass!" they cried. "See, these comrades come from the +Congress of Soviets! Look at their tickets! We are going to the +Winter Palace!" + +The sailor was plainly puzzled. He scratched his head with an +enormous hand, frowning. "I have orders from the Committee not to +let anybody go to the Winter Palace," he grumbled. "But I will send +a comrade to telephone to Smolny...." + +"We Insist upon passing! We are unarmed! We will march on whether +you permit us or not!" cried old Schreider, very much excited. + +"I have orders--" repeated the sailor sullenly. + +"Shoot us if you want to! We will pass! Forward!" came from all +sides. "We are ready to die, if you have the heart to fire on +Russians and comrades! We bare our breasts to your guns!" + +"No," said the sailor, looking stubborn, "I can't allow you to pass." + +"What will you do if we go forward? Will you shoot?" + +"No, I'm not going to shoot people who haven't any guns. We won't +shoot unarmed Russian people...." + +"We will go forward! What can you do?" + +"We will do something," replied the sailor, evidently at a loss. "We +can't let you pass. We will do something." + +"What will you do? What will you do?" + +Another sailor came up, very much irritated. "We will spank you!" he +cried, energetically. "And if necessary we will shoot you too. Go +home now, and leave us in peace!" + +At this there was a great clamour of anger and resentment, +Prokopovitch had mounted some sort of box, and, waving his umbrella, +he made a speech: + +"Comrades and citizens!" he said. "Force is being used against us! +We cannot have our innocent blood upon the hands of these ignorant +men! It is beneath our dignity to be shot down here in the street by +switchmen--" (What he meant by "switchmen" I never discovered.) "Let +us return to the Duma and discuss the best means of saving the +country and the Revolution!" + +Whereupon, in dignified silence, the procession marched around and +back up the Nevsky, always in column of fours. And taking advantage +of the diversion we slipped past the guards and set off in the +direction of the Winter Palace. + +Here it was absolutely dark, and nothing moved but pickets of +soldiers and Red Guards grimly intent. In front of the Kazan +Cathedral a three-inch field-gun lay in the middle of the street, +slewed sideways from the recoil of its last shot over the roofs. +Soldiers were standing in every doorway talking in low tones and +peering down toward the Police Bridge. I heard one voice saying: "It +is possible that we have done wrong...." At the corners patrols +stopped all passersby--and the composition of these patrols was +interesting, for in command of the regular troops was invariably a +Red Guard.... The shooting had ceased. + +Just as we came to the Morskaya somebody was shouting: "The +_yunkers_ have sent word they want us to go and get them out!" +Voices began to give commands, and in the thick gloom we made out a +dark mass moving forward, silent but for the shuffle of feet and the +clinking of arms. We fell in with the first ranks. + +Like a black river, filling all the street, without song or cheer we +poured through the Red Arch, where the man just ahead of me said in +a low voice: "Look out, comrades! Don't trust them. They will fire, +surely!" In the open we began to run, stooping low and bunching +together, and jammed up suddenly behind the pedestal of the +Alexander Column. + +"How many of you did they kill?" I asked. + +"I don't know. About ten...." + +After a few minutes huddling there, some hundreds of men, the army +seemed reassured and without any orders suddenly began again to flow +forward. By this time, in the light that streamed out of all the +Winter Palace windows, I could see that the first two or three +hundred men were Red Guards, with only a few scattered soldiers. +Over the barricade of firewood we clambered, and leaping down inside +gave a triumphant shout as we stumbled on a heap of rifles thrown +down by the _yunkers_ who had stood there. On both sides of the main +gateway the doors stood wide open, light streamed out, and from the +huge pile came not the slightest sound. + +Carried along by the eager wave of men we were swept into the right +hand entrance, opening into a great bare vaulted room, the cellar of +the East wing, from which issued a maze of corridors and +stair-cases. A number of huge packing cases stood about, and upon +these the Red Guards and soldiers fell furiously, battering them +open with the butts of their rifles, and pulling out carpets, +curtains, linen, porcelain plates, glassware.... One man went +strutting around with a bronze clock perched on his shoulder; +another found a plume of ostrich feathers, which he stuck in his +hat. The looting was just beginning when somebody cried, "Comrades! +Don't touch anything! Don't take anything! This is the property of +the People!" Immediately twenty voices were crying, "Stop! Put +everything back! Don't take anything! Property of the People!" Many +hands dragged the spoilers down. Damask and tapestry were snatched +from the arms of those who had them; two men took away the bronze +clock. Roughly and hastily the things were crammed back in their +cases, and self-appointed sentinels stood guard. It was all utterly +spontaneous. Through corridors and up stair-cases the cry could be +heard growing fainter and fainter in the distance, "Revolutionary +discipline! Property of the People...." + +We crossed back over to the left entrance, in the West wing. There +order was also being established. "Clear the Palace!" bawled a Red +Guard, sticking his head through an inner door. "Come, comrades, +let's show that we're not thieves and bandits. Everybody out of the +Palace except the Commissars, until we get sentries posted." + +Two Red Guards, a soldier and an officer, stood with revolvers in +their hands. Another soldier sat at a table behind them, with pen +and paper. Shouts of "All out! All out!" were heard far and near +within, and the Army began to pour through the door, jostling, +expostulating, arguing. As each man appeared he was seized by the +self-appointed committee, who went through his pockets and looked +under his coat. Everything that was plainly not his property was +taken away, the man at the table noted it on his paper, and it was +carried into a little room. The most amazing assortment of objects +were thus confiscated; statuettes, bottles of ink, bed-spreads +worked with the Imperial monogram, candles, a small oil-painting, +desk blotters, gold-handled swords, cakes of soap, clothes of every +description, blankets. One Red Guard carried three rifles, two of +which he had taken away from _yunkers;_ another had four portfolios +bulging with written documents. The culprits either sullenly +surrendered or pleaded like children. All talking at once the +committee explained that stealing was not worthy of the people's +champions; often those who had been caught turned around and began +to help go through the rest of the comrades. (See App. IV, Sect. 3) + +_Yunkers_ came out, in bunches of three or four. The committee +seized upon them with an excess of zeal, accompanying the +search with remarks like, "Ah, Provocators! Kornilovists! +Counter-revolutionists! Murderers of the People!" But there was no +violence done, although the _yunkers_ were terrified. They too had +their pockets full of small plunder. It was carefully noted down by +the scribe, and piled in the little room.... The _yunkers_ were +disarmed. "Now, will you take up arms against the People any more?" +demanded clamouring voices. + +"No," answered the _yunkers,_ one by one. Whereupon they were +allowed to go free. + +We asked if we might go inside. The committee was doubtful, but the +big Red Guard answered firmly that it was forbidden. "Who are you +anyway?" he asked. "How do I know that you are not all Kerenskys? +(There were five of us, two women.) + +"_Pazhal'st', touarishtchi!_ Way, Comrades!" A soldier and a Red +Guard appeared in the door, waving the crowd aside, and other guards +with fixed bayonets. After them followed single file half a dozen +men in civilian dress--the members of the Provisional Government. +First came Kishkin, his face drawn and pale, then Rutenberg, looking +sullenly at the floor; Terestchenko was next, glancing sharply +around; he stared at us with cold fixity.... They passed in silence; +the victorious insurrectionists crowded to see, but there were only +a few angry mutterings. It was only later that we learned how the +people in the street wanted to lynch them, and shots were fired--but +the sailors brought them safely to Peter-Paul.... + +In the meanwhile unrebuked we walked into the Palace. There was +still a great deal of coming and going, of exploring new-found +apartments in the vast edifice, of searching for hidden garrisons of +_yunkers_ which did not exist. We went upstairs and wandered through +room after room. This part of the Palace had been entered also by +other detachments from the side of the Neva. The paintings, statues, +tapestries and rugs of the great state apartments were unharmed; in +the offices, however, every desk and cabinet had been ransacked, the +papers scattered over the floor, and in the living rooms beds had +been stripped of their coverings and ward-robes wrenched open. The +most highly prized loot was clothing, which the working people +needed. In a room where furniture was stored we came upon two +soldiers ripping the elaborate Spanish leather upholstery from +chairs. They explained it was to make boots with.... + +The old Palace servants in their blue and red and gold uniforms +stood nervously about, from force of habit repeating, "You can't go +in there, _barin!_ It is forbidden--" We penetrated at length to the +gold and malachite chamber with crimson brocade hangings where the +Ministers had been in session all that day and night, and where the +_shveitzari_ had betrayed them to the Red Guards. The long table +covered with green baize was just as they had left it, under arrest. +Before each empty seat was pen and ink and paper; the papers were +scribbled over with beginnings of plans of action, rough drafts of +proclamations and manifestos. Most of these were scratched out, as +their futility became evident, and the rest of the sheet covered +with absent-minded geometrical designs, as the writers sat +despondently listening while Minister after Minister proposed +chimerical schemes. I took one of these scribbled pages, in the hand +writing of Konovalov, which read, "The Provisional Government +appeals to all classes to support the Provisional Government--" + +All this time, it must be remembered, although the Winter Palace was +surrounded, the Government was in constant communication with the +Front and with provincial Russia. The Bolsheviki had captured the +Ministry of War early in the morning, but they did not know of the +military telegraph office in the attic, nor of the private telephone +line connecting it with the Winter Palace. In that attic a young +officer sat all day, pouring out over the country a flood of appeals +and proclamations; and when he heard that the Palace had fallen, put +on his hat and walked calmly out of the building.... + +Interested as we were, for a considerable time we didn't notice a +change in the attitude of the soldiers and Red Guards around us. As +we strolled from room to room a small group followed us, until by +the time we reached the great picture-gallery where we had spent the +afternoon with the _yunkers,_ about a hundred men surged in after +us. One giant of a soldier stood in our path, his face dark with +sullen suspicion. + +[Graphic, page 104: Doodling by Konavalov, title follows] + +Facsimile of the beginning of a proclamation, written in pencil by +A.I. Konovalov, Minister of Commerce and Industry in he Provisional +Government, and then scratched out as the hopelessness of the +situation became more and more evident. The geometrical figure +beneath was probably idly drawn while the Ministers were waiting for +the end. + +"Who are you?" he growled. "What are you doing here?" The others +massed slowly around, staring and beginning to mutter. +_"Provocatori!"_ I heard somebody say. "Looters!" I produced our +passes from the Military Revolutionary Committee. The soldier took +them gingerly, turned them upside down and looked at them without +comprehension. Evidently he could not read. He handed them back and +spat on the floor. _"Bumagi!_ Papers!" said he with contempt. The +mass slowly began to close in, like wild cattle around a cowpuncher +on foot. Over their heads I caught sight of an officer, looking +helpless, and shouted to him. He made for us, shouldering his way +through. + +"I'm the Commissar," he said to me. "Who are you? What is it?" The +others held back, waiting. I produced the papers. + +"You are foreigners?" he rapidly asked in Franch. "It is very +dangerous...." Then he turned to the mob, holding up our documents. +"Comrades!" he cried. "These people are foreign comrades--from +America. They have come here to be able to tell their countrymen +about the bravery and the revolutionary discipline of the +proletarian army!" + +"How do you know that?" replied the big soldier. "I tell you they +are provocators! They say they came here to observe the +revolutionary discipline of the proletarian army, but they have been +wandering freely through the Palace, and how do we know they haven't +got their pockets full of loot?" + +_"Pravilno!"_ snarled the others, pressing forward. + +"Comrades! Comrades!" appealed the officer, sweat standing out on +his forehead. "I am Commissar of the Military Revolutionary +Committee. Do you trust me? Well, I tell you that these passes are +signed with the same names that are signed to my pass!" + +He led us down through the Palace and out through a door opening +onto the Neva quay, before which stood the usual committee going +through pockets... "You have narrowly escaped," he kept muttering, +wiping his face. + +"What happened to the Women's Battalion?" we asked. + +"Oh--the women!" He laughed. "They were all huddled up in a back +room. We had a terrible time deciding what to do with them--many were +in hysterics, and so on. So finally we marched them up to the +Finland Station and put them on a train for Levashovo, where they +have a camp. (See App. IV, Sect. 4)...." + +We came out into the cold, nervous night, murmurous with obscure +armies on the move, electric with patrols. From across the river, +where loomed the darker mass of Peter-Paul, came a hoarse shout.... +Underfoot the sidewalk was littered with broken stucco, from the +cornice of the Palace where two shells from the battleship _Avrora_ +had struck; that was the only damage done by the bombardment.... + +It was now after three in the morning. On the Nevsky all the +street-lights were again shining, the cannon gone, and the only +signs of war were Red Guards and soldiers squatting around fires. +The city was quiet--probably never so quiet in its history; on that +night not a single hold-up occurred, not a single robbery. + +But the City Duma Building was all illuminated. We mounted to the +galleried Alexander Hall, hung with its great, gold-framed, +red-shrouded Imperial portraits. About a hundred people were grouped +around the platform, where Skobeliev was speaking. He urged that the +Committee of Public Safety be expanded, so as to unite all the +anti-Bolshevik elements in one huge organisation, to be called the +Committee for Salvation of Country and Revolution. And as we looked +on, the Committee for Salvation was formed--that Committee which was +to develop into the most powerful enemy of the Bolsheviki, +appearing, in the next week, sometimes under its own partisan name, +and sometimes as the strictly non-partisan Committee of Public +Safety.... + +Dan, Gotz, Avkesntiev were there, some of the insurgent Soviet +delegates, members of the Executive Committee of the Peasants' +Soviets, old Prokopovitch, and even members of the Council of the +Republic--among whom Vinaver and other Cadets. Lieber cried that the +convention of Soviets was not a legal convention, that the old +_Tsay-ee-kah_ was still in office.... An appeal to the country was +drafted. + +We hailed a cab. "Where to?" But when we said "Smolny," the +_izvoshtchik_ shook his head. _"Niet!"_ said he, "there are +devils...." It was only after weary wandering that we found a driver +willing to take us--and he wanted thirty rubles, and stopped two +blocks away. + +The windows of Smolny were still ablaze, motors came and went, and +around the still-leaping fires the sentries huddled close, eagerly +asking everybody the latest news. The corridors were full of +hurrying men, hollow-eyed and dirty. In some of the committee-rooms +people lay sleeping on the floor, their guns beside them. In spite +of the seceding delegates, the hall of meetings was crowded with +people, roaring like the sea. As we came in, Kameniev was reading +the list of arrested Ministers. The name of Terestchenko was greeted +with thunderous applause, shouts of satisfaction, laughter; +Rutenburg came in for less; and at the mention of Paltchinsky, a +storm of hoots, angry cries, cheers burst forth.... It was announced +that Tchudnovsky had been appointed Commissar of the Winter Palace. + +Now occurred a dramatic interruption. A big peasant, his bearded +face convulsed with rage, mounted the platform and pounded with his +fist on the presidium table. + +"We, Socialist Revolutionaries, insist upon the immediate release of +the Socialist Ministers arrested in the Winter Palace! Comrades! Do +you know that four comrades who risked their lives and their freedom +fighting against tyranny of the Tsar, have been flung into +Peter-Paul prison--the historical tomb of Liberty?" In the uproar he +pounded and yelled. Another delegate climbed up beside him, and +pointed at the presidium. + +"Are the representatives of the revolutionary masses going to sit +quietly here while the _Okhrana_ of the Bolsheviki tortures their +leaders?" + +Trotzky was gesturing for silence. "These 'comrades' who are now +caught plotting the crushing of the Soviets with the adventurer +Kerensky--is there any reason to handle them with gloves? After July +16th and 18th they didn't use much ceremony with us!" With a +triumphant ring in his voice he cried, "Now that the _oborontsi_ and +the faint-hearted have gone, and the whole task of defending and +saving the Revolution rests on our shoulders, it is particularly +necessary to work--work--work! We have decided to die rather than give +up!" + +Followed him a Commissar from Tsarskoye Selo, panting and covered +with the mud of his ride. "The garrison of Tsarskoye Selo is on +guard at the gates of Petrograd, ready to defend the Soviets and the +Military Revolutionary Committee!" Wild cheers. "The Cycle Corps +sent from the front has arrived at Tsarskoye, and the soldiers are +now with us; they recognise the power of the Soviets, the necessity +of immediate transfer of land to the peasants and industrial control +to the workers. The Fifth Battalion of Cyclists, stationed at +Tsarskoye, is ours...." + +Then the delegate of the Third Cycle Battalion. In the midst of +delirious enthusiasm he told how the cycle corps had been ordered +_three days before_ from the South-west front to the "defence of +Petrograd." They suspected, however, the meaning of the order; and +at the station of Peredolsk were met by representatives of the Fifth +Battalion from Tsarskoye. A joint meeting was held, and it was +discovered that "among the cyclists not a single man was found +willing to shed the blood of his brothers, or to support a +Government of bourgeois and land-owners!" + +Kapelinski, for the Mensheviki Internationalists, proposed to elect +a special committee to find a peaceful solution to the civil war. +"There isn't any peaceful solution!" bellowed the crowed. "Victory +is the only solution!" The vote was overwhelmingly against, and the +Mensheviki Internationalists left the Congress in a Whirlwind of +Jocular insults. There was no longer any panic fear.... Kameniev from +the platform shouted after them, "The Mensheviki Internationalists +claimed 'emergency' for the question of a 'peaceful solution,' but +they always voted for suspension of the order of the day in favour +of declarations of factions which wanted to leave the Congress. It +is evident," finished Kameniev, "that the withdrawal of all these +renegades was decided upon beforehand!" + +The assembly decided to ignore the withdrawal of the factions, and +proceed to the appeal to the workers, soldiers and peasants of all +Russia: + +TO WORKERS, SOLDIERS AND PEASANTS + +The Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies has opened. It represents the great majority of the +Soviets. There are also a number of Peasant deputies. Based upon the +will of the great majority of the workers', soldiers and peasants, +based upon the triumphant uprising of the Petrograd workmen and +soldiers, the Congress assumes the Power. + +The Provisional Government is deposed. Most of the members of the +Provisional Government are already arrested. + +The Soviet authority will at once propose an immediate democratic +peace to all nations, and an immediate truce on all fronts. It will +assure the free transfer of landlord, crown and monastery lands to +the Land Committees, defend the soldiers rights, enforcing a +complete democratisation of the Army, establish workers' control +over production, ensure the convocation of the Constituent Assembly +at the proper date, take means to supply bread to the cities and +articles of first necessity to the villages, and secure to all +nationalities living in Russia a real right to independent existence. + +The Congress resolves: that all local power shall be transferred to +the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, which +must enforce revolutionary order. + +The Congress calls upon the soldiers in the trenches to be watchful +and steadfast. The Congress of Soviets is sure that the +revolutionary Army will know how to defend the Revolution against +all attacks of Imperialism, until the new Government shall have +brought about the conclusion of the democratic peace which it will +directly propose to all nations. The new Government will take all +necessary steps to secure everything needful to the revolutionary +Army, by means of a determined policy of requisition and taxation of +the propertied classes, and also to improve the situation of +soldiers' families. + +The Kornilovitz-Kerensky, Kaledin and others, are endeavouring to +lead troops against Petrograd. Several regiments, deceived by +Kerensky, have sided with the insurgent People. + +Soldiers! Make active resistance to the Kornilovitz-Kerensky! Be on +guard! + +Railway men! Stop all troop-trains being sent by Kerensky against +Petrograd! + +Soldiers, Workers, Clerical employees! The destiny of the Revolution +and democratic peace is in your hands! + +Long live the Revolution! + +_The All-Russian Congress of Soviets of_ +_Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies._ +_Delegates from the Peasants' Soviets._ + +It was exactly 5:17 A.M. when Krylenko, staggering with fatigue, +climbed to the tribune with a telegram in his hand. + +"Comrades! From the Northern Front. The Twelfth Army sends greetings +to the Congress of Soviets, announcing the formation of a Military +Revolutionary Committee which has taken over the command of the +Northern Front!" Pandemonium, men weeping, embracing each other. +"General Tchermissov has recognised the Committee-Commissar of the +Provisional Government Voitinsky has resigned!" + +So. Lenin and the Petrograd workers had decided on insurrection, the +Petrograd Soviet had overthrown the Provisional Government, and +thrust the _coup d'etat_ upon the Congress of Soviets. Now there was +all great Russia to win--and then the world! Would Russia follow and +rise? And the world--what of it? Would the peoples answer and rise, a +red world-tide? + +Although it was six in the morning, night was yet heavy and chill. +There was only a faint unearthly pallor stealing over the silent +streets, dimming the watch-fires, the shadow of a terrible dawn +grey-rising over Russia.... + + + + +Chapter V + +Plunging Ahead + + +Thursday, November 8th. Day broke on a city in the wildest +excitement and confusion, a whole nation having up in long hissing +swells of storm. Superficially all was quiet; hundreds of thousands +of people retired at a prudent hour, got up early, and went to work. +In Petrograd the street-cars were running, the stores and +restaurants open, theatres going, an exhibition of paintings +advertised.... All the complex routine of common life--humdrum even in +war-time--proceeded as usual. Nothing is so astounding as the +vitality of the social organism--how it persists, feeding itself, +clothing itself, amusing itself, in the face of the worst +calamities.... + +The air was full of rumours about Kerensky, who was said to have +raised the Front, and to be leading a great army against the +capital. _Volia Naroda_ published a _prikaz_ launched by him at +Pskov: + +The disorders caused by the insane attempt of the Bolsheviki place +the country on the verge of a precipice, and demand the effort of +our entire will, our courage and the devotion of every one of us, to +win through the terrible trial which the fatherland is undergoing.... + +Until the declaration of the composition of the new Government--if +one is formed--every one ought to remain at his post and fulfil his +duty toward bleeding Russia. It must be remembered that the least +interference with existing Army organisations can bring on +irreparable misfortunes, by opening the Front to the enemy. +Therefore it is indispensable to preserve at any price the morale of +the troops, by assuring complete order and the preservation of the +Army from new shocks, and by maintaining absolute confidence between +officers and their subordinates. I order all the chiefs and +Commissars, in the name of the safety of the country, to stay at +their posts, as I myself retain the post of Supreme Commander, until +the Provisional Government of the Republic shall declare its will.... + +In answer, this placard on all the walls: + +FROM THE ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS OF SOVIETS + +"The ex-Ministers Konovalov, Kishkin, Terestchenko, Maliantovitch, +Nikitin and others have been arrested by the Military Revolutionary +Committee. Kerensky has fled. All Army organisations are ordered to +take every measure for the immediate arrest of Kerensky and his +conveyance to Petrograd. + +"All assistance given to Kerensky will be punished as a serious +crime against the state." + +With brakes released the Military Revolutionary Committee whirled, +throwing off orders, appeals, decrees, like sparks. (See App. V, +Sect. 1)... Kornilov was ordered brought to Petrograd. Members of the +Peasant Land Committees imprisoned by the Provisional Government +were declared free. Capital punishment in the army was abolished. +Government employees were ordered to continue their work, and +threatened with severe penalties if they refused. All pillage, +disorder and speculation were forbidden under pain of death. +Temporary Commissars were appointed to the various Ministries: +Foreign Affairs, Vuritsky and Trotzky; Interior and Justice, Rykov; +Labor, Shliapnikov; Finance, Menzhinsky; Public Welfare, Madame +Kollontai; Commerce, Ways and Communications, Riazanov; Navy, the +sailor Korbir; Posts and Telegraphs, Spiro; Theatres, Muraviov; +State Printing Office, Gherbychev; for the City of Petrograd, +Lieutenant Nesterov; for the Northern Front, Pozern.... + +To the Army, appeal to set up Military Revolutionary Committees. To +the railway workers, to maintain order, especially not to delay the +transport of food to the cities and the front.... In return, they were +promised representation in the Ministry of Ways and Communications. + +Cossack brothers! (said one proclamation). You are being led against +Petrograd. They want to force you into battle with the revolutionary +workers and soldiers of the capital. Do not believe a word that is +said by our common enemies, the land-owners and the capitalists. + +At our Congress are represented all the conscious organisations of +workers, soldiers and peasants of Russia. The Congress wishes also +to welcome into its midst the worker-Cossacks. The Generals of the +Black Band, henchmen of the land-owners, of Nicolai the Cruel, are +our enemies. + +They tell you that the Soviets wish to confiscate the lands of the +Cossacks. This is a lie. It is only from the great Cossack landlords +that the Revolution will confiscate the land to give it to the +people. + +Organise Soviets of Cossacks' Deputies! Join with the Soviets of +Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies! + +Show the Black Band that you are not traitors to the People, and +that you do not wish to be cursed by the whole of revolutionary +Russia!... + +Cossack brothers, execute no orders of the enemies of the people. +Send your delegates to Petrograd to talk it over with us.... The +Cossacks of the Petrograd garrison, to their honour, have not +justified the hope of the People's enemies.... + +Cossack brothers! The All-Russian Congress of Soviets extends to you +a fraternal hand. Long live the brotherhood of the Cossacks with the +soldiers, workers and peasants of all Russia! + +On the other side, what a storm of proclamations posted up, +hand-bills scattered everywhere, newspapers--screaming and cursing +and prophesying evil. Now raged the battle of the printing press--all +other weapons being in the hands of the Soviets. + +First, the appeal of the Committee for Salvation of Country and +Revolution, flung broadcast over Russia and Europe: + +TO THE CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC! + +Contrary to the will of the revolutionary masses, on November 7th +the Bolsheviki of Petrograd criminally arrested part of the +Provisional Government, dispersed the Council of the Republic, and +proclaimed an illegal power. Such violence committed against the +Government of revolutionary Russia at the moment of its greatest +external danger, is an indescribable crime against the fatherland. + +The insurrection of the Bolsheviki deals a mortal blow to the cause +of national defence, and postpones immeasurably the moment of peace +so greatly desired. + +Civil war, begun by the Bolsheviki, threatens to deliver the country +to the horrors of anarchy and counter-revolution, and cause the +failure of the Constituent Assembly, which must affirm the +republican regime and transmit to the People forever their right to +the land. + +Preserving the continuity of the only legal Governmental power, the +Committee for Salvation of Country and Revolution, established on +the night of November 7th, takes the initiative in forming a new +Provisional Government; which, basing itself on the forces of +democracy, will conduct the country to the Constituent Assembly and +save it from anarchy and counter-revolution. The Committee for +Salvation summons you, citizens, to refuse to recognise the power of +violence. Do not obey its orders! + +Rise for the defence of the country and Revolution! + +Support the Committee for Salvation! + +Signed by the Council of the Russian Republic, the Municipal Duma of +Petrograd, the _Tsay-ee-kah (First Congress),_ the Executive +Committee of the Peasants' Soviets, and from the Congress itself the +Front group, the factions of Socialist Revolutionaries, Mensheviki, +Populist Socialists, Unified Social Democrats, and the group +"Yedinstvo." + +Then posters from the Socialist Revolutionary party, the Mensheviki +_oborontsi,_ Peasants' Soviets again; from the Central Army +Committee, the _Tsentroflot_.... + +... Famine will crush Petrograd! (they cried). The German armies will +trample on our liberty. Black Hundred _pogroms_ will spread over +Russia, if we all--conscious workers, soldiers, citizens--do not +unite.... + +Do not trust the promises of the Bolsheviki! The promise of +immediate peace--is a lie! The promise of bread--a hoax! The promise +of land--a fairy tale!... + +They were all in this manner. + +Comrades! You have been basely and cruelly deceived! The seizure of +power has been accomplished by the Bolsheviki alone.... They concealed +their plot from the other Socialist parties composing the Soviet.... + +You have been promised land and freedom, but the counter-revolution +will profit by the anarchy called forth by the Bolsheviki, and will +deprive you of land and freedom.... + +The newspapers were as violent. + +Our duty (said the _Dielo Naroda_) is to unmask these traitors to +the working-class. Our duty is to mobilise all our forces and mount +guard over the cause of the Revolution!... + +_Izviestia,_ for the last time speaking in the name of the old +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ threatened awful retribution. + +As for the Congress of Soviets, we affirm that there has been no +Congress of Soviets! We affirm that it was merely a private +conference of the Bolshevik faction! And in that case, they have no +right to cancel the powers of the _Tsay-ee-kah_.... + +_Novaya Zhizn,_ while pleading for a new Government that should +unite all the Socialist parties, criticised severely the action of +the Socialist Revolutionaries and the Mensheviki in quitting the +Congress, and pointed out that the Bolshevik insurrection meant one +thing very clearly: that all illusions about coalition with the +bourgeoisie were henceforth demonstrated vain... + +_Rabotchi Put_ blossomed out as _Pravda,_ Lenin's newspaper which +had been suppressed in July. It crowed, bristling: + +Workers, soldiers, peasants! In March you struck down the tyranny of +the clique of nobles. Yesterday you struck down the tyranny of the +bourgeois gang.... + +The first task now is to guard the approaches to Petrograd. + +The second is definitely to disarm the counter-revolutionary +elements of Petrograd. + +The third is definitely to organise the revolutionary power and +assure the realisation of the popular programme... + +What few Cadet organs appeared, and the bourgeoisie generally, +adopted a detached, ironical attitude toward the whole business, a +sort of contemptuous "I--told--you--so" to the other parties. +Influential Cadets were to be seen hovering around the Municipal +Duma, and on the outskirts of the Committee for Salvation. Other +than that, the bourgeoisie lay low, biding its hour--which could not +far off. That the Bolsheviki would remain in power longer than three +days never occurred to anybody--except perhaps to Lenin, Trotzky, the +Petrograd workers and the simpler soldiers.... + +In the high, amphitheatrical Nicolai Hall that afternoon I saw the +Duma sitting in _permanence,_ tempestuous, grouping around it all +the forces of opposition. The old Mayer, Schreider, majestic with +his white hair and beard, was describing his visit to Smolny +the night before, to protest in the name of the Municipal +Self-Government. "The Duma, being the only existing legal Government +in the city, elected by equal, direct and secret suffrage, would not +recognise the new power," he had told Trotzky. And Trotzky had +answered, "There is a constitutional remedy for that. The Duma can +be dissolved and re-elected...." At this report there was a furious +outcry. + +"If one recognises a Government by bayonet," continued the old man, +addressing the Duma, "well, we have one; but I consider legitimate +only a Government recognised by the majority, and not one created by +the usurpation of a minority!" Wild applause on all benches except +those of the Bolsheviki. Amid renewed tumult the Mayor announced +that the Bolsheviki already were violating Municipal autonomy by +appointing Commissars in many departments. + +The Bolshevik speaker shouted, trying to make himself heard, that +the decision of the Congress of Soviets meant that all Russia backed +up the action of the Bolsheviki. + +"You!" he cried. "You are not the real representative of the people +of Petrograd!" Shrieks of "Insult! Insult!" The old Mayor, with +dignity, reminded him that the Duma was elected by the freest +possible popular vote. "Yes," he answered, "but that was a long time +ago--like the _Tsay-ee-kah_--like the Army Committee." + +"There has been no new Congress of Soviets!" they yelled at him. + +"The Bolshevik faction refuses to remain any longer in this nest of +counter-revolution--" Uproar. "--and we demand a re-election of the +Duma...." Whereupon the Bolsheviki left the chamber, followed by cries +of "German agents! Down with the traitors!" + +Shingariov, Cadet, then demanded that all Municipal functionaries +who had consented to be Commissars of the Military Revolutionary +Committee be discharged from their position and indicted. Schreider +was on his feet, putting a motion to the effect that the Duma +protested against the menace of the Bolsheviki to dissolve it, and +as the legal representative of the population, it would refuse to +leave its post. + +Outside, the Alexander Hall was crowded for the meeting of the +Committee for Salvation, and Skobeliev was again speaking. "Never +yet," he said, "was the fate of the Revolution so acute, never yet +did the question of the existence of the Russian state excite so +much anxiety, never yet did history put so harshly and categorically +the question--is Russia to be or not to be! The great hour for the +salvation of the Revolution has arrived, and in consciousness +thereof we observe the close union of the live forces of the +revolutionary democracy, by whose organised will a centre for the +salvation of the country and the Revolution has already been +created...." And much of the same sort. "We shall die sooner than +surrender our post!" + +Amid violent applause it was announced that the Union of Railway +Workers had joined the Committee for Salvation. A few moments later +the Post and Telegraph Employees came in; then some Mensheviki +Internationalists entered the hall, to cheers. The Railway men said +they did not recognise the Bolsheviki and had taken the entire +railroad apparatus into their own hands, refusing to entrust it to +any usurpatory power. The Telegraphers' delegate declared that the +operators had flatly refused to work their instruments as long as +the Bolshevik Commissar was in the office. The Postmen would not +deliver or accept mail at Smolny.... All the Smolny telephones were +cut off. With great glee it was reported how Uritzky had gone to the +Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand the secret treaties, and how +Neratov had put him out. The Government employees were all stopping +work.... + +It was war--war deliberately planned, Russian fashion; war by strike +and sabotage. As we sat there the chairman read a list of names and +assignments; so-and-so was to make the round of the Ministries; +another was to visit the banks; some ten or twelve were to work the +barracks and persuade the soldiers to remain neutral--"Russian +soldiers, do not shed the blood of your brothers!"; a committee was +to go and confer with Kerensky; still others were despatched to +provincial cities, to form branches of the Committee for Salvation, +and link together the anti-Bolshevik elements. + +The crowd was in high spirits. "These Bolsheviki _will_ try to +dictate to the _intelligentzia?_ We'll show them!"... Nothing could be +more striking than the contrast between this assemblage and the +Congress of Soviets. There, great masses of shabby soldiers, grimy +workmen, peasants--poor men, bent and scarred in the brute struggle +for existence; here the Menshevik and Social Revolutionary +leaders--Avksentievs, Dans, Liebers,--the former Socialist +Ministers--Skobelievs, Tchernovs,--rubbed shoulders with Cadets like +oily Shatsky, sleek Vinaver; with journalists, students, +intellectuals of almost all camps. This Duma crowd was well-fed, +well-dressed; I did not see more than three proletarians among them +all.... + +News came. Kornilov's faithful _Tekhintsi_[14] had slaughtered his +guards at Bykhov, and he had escaped. Kaledin was marching north.... +The Soviet of Moscow had set up a Military Revolutionary Committee, +and was negotiating with the commandant of the city for possession +of the arsenal, so that the workers might be armed. + +[14] See Notes and Explanations. + +With these facts was mixed an astounding jumble of rumours, +distortions, and plain lies. For instance, an intelligent young +Cadet, formerly private secretary to Miliukov and then to +Terestchenko, drew us aside and told us all about the taking of the +Winter Palace. + +"The Bolsheviki were led by German and Austrian officers," he +affirmed. + +"Is that so?" we replied, politely. "How do you know?" + +"A friend of mine was there and saw them." + +"How could he tell they were German officers?" + +"Oh, because they wore German uniforms!" + +There were hundreds of such absurd tales, and they were not only +solemnly published by the anti-Bolshevik press, but believed by the +most unlikely persons--Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviki who +had always been distinguished by their sober devotion to facts.... + +But more serious were the stories of Bolshevik violence and +terrorism. For example, it was said printed that the Red Guards had +not only thoroughly looted the Winter Palace, but that they had +massacred the _yunkers_ after disarming them, had killed some of the +Ministers in cold blood; and as for the woman soldiers, most of them +had been violated, and many had committed suicide because of the +tortures they had gone through.... All these stories were swallowed +whole by the crowd in the Duma. And worse still, the mothers and +fathers of the students and of the women read these frightful +details, _often accompanied by lists of names,_ and toward nightfall +the Duma began to be besieged by frantic citizens.... + +A typical case is that of Prince Tumanov, whose body, it was +announced in many newspapers, had been found floating in the Moika +Canal. A few hours later this was denied by the Prince's family, who +added that the Prince was under arrest so the press identified the +dead man as General Demissov. The General having also come to life, +we investigated, and could find no trace of any body found whatever.... + +As we left the Duma building two boy scouts were distributing +hand-bills (See App. V, Sect. 2) to the enormous crowd which blocked +the Nevsky in front of the door--a crowd composed almost entirely of +business men, shop-keepers, _tchinouniki,_ clerks. One read! + +FROM THE MUNICIPAL DUMA + +The Municipal Duma in its meeting of October 26th, in view of the +events of the day decrees: To announce the inviolability of private +dwellings. Through the House Committees it calls upon the population +of the town of Petrograd to meet with decisive repulse all attempts +to enter by force private apartments, not stopping at the use of +arms, in the interests of the self-defence of citizens. + +Up on the corner of the Liteiny, five or six Red Guards and a couple +of sailors had surrounded a news-dealer and were demanding that he +hand over his copies of the Menshevik _Rabot-chaya Gazeta_ (Workers' +Gazette). Angrily he shouted at them, shaking his fist, as one of +the sailors tore the papers from his stand. An ugly crowd had +gathered around, abusing the patrol. One little workman kept +explaining doggedly to the people and the news-dealer, over and over +again, "It has Kerensky's proclamation in it. It says we killed +Russian people. It will make bloodshed...." + +Smolny was tenser than ever, if that were possible. The same running +men in the dark corridors, squads of workers with rifles, leaders +with bulging portfolios arguing, explaining, giving orders as they +hurried anxiously along, surrounded by friends and lieutenants. Men +literally out of themselves, living prodigies of sleeplessness and +work-men unshaven, filthy, with burning eyes, who drove upon their +fixed purpose full speed on engines of exaltation. So much they had +to do, so much! Take over the Government, organise the City, keep +the garrison loyal, fight the Duma and the Committee for Salvation, +keep out the Germans, prepare to do battle with Kerensky, inform the +provinces what had happened, Propagandise from Archangel to +Vladivostok.... Government and Municipal employees refusing to obey +their Commissars, post and telegraph refusing them communication, +railroads roads stonily ignoring their appeals for trains, Kerensky +coming, the garrison not altogether to be trusted, the Cossacks +waiting to come out.... Against them not only the organised +bourgeoisie, but all the other Socialist parties except the Left +Socialist Revolutionaries, a few Mensheviki Internationalists and +the Social Democrat Internationalists, and even they undecided +whether to stand by or not. With them, it is true, the workers and +the soldier-masses--the peasants an unknown quantity--but after all +the Bolsheviki were a political faction not rich in trained and +educated men.... + +Riazanov was coming up the front steps, explaining in a sort of +humorous panic that he, Commissar of Commerce, knew nothing whatever +of business. In the upstairs cafe sat a man all by himself in the +corner, in a goat-skin cape and clothes which had been--I was going +to say "slept in," but of course he hadn't slept--and a three days' +growth of beard. He was anxiously figuring on a dirty envelope, and +biting his pencil meanwhile. This was Menzhinsky, Commissar of +Finance, whose qualifications were that he had once been clerk in a +French bank.... And these four half-running down the hall from the +office of the Military Revolutionary Committee, and scribbling on +bits of paper as they run--these were Commissars despatched to the +four corners of Russia to carry the news, argue, or fight--with +whatever arguments or weapons came to hand.... + +The Congress was to meet at one o'clock, and long since the great +meeting-hall had filled, but by seven there was yet no sign of the +presidium.... The Bolshevik and Left Social Revolutionary factions +were in session in their own rooms. All the livelong afternoon Lenin +and Trotzky had fought against compromise. A considerable part of +the Bolsheviki were in favour of giving way so far as to create a +joint all-Socialist government. "We can't hold on!" they cried. + +"Too much is against us. We haven't got the men. We will be +isolated, and the whole thing will fall." So Kameniev, Riazanov and +others. + +But Lenin, with Trotzky beside him, stood firm as a rock. "Let the +compromisers accept our programme and they can come in! We won't +give way an inch. If there are comrades here who haven't the courage +and the will to dare what we dare, let them leave with the rest of +the cowards and conciliators! Backed by the workers and soldiers we +shall go on." + +At five minutes past seven came word from the left Socialist +Revolutionaries to say that they would remain in the Military +Revolutionary Committee. + +"See!" said Lenin. "They are following!" + +A little later, as we sat at the press table in the big hall, an +Anarchist who was writing for the bourgeois papers proposed to me +that we go and find out what had become of the presidium. There was +nobody in the _Tsay-ee-kah_ office, nor in the bureau of the +Petrograd Soviet. From room to room we wandered, through vast +Smolny. Nobody seemed to have the slightest idea where to find the +governing body of the Congress. As we went my companion described +his ancient revolutionary activities, his long and pleasant exile in +France.... As for the Bolsheviki, he confided to me that they were +common, rude, ignorant persons, without aesthetic sensibilities. He +was a real specimen of the Russian _intelligentzia_.... So he came at +last to Room 17, office of the Military Revolutionary Committee, and +stood there in the midst of all the furious coming and going. The +door opened, and out shot a squat, flat-faced man in a uniform +without insignia, who seemed to be smiling--which smile, after a +minute, one saw to be the fixed grin of extreme fatigue. It was +Krylenko. + +My friend, who was a dapper, civilized-looking young man, gave a cry +of pleasure and stepped forward. + +"Nicolai Vasilievitch!" he said, holding out his hand. "Don't you +remember me, comrade? We were in prison together." + +Krylenko made an effort and concentrated his mind and sight. "Why +yes," he answered finally, looking the other up and down with an +expression of great friendliness. "You are S--. _Zdra'stvuitye!_" +They kissed. "What are you doing in all this?" He waved his arm +around. + +"Oh, I'am just looking on.... You seem very successful." + +"Yes," replied Krylenko, with a sort of doggedness, "The proletarian +Revolution is a great success." He laughed. "Perhaps--perhaps, +however, we'll meet in prison again!" + +When we got out into the corridor again my friend went on with his +explanations. "You see, I'm a follower of Kropotkin. To us the +Revolution is a great failure; it has not aroused the patriotism of +the masses. Of course that only proves that the people are not ready +for Revolution...." + +It was just 8.40 when a thundering wave of cheers announced the +entrance of the presidium, with Lenin--great Lenin--among them. A +short, stocky figure, with a big head set down in his shoulders, +bald and bulging. Little eyes, a snubbish nose, wide, generous +mouth, and heavy chin; clean-shaven now, but already beginning to +bristle with the well-known beard of his past and future. Dressed in +shabby clothes, his trousers much too long for him. Unimpressive, to +be the idol of a mob, loved and revered as perhaps few leaders in +history have been. A strange popular leader--a leader purely by +virtue of intellect; colourless, humourless, uncompromising and +detached, without picturesque idiosyncrasies--but with the power of +explaining profound ideas in simple terms, of analysing a concrete +situation. And combined with shrewdness, the greatest intellectual +audacity. + +Kameniev was reading the report of the actions of the Military +Revolutionary Committee; abolition of capital punishment in the +Army, restoration of the free right of propaganda, release of +officers and soldiers arrested for political crimes, orders to +arrest Kerensky and confiscation of food supplies in private +store-houses.... Tremendous applause. + +Again the representative of the _Bund._ The uncompromising attitude +of the Bolsheviki would mean the crushing of the Revolution; +therefore, the _Bund_ delegates must refuse any longer to sit in the +Congress. Cries from the audience, "We thought you walked out last +night! How many times are you going to walk out?" + +Then the representative of the Mensheviki Internationalists. Shouts, +"What! You here still?" The speaker explained that only part of the +Mensheviki Internationalists left the Congress; the rest were going +to stay-- + +"We consider it dangerous and perhaps even mortal for the Revolution +to transfer the power to the Soviets"--Interruptions--"but we feel it +our duty to remain in the Congress and vote against the transfer +here!" + +Other speakers followed, apparently without any order. A delegate of +the coal-miners of the Don Basin called upon the Congress to take +measures against Kaledin, who might cut off coal and food from the +capital. Several soldiers just arrived from the Front brought the +enthusiastic greetings of their regiments.... Now Lenin, gripping the +edge of the reading stand, letting his little winking eyes travel +over the crowd as he stood there waiting, apparently oblivious to +the long-rolling ovation, which lasted several minutes. When it +finished, he said simply, "We shall now proceed to construct the +Socialist order!" Again that overwhelming human roar. + +"The first thing is the adoption of practical measures to realise +peace.... We shall offer peace to the peoples of all the belligerent +countries upon the basis of the Soviet terms--no annexations, no +indemnities, and the right of self-determination of peoples. At the +same time, according to our promise, we shall publish and repudiate +the secret treaties.... The question of War and Peace is so clear that +I think that I may, without preamble, read the project of a +Proclamation to the Peoples of All the Belligerent Countries...." + +His great mouth, seeming to smile, opened wide as he spoke; his +voice was hoarse--not unpleasantly so, but as if it had hardened that +way after years and years of speaking--and went on monotonously, with +the effect of being able to go on forever.... For emphasis he bent +forward slightly. No gestures. And before him, a thousand simple +faces looking up in intent adoration. + +PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENTS OF ALL THE BELLIGERENT +NATIONS. + +The Workers' and Peasants' Government, created by the revolution of +November 6th and 7th and based on the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' +and Peasants' Deputies, proposes to all the belligerent peoples and +to their Governments to begin immediately negotiations for a just +and democratic peace. + +The Government means by a just and democratic peace, which is +desired by the immense majority of the workers and the labouring +classes, exhausted and depleted by the war--that peace which the +Russian workers and peasants, after having struck down the Tsarist +monarchy, have not ceased to demand categorically--immediate peace +without annexations (that is to say, without conquest of foreign +territory, without forcible annexation of other nationalities), and +without indemnities. + +The Government of Russia Proposes to all the belligerent peoples +immediately to conclude such a peace, by showing themselves willing +to enter upon the decisive steps of negotiations aiming at such a +peace, at once, without the slightest delay, before the definitive +ratification of all the conditions of such a peace by the authorised +assemblies of the people of all countries and of all nationalities. + +By annexation or conquest of foreign territory, the Government +means--conformably to the conception of democratic rights in general, +and the rights of the working-class in particular--all union to a +great and strong State of a small or weak nationality, without the +voluntary, clear and precise expression of its consent and desire; +whatever be the moment when such an annexation by force was +accomplished, whatever be the degree civilisation of the nation +annexed by force or maintained outside the frontiers of another +State, no matter if that nation be in Europe or in the far countries +across the sea. + +If any nation is retained by force within the limits of another +State; if, in spite of the desire expressed by it, (it matters +little if that desire be expressed by the press, by popular +meetings, decisions of political parties, or by disorders and riots +against national oppression), that nation is not given the right of +deciding by free vote--without the slightest constraint, after the +complete departure of the armed forces of the nation which has +annexed it or wishes to annex it or is stronger in general--the form +of its national and political organisation, such a union constitutes +an annexation--that is to say, conquest and an act of violence. + +To continue this war in order to permit the strong and rich nations +to divide among themselves the weak and conquered nationalities is +considered by the Government the greatest possible crime against +humanity; and the Government solemnly proclaims its decision to sign +a treaty of peace which will put an end to this war upon the above +conditions, equally fair for all nationalities without exception. + +The Government abolishes secret diplomacy, expressing before the +whole country its firm decision to conduct all the negotiations in +the light of day before the people, and will proceed immediately to +the full publication of all secret treaties confirmed or concluded +by the Government of land-owners and capitalists, from March until +November 7th, 1917. All the clauses of the secret treaties which, as +occur in a majority of cases, have for their object to procure +advantages and privileges for Russian capitalists, to maintain or +augment the annexations of the Russian imperialists, are denounced +by the Government immediately and without discussion. + +In proposing to all Governments and all peoples to engage in public +negotiations for peace, the Government declares itself ready to +carry on these negotiations by telegraph, by post, or by pourparlers +between the representatives of the different countries, or at a +conference of these representatives. To facilitate these +pourparlers, the Government appoints its authorised representatives +in the neutral countries. + +The Government proposes to all the governments and to the peoples of +all the belligerent countries to conclude an immediate armistice, at +the same time suggesting that the armistice ought to last three +months, during which time it is perfectly possible, not only to hold +the necessary pourparlers between the representatives of all the +nations and nationalities without exception drawn into the war or +forced to take part in it, but also to convoke authorised assemblies +of representatives of the people of all countries, for the purpose +of the definite acceptance of the conditions of peace. + +In addressing this offer of peace to the Governments and to the +peoples of all the belligerent countries, the Provisional Workers' +and Peasants' Government of Russia addresses equally and in +particular the conscious workers of the three nations most devoted +to humanity and the three most important nations among those taking +part in the present war--England, France, and Germany. The workers of +these countries have rendered the greatest services to the cause of +progress and of Socialism. The splendid examples of the Chartist +movement in England, the series of revolutions, of world-wide +historical significance, accomplished by the French proletariat--and +finally, in Germany, the historic struggle against the Laws of +Exception, an example for the workers of the whole world of +prolonged and stubborn action, and the creation of the formidable +organisations of German proletarians--all these models of proletarian +heroism, these monuments of history, are for us a sure guarantee +that the workers of these countries will understand the duty imposed +upon them to liberate humanity from the horrors and consequences of +war; and that these workers, by decisive, energetic and continued +action, will help us to bring to a successful conclusion the cause +of peace--and at the same time, the cause of the liberation of the +exploited working masses from all slavery and all exploitation. + +When the grave thunder of applause had died away, Lenin spoke again: + +"We propose to the Congress to ratify this declaration. We address +ourselves to the Governments as well as to the peoples, for a +declaration which would be addressed only to the peoples of the +belligerent countries might delay the conclusion of peace. The +conditions of peace, drawn up during the armistice, will be ratified +by the Constituent Assembly. In fixing the duration of the armistice +at three months, we desire to give to the peoples as long a rest as +possible after this bloody extermination, and ample time for them to +elect their representatives. This proposal of peace will meet with +resistance on the part of the imperialist governments--we don't fool +ourselves on that score. But we hope that revolution will soon break +out in all the belligerent countries; that is why we address +ourselves especially to the workers of France, England and Germany.... + +"The revolution of November 6th and 7th," he ended, "has opened the +era of the Social Revolution.... The labour movement, in the name of +peace and Socialism, shall win, and fulfil its destiny...." + +There was something quiet and powerful in all this, which stirred +the souls of men. It was understandable why people believed when +Lenin spoke.... + +By crowd vote it was quickly decided that only representatives of +political factions should be allowed to speak on the motion and that +speakers should be limited to fifteen minutes. + +First Karelin for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. "Our faction +had no opportunity to propose amendments to the text of the +proclamation; it is a private document of the Bolsheviki. But we +will vote for it because we agree with its spirit...." + +For the Social Democrats Internationalists Kramarov, long, +stoop-shouldered and near-sighted--destined to achieve some notoriety +as the Clown of the Opposition. Only a Government composed of all +the Socialist parties, he said, could possess the authority to take +such important action. If a Socialist coalition were formed, his +faction would support the entire programme; if not, only part of it. +As for the proclamation, the Internationalists were in thorough +accord with its main points.... + +Then one after another, amid rising enthusiasm; Ukrainean Social +Democracy, support; Lithuanian Social Democracy, support; Populist +Socialists, support; Polish Social Democracy, support; Polish +Socialists support--but would prefer a Socialist coalition; Lettish +Social Democracy, support.... Something was kindled in these men. One +spoke of the "coming World-Revolution, of which we are the +advance-guard"; another of "the new age of brotherhood, when all the +peoples will become one great family...." An individual member claimed +the floor. "There is contradiction here," he said. "First you offer +peace without annexations and indemnities, and then you say you will +consider all peace offers. To consider means to accept...." + +Lenin was on his feet. "We want a just peace, but we are not afraid +of a revolutionary war.... Probably the imperialist Governments will +not answer our appeal--but we shall not issue an ultimatum to which +it will be easy to say no.... If the German proletariat realises that +we are ready to consider all offers of peace, that will perhaps be +the last drop which overflows the bowl--revolution will break out in +Germany.... + +"We consent to examine all conditions of peace, but that doesn't +mean that we shall accept them.... For some of our terms we shall +fight to the end--but possibly for others will find it impossible to +continue the war.... Above all, we want to finish the war...." + +It was exactly 10:35 when Kameniev asked all in favour of the +proclamation to hold up their cards. One delegate dared to raise his +hand against, but the sudden sharp outburst around him brought it +swiftly down.... Unanimous. + +Suddenly, by common impulse, we found ourselves on our feet, +mumbling together into the smooth lifting unison of the +_Internationale._ A grizzled old soldier was sobbing like a child. +Alexandra Kollontai rapidly winked the tears back. The immense sound +rolled through the hall, burst windows and doors and seared into the +quiet sky. "The war is ended! The war is ended!" said a young +workman near me, his face shining. And when it was over, as we stood +there in a kind of awkward hush, some one in the back of the room +shouted, "Comrades! Let us remember those who have died for +liberty!" So we began to sing the Funeral March, that slow, +melancholy and yet triumphant chant, so Russian and so moving. The +_Internationale_ is an alien air, after all. The Funeral March +seemed the very soul of those dark masses whose delegates sat in +this hall, building from their obscure visions a new Russia--and +perhaps more. + +You fell in the fatal fight + +For the liberty of the people, for the honour of the people.... + +You gave up your lives and everything dear to you, + +You suffered in horrible prisons, + +You went to exile in chains.... + +Without a word you carried your chains because you could not ignore +your suffering brothers, + +Because you believed that justice is stronger than the sword.... + +The time will come when your surrendered life will count + +That time is near; when tyranny falls the people will rise, great +and free! + +Farewell, brothers, you chose a noble path, + +You are followed by the new and fresh army ready to die and to +suffer.... + +Farewell, brothers, you chose a noble path, + +At your grave we swear to fight, to work for freedom and the +people's happiness.... + +For this did they lie there, the martyrs of March, in their cold +Brotherhood Grave on Mars Field; for this thousands and tens of +thousands had died in the prisons, in exile, in Siberian mines. It +had not come as they expected it would come, nor as the +_intelligentzia_ desired it; but it had come--rough, strong, +impatient of formulas, contemptuous of sentimentalism; real.... + +Lenin was reading the Decree on Land: + +(1.) All private ownership of land is abolished immediately without +compensation. + +(2.) All land-owners' estates, and all lands belonging to the Crown, +to monasteries, church lands with all their live stock and +inventoried property, buildings and all appurtenances, are +transferred to the disposition of the township Land Committees and +the district Soviets of Peasants' Deputies until the Constituent +Assembly meets. + +(3.) Any damage whatever done to the confiscated property which from +now on belongs to the whole People, is regarded as a serious crime, +punishable by the revolutionary tribunals. The district Soviets of +Peasants' Deputies shall take all necessary measures for the +observance of the strictest order during the taking over of the +land-owners' estates, for the determination of the dimensions of the +plots of land and which of them are subject to confiscation, for the +drawing up of an inventory of the entire confiscated property, and +for the strictest revolutionary protection of all the farming +property on the land, with all buildings, implements, cattle, +supplies of products, etc., passing into the hands of the People. + +(4.) For guidance during the realisation of the great land reforms +until their final resolution by the Constituent Assembly, shall +serve the following peasant _nakaz_ (See App. V, Sect. 3) +(instructions), drawn up on the basis of 242 local peasant _nakazi_ +by the editorial board of the "_Izviestia_ of the All-Russian Soviet +of Peasants' Deputies," and published in No.88 of said _"Izviestia"_ +(Petrograd, No.88, August 19th, 1917). + +The lands of peasants and of Cossacks serving in the Army shall not +be confiscated. + +"This is not," explained Lenin, "the project of former Minister +Tchernov, who spoke of 'erecting a frame-work' and tried to realise +reforms from above. From below, on the spot, will be decided the +questions of division of the land. The amount of land received by +each peasant will vary according to the locality.... + +"Under the Provisional Government, the _pomieshtchiki_ flatly +refused to obey the orders of the Land Committees--those Land +Committees projected by Lvov, brought into existence by Shingariov, +and administered by Kerensky!" + +Before the debates could begin a man forced his way violently +through the crowd in the aisle and climbed upon the platform. It was +Pianikh, member of the Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviets, +and he was mad clean through. + +"The Executive Committee of the All-Russian Soviets of Peasants' +Deputies protests against the arrest of our comrades, the Ministers +Salazkin and Mazlov!" he flung harshly in the faces of the crowd, +"We demand their instant release! They are now in Peter-Paul +fortress. We must have immediate action! There is not a moment to +lose!" + +Another followed him, a soldier with disordered beard and flaming +eyes. "You sit here and talk about giving the land to the peasants, +and you commit an act of tyrants and usurpers against the peasants' +chosen representatives! I tell you--" he raised his fist, "If one +hair of their heads is harmed, you'll have a revolt on your hands!" +The crowd stirred confusedly. + +Then up rose Trotzky, calm and venomous, conscious of power, greeted +with a roar. "Yesterday the Military Revolutionary Committee decided +to release the Socialist Revolutionary and Menshevik Ministers, +Mazlov, Salazkin, Gvozdov and Maliantovitch--on principle. That they +are still in Peter-Paul is only because we have had so much to do.... +They will, however, be detained at their homes under arrest until we +have investigated their complicity in the treacherous acts of +Kerensky during the Kornilov affair!" + +"Never," shouted Pianikh, "in any revolution have such things been +seen as go on here!" + +"You are mistaken," responded Trotzky. "Such things have been seen +even in this revolution. Hundreds of our comrades were arrested in +the July days.... When Comrade Kollontai was released from prison by +the doctor's orders, Avksentiev placed at her door two former agents +of the Tsar's secret police!" The peasants withdrew, muttering, +followed by ironical hoots. + +The representative of the Left Socialist Revolutionaries spoke on +the Land Decree. While agreeing in principle, his faction could not +vote on the question until after discussion. The Peasants' Soviets +should be consulted.... + +The Mensheviki Internationalists, too, insisted on a party caucus. + +Then the leader of the Maximalists, the Anarchist wing of the +peasants: "We must do honour to a political party which puts such an +act into effect the first day, without jawing about it!" + +A typical peasant was in the tribune, long hair, boots and +sheep-skin coat, bowing to all corners of the hall. "I wish you +well, comrades and citizens," he said. "There are some Cadets +walking around outside. You arrested our Socialist peasants--why not +arrest them?" + +This was the signal for a debate of excited peasants. It was +precisely like the debate of soldiers of the night before. Here were +the real proletarians of the land.... + +"Those members of our Executive Committee, Avksentiev and the rest, +whom we thought were the peasants' protectors--they are only Cadets +too! Arrest them! Arrest them!" + +Another, "Who are these Pianikhs, these Avksentievs? They are not +peasants at all! They only wag their tails!" + +How the crowd rose to them, recognising brothers! + +The Left Socialist Revolutionaries proposed a half-hour +intermission. As the delegates streamed out, Lenin stood up in his +place. + +"We must not lose time, comrades! News all-important to Russia must +be on the press to-morrow morning. No delay!" + +And above the hot discussion, argument, shuffling of feet could be +heard the voice of an emissary of the Military Revolutionary +Committee, crying, "Fifteen agitators wanted in room 17 at once! To +go to the Front!"... + +It was almost two hours and a half later that the delegates came +straggling back, the presidium mounted the platform, and the session +recommenced by the reading of telegrams from regiment after +regiment, announcing their adhesion to the Military Revolutionary +Committee. + +In leisurely manner the meeting gathered momentum. A delegate from +the Russian troops on the Macedonian front spoke bitterly of their +situation. "We suffer there more from the friendship of our 'Allies' +than from the enemy," he said. Representatives of the Tenth and +Twelfth Armies, just arrived in hot haste, reported, "We support you +with all our strength!" A peasant-soldier protested against the +release of "the traitor Socialists, Mazlov and Salazkin"; as for the +Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviets, it should be arrested +_en masse!_Here was real revolutionary talk.... A deputy from the +Russian Army in Persia declared he was instructed to demand all +power to the Soviets.... A Ukrainean officer, speaking in his native +tongue: "There is no nationalism in this crisis.... _Da zdravstvuyet_ +the proletarian dictatorship of all lands!" Such a deluge of high +and hot thoughts that surely Russia would never again be dumb! + +Kameniev remarked that the anti-Bolshevik forces were trying to stir +up disorders everywhere, and read an appeal of the Congress to all +the Soviets of Russia: + +The All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies, including some Peasants' Deputies, calls upon the local +Soviets to take immediate energetic measures to oppose all +counter-revolutionary anti-Jewish action and all _pogroms,_ whatever +they may be. The honour of the Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' +Revolution demands that no _pogrom_ be tolerated. + +The Red Guard of Petrograd, the revolutionary garrison and the +sailors have maintained complete order in the capital. + +Workers, soldiers and peasants, you should follow everywhere the +example of the workers and soldiers of Petrograd. + +Comrade soldiers and Cossacks, on us falls the duty of assuring real +revolutionary order. + +All revolutionary Russia and the entire world have their eyes on us.... + +At two o'clock the Land Decree was put to vote, with only one +against and the peasant delegates wild with joy.... So plunged the +Bolsheviki ahead, irresistible, over-riding hesitation and +opposition--the only people in Russia who had a definite programme of +action while the others talked for eight long months. + +Now arose a soldier, gaunt, ragged and eloquent, to protest against +the clause of the _nakaz_ tending to deprive military deserters from +a share in village land allotments. Bawled at and hissed at first, +his simple, moving speech finally made silence. "Forced against his +will into the butchery of the trenches," he cried, "which you +yourselves, in the Peace decree, have voted senseless as well as +horrible, he greeted the Revolution with hope of peace and freedom. +Peace? The Government of Kerensky forced him again to go forward +into Galicia to slaughter and be slaughtered; to his pleas for +peace, Terestchenko simply laughed.... Freedom? Under Kerensky he +found his Committees suppressed, his newspapers cut off, his party +speakers put in prison.... At home in his village, the landlords were +defying his Land Committees, jailing his comrades.... In Petrograd the +bourgeoisie, in alliance with the Germans, were sabotaging the food +and ammunition for the Army.... He was without boots, or clothes.... Who +forced him to desert? The Government of Kerensky, which you have +overthrown!" At the end there was applause. + +But another soldier hotly denounced it: "The Government of Kerensky +is not a screen behind which can be hidden dirty work like +desertion! Deserters are scoundrels, who run away home and leave +their comrades to die in the trenches alone! Every deserter is a +traitor, and should be punished...." Uproar, shouts of _"Do volno! +Teesche!"_ Kameniev hastily proposed to leave the matter to the +Government for decision. (See App. V, Sect. 4) + +At 2.30 A. M. fell a tense hush. Kameniev was reading the decree of +the Constitution of Power: + +Until the meeting of the Constituent Assembly, a provisional +Workers' and Peasants' Government is formed, which shall be named +the Council of People's Commissars. (See App. V, Sect. 5) + +The administration of the different branches of state activity shall +be intrusted to commissions, whose composition shall be regulated to +ensure the carrying out of the programme of the Congress, in close +union with the mass-organisations of working-men, working-women, +sailors, soldiers, peasants and clerical employees. The governmental +power is vested in a _collegium_ made up of the chairmen of these +commissions, that is to say, the Council of People's Commissars. + +Control over the activities of the People's Commissars, and the +right to replace them, shall belong to the All-Russian Congress of +Soviets of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' Deputies, and its +Central Executive Committee. + +Still silence; as he read the list of Commissars, bursts of applause +after each name, Lenin's and Trotzky's especially. + +_President of the Council:_ Vladimir Ulianov _(Lenin)_ + +_Interior:_ A. E. Rykov + +_Agriculture:_ V. P. Miliutin + +_Labour:_ A. G. Shliapnikov + +_Military and Naval Affairs_--a committee composed of V. A. + +_Avseenko (Antonov),_ N. V. Krylenko, and F. M. Dybenko. + +_Commerce and Industry:_ V. P. Nogin + +_Popular Education:_ A. V. Lunatcharsky + +_Finance:_ E. E. Skvortsov _(Stepanov)_ + +_Foreign Affairs:_ L. D. Bronstein _(Trotzky)_ + +_Justice:_ G. E. Oppokov _(Lomov)_ + +_Supplies:_ E. A. Teodorovitch + +_Post and Telegraph:_ N. P. Avilov _(Gliebov)_ + +_Chairman for Nationalities:_ I. V. Djougashvili _(Stalin)_ + +_Railroads:_ To be filled later. + +There were bayonets at the edges of the room, bayonets pricking up +among the delegates; the Military Revolutionary Committee was arming +everybody, Bolshevism was arming for the decisive battle with +Kerensky, the sound of whose trumpets came up the south-west wind.... +In the meanwhile nobody went home; on the contrary hundreds of +newcomers filtered in, filling the great room solid with stern-faced +soldiers and workmen who stood for hours and hours, indefatigably +intent. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and human breathing, +and the smell of coarse clothes and sweat. + +Avilov of the staff of _Novaya Zhizn_ was speaking in the name of +the Social Democrat Internationalists and the remnant of the +Mensheviki Internationalists; Avilov, with his young, intelligent +face, looking out of place in his smart frock-coat. + +"We must ask ourselves where we are going.... The ease with which the +Coalition Government was upset cannot be explained by the strength +of the left wing of the democracy, but only by the incapacity of the +Government to give the people peace and bread. And the left wing +cannot maintain itself in power unless it can solve these questions.... + +"Can it give bread to the people? Grain is scarce. The majority of +the peasants will not be with you, for you cannot give them the +machinery they need. Fuel and other primary necessities are almost +impossible to procure.... + +"As for peace, that will be even more difficult. The allies refused +to talk with Skobeliev. They will never accept the proposition of a +peace conference from _you._ You will not be recognised either in +London and Paris, or in Berlin.... + +"You cannot count on the effective help of the proletariat of the +Allied countries, because in most countries it is very far from the +revolutionary struggle; remember, the Allied democracy was unable +even to convoke the Stockholm Conference. Concerning the German +Social Democrats, I have just talked with Comrade Goldenberg, one of +our delegates to Stockholm; he was told by the representatives of +the Extreme Left that revolution in Germany was impossible during +the war...." Here interruptions began to come thick and fast, but +Avilov kept on. + +"The isolation of Russia will fatally result either in the defeat of +the Russian Army by the Germans, and the patching up of a peace +between the Austro-German coalition and the Franco-British coalition +_at the expense of Russia_--or in a separate peace with Germany. + +"I have just learned that the Allied ambassadors are preparing to +leave, and that Committees for Salvation of Country and Revolution +are forming in all the cities of Russia.... + +"No one party can conquer these enormous difficulties. The majority +of the people, supporting a government of Socialist coalition, can +alone accomplish the Revolution.... + +"He then read the resolution of the two factions: + +Recognising that for the salvation of the conquests of the +Revolution it is indispensable immediately to constitute a +government based on the revolutionary democracy organised in the +Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, recognising +moreover that the task of this government is the quickest possible +attainment of peace, the transfer of the land into the hands of the +agrarian committees, the organisation of control over industrial +production, and the convocation of the Constituent Assembly on the +date decided, the Congress appoints an executive committee to +constitute such a government after an agreement with the groups of +the democracy which are taking part in the Congress. + +In spite of the revolutionary exaltation of the triumphant crowd, +Avilov's cool tolerant reasoning had shaken them. Toward the end, +the cries and hisses died away, and when he finished there was even +some clapping. + +Karelin followed him--also young, fearless, whose sincerity no one +doubted--for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, the party of Maria +Spiridonova, the party which almost alone followed the Bolsheviki, +and which represented the revolutionary peasants. + +"Our party has refused to enter the Council of People's Commissars +because we do not wish forever to separate ourselves from the part +of the revolutionary army which left the Congress, a separation +which would make it impossible for us to serve as intermediaries +between the Bolsheviki and the other groups of the democracy.... And +that is our principal duty at this moment. We cannot sustain any +government except a government of Socialist coalition.... + +"We protest, moreover, against the tyrannical conduct of the +Bolsheviki. Our Commissars have been driven from their posts. Our +only organ, _Znamia Truda_ (Banner of Labour), was forbidden to +appear yesterday.... + +"The Central Duma is forming a powerful Committee for Salvation of +Country and Revolution, to fight you. Already you are isolated, and +your Government is without the support of a single other democratic +group.... + +And now Trotzky stood upon the raised tribune, confident and +dominating, with that sarcastic expression about his mouth which was +almost a sneer. He spoke, in a ringing voice, and the great crowd +rose to him. + +"These considerations on the dangers of isolation of our party are +not new. On the eve of insurrection our fatal defeat was also +predicted. Everybody was against us; only a faction of the Socialist +Revolutionaries of the left was with us in the Military +Revolutionary Committee. How is it that we were able to overturn the +Government almost without bloodshed?.... That fact is the most +striking proof that we _were not isolated._ In reality the +Provisional Government was isolated; the democratic parties which +march against us were isolated, are isolated, and forever cut off +from the proletariat! + +"They speak of the necessity for a coalition. There is only one +coalition possible--the coalition of the workers, soldiers and +poorest peasants; and it is our party's honour to have realised that +coalition.... What sort of coalition did Avilov mean? A coalition with +those who supported the Government of Treason to the People? +Coalition doesn't always add to strength. For example, could we have +organised the insurrection with Dan and Avksentiev in our ranks?" +Roars of laughter. + +"Avksentiev gave little bread. Will a coalition with the _oborontsi_ +furnish more? Between the peasants and Avksentiev, who ordered the +arrest of the Land Committees, we choose the peasants! Our +Revolution will remain the classic revolution of history.... + +"They accuse us of repelling an agreement with the other democratic +parties. But is it we who are to blame? Or must we, as Karelin put +it, blame it on a 'misunderstanding'? No, comrades. When a party in +full tide of revolution, still wreathed in powder-smoke, comes to +say, 'Here is the Power--take it!'--and when those to whom it is +offered go over to the enemy, that is not a misunderstanding.... that +is a declaration of pitiless war. And it isn't we who have declared +war.... + +"Avilov menaces us with failure of our peace efforts--if we remain +'isolated.' I repeat, I don't see how a coalition with Skobeliev, or +even Terestchenko, can help us to get peace! Avilov tries to +frighten us by the threat of a peace at our expense. And I answer +that in any case, if Europe continues to be ruled by the imperialist +bourgeoisie, revolutionary Russia will inevitably be lost.... + +"There are only two alternatives; either the Russian Revolution will +create a revolutionary movement in Europe, or the European powers +will destroy the Russian Revolution!" + +They greeted him with an immense crusading acclaim, kindling to the +daring of it, with the thought of championing mankind. And from that +moment there was something conscious and decided about the +insurrectionary masses, in all their actions, which never left them. + +But on the other side, too, battle was taking form. Kameniev +recognised a delegate from the Union of Railway Workers, a +hardfaced, stocky man with an attitude of implacable hostility. He +threw a bombshell. + +"In the name of the strongest organisation in Russia I demand the +right to speak, and I say to you: the _Vikzhel_ charges me to make +known the decision of the Union concerning the constitution of +Power. The Central Committee refuses absolutely to support the +Bolsheviki if they persist in isolating themselves from the whole +democracy of Russia!" Immense tumult all over the hall. + +"In 1905, and in the Kornilov days, the Railway Workers were the +best defenders of the Revolution. But you did not invite us to your +Congress--" Cries, "It was the old _Tsay-ee-kah_ which did not invite +you!" The orator paid no attention. "We do not recognise the +legality of this Congress; since the departure of the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolutionaries there is not a legal quorum.... The Union +supports the old _Tsay-ee-Kah,_ and declares that the Congress has +no right to elect a new Committee.... + +"The Power should be a Socialist and revolutionary Power, +responsible before the authorised organs of the entire revolutionary +democracy. Until the constitution of such a power, the Union of +Railway Workers, which refuses to transport counter-revolutionary +troops to Petrograd, at the same time forbids the execution of any +order whatever without the consent of the _Vikzhel._ The _Vikzhel_ +also takes into its hands the entire administration of the railroads +of Russia." + +At the end he could hardly be heard for the furious storm of abuse +which beat upon him. But it was a heavy blow--that could be seen in +the concern on the faces of the presidium. Kameniev, however, merely +answered that there could be no doubt of the legality of the +Congress, as even the quorum established by the old _Tsay-ee-Kah_ +was exceeded--in spite of the secession of the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolution arises.... + +Then came the vote on the Constitution of Power, which carried the +Council of People's Commissars into office by an enormous majority.... + +The election of the new _Tsay-ee-kah,_ the new parliament of the +Russian Republic, took barely fifteen minutes. Trotzky announced its +composition: 100 members, of which 70 Bolsheviki.... As for the +peasants, and the seceding factions, places were to be reserved for +them. "We welcome into the Government all parties and groups which +will adopt our programme," ended Trotzky. + +And thereupon the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets was +dissolved, so that the members might hurry to their homes in the +four corners of Russia and tell of the great happenings.... + +It was almost seven when we woke the sleeping conductors and +motor-men of the street-cars which the Street-Railway Workers' Union +always kept waiting at Smolny to take the Soviet delegates to their +homes. In the crowded car there was less happy hilarity than the +night before, I thought. Many looked anxious; perhaps they were +saying to themselves, "Now we are masters, how can we do our will?" + +At our apartment-house we were held up in the dark by an armed +patrol of citizens and carefully examined. The Duma's proclamation +was doing its work.... + +The landlady heard us come in, and stumbled out in a pink silk +wrapper. + +The House Committee has again asked that you take your turn on +guard-duty with the rest of the men," she said. + +"What's the reason for this guard-duty?" + +"To protect the house and the women and children." + +"Who from?" + +"Robbers and murderers." + +"But suppose there came a Commissar from the Military Revolutionary +Committee to search for arms?" + +"Oh, that's what they'll _say_ they are.... And besides, what's the +difference?" + +I solemnly affirmed that the Consul had forbidden all American +citizens to carry arms--especially in the neighbourhood of the +Russian _intelligentzia_.... + + + + +Chapter VI + +The Committee for Salvation + + +Friday, November 9th.... + +Novotcherkask, November 8th. + +In view of the revolt of the Bolsheviki, and their attempt to depose +the Provisional Government and to seize the power in Petrograd... the +Cossack Government declares that it considers these acts criminal +and absolutely inadmissible. In consequence, the Cossacks will lend +all their support to the Provisional Government, which is a +government of coalition. Because of these circumstances, and until +the return of the Provisional Government to power, and the +restoration of order in Russia, I take upon myself, beginning +November 7th, all the power in that which concerns the region of the +Don. + +Signed: ATAMAN KALEDIN + +_President of the Government of the Cossack Troops._ + +_Prikaz_ of the Minister-President Kerensky, dated at Gatchina: + +I, Minister-President of the Provisional Government, and Supreme +Commander of all the armed forces of the Russian Republic, declare +that I am at the head of regiments from the Front who have remained +faithful to the fatherland. + +I order all the troops of the Military District of Petrograd, who +through mistake or folly have answered the appeal of the traitors to +the country and the Revolution, to return to their duty without +delay. + +This order shall be read in all regiments, battalions and squadrons. + +Signed: _Minister-President of the Provisional_ + +_Government and Supreme Commander_ + +A. F. KERENSKY. + +Telegram from Kerensky to the General in Command of the Northern +Front: + +The town of Gatchina has been taken by the loyal regiments without +bloodshed. Detachments of Cronstadt sailors, and of the Semionovsky +and Ismailovsky regiments, gave up their arms without resistance and +joined the Government troops. + +I order all the designated units to advance as quickly as possible. +The Military Revolutionary Committee has ordered its troops to +retreat.... + +Gatchina, about thirty kilometers south-west, had fallen during the +night. Detachments of the two regiments mentioned--not the +sailors--while wandering captainless in the neighbourhood, had indeed +been surrounded by Cossacks and given up their arms; but it was not +true that they had joined the Government troops. At this very moment +crowds of them, bewildered and ashamed, were up at Smolny trying to +explain. They did not think the Cossacks were so near.... They had +tried to argue with the Cossacks.... + +Apparently the greatest confusion prevailed along the revolutionary +front. The garrisons of all the little towns southward had split +hopelessly, bitterly into two factions--or three: the high command +being on the side of Kerensky, in default of anything stronger, the +majority of the rank and file with the Soviets, and the rest +unhappily wavering. + +Hastily the Military Revolutionary Committee appointed to command +the defence of Petrograd an ambitious regular Army Captain, +Muraviov, the same Muraviov who had organised the Death Battalions +during the summer, and had once been heard to advise the Government +that "it was too lenient with the Bolsheviki; they must be wiped +out." A man of military mind, who admired power and audacity, +perhaps sincerely.... + +Beside my door when I came down in the morning were posted two new +orders of the Military Revolutionary Committee, directing that all +shops and stores should open as usual, and that all empty rooms and +apartments should be put at the disposal of the Committee.... + +For thirty-six hours now the Bolsheviki had been cut off from +provincial Russia and the outside world. The railway men and +telegraphers refused to transmit their despatches, the postmen would +not handle their mail. Only the Government wireless at Tsarskoye +Selo launched half-hourly bulletins and manifestoes to the four +corners of heaven; the Commissars of Smolny raced the Commissars of +the City Duma on speeding trains half across the earth; and two +aeroplanes, laden with propaganda, fled high up toward the Front.... + +But the eddies of insurrection were spreading through Russia with a +swiftness surpassing any human agency. Helsingfors Soviet passed +resolutions of support; Kiev Bolsheviki captured the arsenal and the +telegraph station, only to be driven out by delegates to the +Congress of Cossacks, which happened to be meeting there; in Kazan, +a Military Revolutionary Committee arrested the local garrison staff +and the Commissar of the Provisional Government; from far +Krasnoyarsk, in Siberia, came news that the Soviets were in control +of the Municipal institutions; at Moscow, where the situation was +aggravated by a great strike of leather-workers on one side, and a +threat of general lock-out on the other, the Soviets had voted +overwhelmingly to support the action of the Bolsheviki in +Petrograd.... Already a Military Revolutionary Committee was +functioning. + +Everywhere the same thing happened. The common soldiers and the +industrial workers supported the Soviets by a vast majority; the +officers, _yunkers_ and middle class generally were on the side of +the Government--as were the bourgeois Cadets and the "moderate" +Socialist parties. In all these towns sprang up Committees for +Salvation of Country and Revolution, arming for civil war.... + +Vast Russia was in a state of solution. As long ago as 1905 the +process had begun; the March Revolution had merely hastened it, and +giving birth to a sort of forecast of the new order, had ended by +merely perpetuating the hollow structure of the old regime. Now, +however, the Bolsheviki, in one night, had dissipated it, as one +blows away smoke. Old Russia was no more; human society flowed +molten in primal heat, and from the tossing sea of flame was +emerging the class struggle, stark and pitiless--and the fragile, +slowly-cooling crust of new planets.... + +In Petrograd sixteen Ministries were on strike, led by the +Ministries of Labour and of Supplies--the only two created by the +all-Socialist Government of August. + +If ever men stood alone the "handful of Bolsheviki" apparently stood +alone that grey chill morning, with all storms towering over them. +(See App. VI, Sect. 1) Back against the wall, the Military +Revolutionary Committee struck--for its life. "_De l'audace, encore +de l'audace, et toujours de l'audace_...." At five in the morning the +Red Guards entered the printing office of the City Government, +confiscated thousands of copies of the Appeal-Protest of the Duma, +and suppressed the official Municipal organ--the _Viestnik Gorodskovo +Samoupravleniya_ (Bulletin of the Municipal Self-Government). All +the bourgeois newspapers were torn from the presses, even the _Golos +Soldata,_ journal of the old _Tsay-ee-kah_--which, however, changing +its name to _Soldatski Golos,_ appeared in an edition of a hundred +thousand copies, bellowing rage and defiance: + +The men who began their stroke of treachery in the night, who have +suppressed the newspapers, will not keep the country in ignorance +long. The country will know the truth! It will appreciate you, +Messrs. the Bolsheviki! We shall see!... + +As we came down the Nevsky a little after midday the whole street +before the Duma building was crowded with people. Here and there +stood Red Guards and sailors, with bayonetted rifles, each one +surrounded by about a hundred men and women--clerks, students, +shopkeepers, _tchinovniki_--shaking their fists and bawling insults +and menaces. On the steps stood boy-scouts and officers, +distributing copies of the _Soldatski Golos._ A workman with a red +band around his arm and a revolver in his hand stood trembling with +rage and nervousness in the middle of a hostile throng at the foot +of the stairs, demanding the surrender of the papers.... Nothing like +this, I imagine, ever occurred in history. On one side a handful of +workmen and common soldiers, with arms in their hands, representing +a victorious insurrection--and perfectly miserable; on the other a +frantic mob made up of the kind of people that crowd the sidewalks +of Fifth Avenue at noon-time, sneering, abusing, shouting, +"Traitors! Provocators! _Opritchniki!_"[15] + +[15] Savage body-guards if Ivan the Terrible, 17th century. + +The doors were guarded by students and officers with white arm-bands +lettered in red, "Militia of the Committee of Public Safety," and +half a dozen boy-scouts came and went. Upstairs the place was all +commotion. Captain Gomberg was coming down the stairs. "They're +going to dissolve the Duma," he said. "The Bolshevik Commissar is +with the Mayor now." As we reached the top Riazanov came hurrying +out. He had been to demand that the Duma recognise the Council of +peoples' Commissars, and the Mayor had given him a flat refusal. + +In the offices a great babbling crowd, hurrying, shouting, +gesticulating--Government officials, intellectuals, journalists, +foreign correspondents, French and British officers.... "The City +Engineer pointed to them triumphantly. "The Embassies recognise the +Duma as the only power now," he explained. "For these Bolshevik +murderers and robbers it is only a question of hours. All Russia is +rallying to us.... + +In the Alexander Hall a monster meeting of the Committee for +Salvation. Fillipovsky in the chair and Skobeliev again in the +tribune, reporting, to immense applause, new adhesions to the +Committee; Executive Committee of Peasants' Soviets, old +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ Central Army Committee, _Tsentroflot,_ Menshevik, +Socialist Revolutionary and Front group delegates from the Congress +of Soviets, Central Committees of the Menshevik, Socialist +Revolutionary, Populist Socialist parties. "Yedinstvo" group, +Peasants' Union, Cooperatives, Zemstvos, Municipalities, Post and +Telegraph Unions, _Vikzhel,_ Council of the Russian Republic, Union +of Unions,[16] Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association.... + +[16] See Notes and Explanations. + +".... The power of the Soviets is not democratic power, but a +dictatorship--and not the dictatorship of the proletariat, but +_against_ the proletariat. All those who have felt or know how to +feel revolutionary enthusiasm must join now for the defence of the +Revolution.... + +"The problem of the day is not only to render harmless irresponsible +demagogues, but to fight against the counter-revolution.... If rumours +are true that certain generals in the provinces are attempting to +profit by events in order to march on Petrograd with other designs, +it is only one more proof that we must establish a solid base of +democratic government. Otherwise, troubles with the Right will +follow troubles from the Left.... + +"The garrison of Petrograd cannot remain indifferent when citizens +buying the _Golos Soldata_ and newsboys selling the _Rabotchaya +Gazeta_ are arrested in the streets.... + +"The hour of resolutions has passed.... Let those who have no longer +faith in the Revolution retire.... To establish a united power, we +must again restore the prestige of the Revolution.... + +"Let us swear that either the Revolution shall be saved--or we shall +perish!" + +The hall rose, cheering, with kindling eyes. There was not a single +proletarian anywhere in sight.... + +Then Weinstein: + +"We must remain calm, and not act until public opinion is firmly +grouped in support of the Committee for Salvation--then we can pass +from the defensive to action!" + +The _Vikzhel_ representative announced that his organisation was +taking the initiative in forming the new Government, and its +delegates were now discussing the matter with Smolny.... Followed a +hot discussion: were the Bolsheviki to be admitted to the new +Government? Martov pleaded for their admission; after all, he said, +they represented an important political party. Opinions were very +much divided upon this, the right wing Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries, as well as the Populist Socialists, the +Cooperatives and the bourgeois elements being bitterly against.... + +"They have betrayed Russia," one speaker said. "They have started +civil war and opened the front to the Germans. The Bolsheviki must +be mercilessly crushed...." + +Skobeliev was in favor of excluding both the Bolsheviki and the +Cadets. + +We got into conversation with a young Socialist Revolutionary, who +had walked out of the Democratic Conference to gether with the +Bolsheviki, that night when Tseretelli and the "compromisers" forced +Coalition upon the democracy of Russia. + +"You here?" I asked him. + +His eyes flashed fire. "Yes!" he cried. "I left the Congress with my +party Wednesday night. I have not risked my life for twenty years +and more to submit now to the tyranny of the Dark People. Their +methods are intolerable. But they have not counted on the peasants.... +When the peasants begin to act, then it is a question of minutes +before they are done for." + +"But the peasants--will they act? Doesn't the Land decree settle the +peasants? What more do they want?" + +"Ah, the Land decree!" he said furiously. "Yes, do you know what +that Land decree is? It is _our_ decree--it is the Socialist +Revolutionary programme, intact! My party framed that policy, after +the most careful compilation of the wishes of the peasants +themselves. It is an outrage...." + +"But if it is your own policy, why do you object? If it is the +peasants' wishes, why will they oppose it?" + +"You don't understand! Don't you see that the peasants will +immediately realise that it is all a trick--that these usurpers have +stolen the Socialist Revolutionary programme?" + +I asked if it were true that Kaledin was marching north. + +He nodded, and rubbed his hands with a sort of bitter satisfaction. +"Yes. Now you see what these Bolsheviki have done. They have raised +the counter-revolution against us. The Revolution is lost. The +Revolution is lost." + +"But won't you defend the Revolution?" + +"Of course we will defend it--to the last drop of our blood. But we +won't cooperate with the Bolsheviki in any way...." + +"But if Kaledin comes to Petrograd, and the Bolsheviki defend the +city. Won't you join with them?" + +"Of course not. We will defend the city also, but we won't support +the Bolsheviki. Kaledin is the enemy of the Revolution, but the +Bolsheviki are equally enemies of the Revolution." + +"Which do you prefer--Kaledin or the Bolsheviki?" + +"It is not a question to be discussed!" he burst out impatiently. "I +tell you, the Revolution is lost. And it is the Bolsheviki who are +to blame. But listen--why should we talk of such things? Kerensky is +coming.... Day after to-morrow we shall pass to the offensive.... +Already Smolny has sent delegates inviting us to form a new +Government. But we have them now--they are absolutely impotent.... We +shall not cooperate...." + +Outside there was a shot. We ran to the windows. A Red Guard, +finally exasperated by the taunts of the crowd, had shot into it, +wounding a young girl in the arm. We could see her being lifted into +a cab, surrounded by an excited throng, the clamour of whose voices +floated up to us. As we looked, suddenly an armoured automobile +appeared around the corner of the Mikhailovsky, its guns sluing this +way and that. Immediately the crowd began to run, as Petrograd +crowds do, falling down and lying still in the street, piled in the +gutters, heaped up behind telephone-poles. The car lumbered up to +the steps of the Duma and a man stuck his head out of the turret, +demanding the surrender of the _Soldatski Golos._ The boy-scouts +jeered and scuttled into the building. After a moment the automobile +wheeled undecidedly around and went off up the Nevsky, while some +hundreds of men and women picked themselves up and began to dust +their clothes.... + +Inside was a prodigious running-about of people with armfuls of +_Soldatski Golos,_ looking for places to hide them.... + +A journalist came running into the room, waving a paper. + +"Here's a proclamation from Krasnov!" he cried. Everybody crowded +around. "Get it printed--get it printed quick, and around to the +barracks!" + +By the order of the Supreme Commander I am appointed commandant of +the troops concentrated under Petrograd. + +Citizens, soldiers, valorous Cossacks of the Don, of the Kuban, of +the Transbaikal, of the Amur, of the Yenissei, to all you who have +remained faithful to your oath I appeal; to you who have sworn to +guard inviolable your oath of Cossack--I call upon you to save +Petrograd from anarchy, from famine, from tyranny, and to save +Russia from the indelible shame to which a handful of ignorant men, +bought by the gold of Wilhelm, are trying to submit her. + +The Provisional Government, to which you swore fidelity in the great +days of March, is not overthrown, but by violence expelled from the +edifice in which it held its meetings. However the Government, with +the help of the Front armies, faithful to their duty, with the help +of the Council of Cossacks, which has united under its command all +the Cossacks and which, strong with the morale which reigns in its +ranks, and acting in accordance with the will of the Russian people, +has sworn to serve the country as its ancestors served it in the +Troublous Times of 1612, when the Cossacks of the Don delivered +Moscow, menaced by the Swedes, the Poles, and the Lithuanians. Your +Government still exists.... + +The active army considers these criminals with horror and contempt. +Their acts of vandalism and pillage, their crimes, the German +mentality with which they regard Russia--stricken down but not yet +surrendered--have alienated from them the entire people. + +Citizens, soldiers, valorous Cossacks of the garrison of Petrograd; +send me your delegates so that I may know who are traitors to their +country and who are not, that there may be avoided an effusion of +innocent blood. + +Almost the same moment word ran from group to group that the +building was surrounded by Red Guards. An officer strode in, a red +band around his arm, demanding the Mayor. A few minutes later he +left and old Schreider came out of his office, red and pale by turns. + +"A special meeting of the Duma!" he cried. "Immediately!" + +In the big hall proceedings were halted. "All members of the Duma +for a special meeting!" + +"What's the matter?" + +"I don't know--going to arrest us--going to dissolve the +Duma--arresting members at the door--" so ran the excited comments. + +In the Nicolai Hall there was barely room to stand. The Mayor +announced that troops were stationed at all the doors, prohibiting +all exit and entrance, and that a Commissar had threatened arrest +and the dispersal of the Municipal Duma. A flood of impassioned +speeches from members, and even from the galleries, responded. The +freely-elected City Government could not be dissolved by _any_ +power; the Mayor's person and that of all the members were +inviolable; the tyrants, the provocators, the German agents should +never be recognised; as for these threats to dissolve us, let them +try--only over our dead bodies shall they seize this chamber, where +like the Roman senators of old we await with dignity the coming of +the Goths.... + +Resolution, to inform the Dumas and Zemstvos of all Russia by +telegraph. Resolution, that it was impossible for the Mayor or the +Chairman of the Duma to enter into any relations whatever with +representatives of the Military Revolutionary Committee or with the +so-called Council of People's Commissars. Resolution, to address +another appeal to the population of Petrograd to stand up for the +defence of their elected town government. Resolution, to remain in +permanent session.... + +In the meanwhile one member arrived with the information that he had +telephoned to Smolny, and that the Military Revolutionary Committee +said that no orders had been given to surround the Duma, that the +troops would be withdrawn.... + +As we went downstairs Riazanov burst in through the front door, very +agitated. + +"Are you going to dissolve the Duma?" I asked. + +"My God, no!" he answered. "It is all a mistake. I told the Mayor +this morning that the Duma would be left alone...." + +Out on the Nevsky, in the deepening dusk, a long double file of +cyclists came riding, guns slung on their shoulders. They halted, +and the crowd pressed in and deluged them with questions. + +"Who are you? Where do you come from?" asked a fat old man with a +cigar in his mouth. + +"Twelfth Army. From the front. We came to support the Soviets +against the damn' bourgeoisie!" + +"Ah!" were furious cries. "Bolshevik gendarmes! Bolshevik Cossacks!" + +A little officer in a leather coat came running down the steps. "The +garrison is turning!" he muttered in my ear. "It's the beginning of +the end of the Bolsheviki. Do you want to see the turn of the tide? +Come on!" He started at a half-trot up the Mikhailovsky, and we +followed. + +"What regiment is it?" + +"The _brunnoviki_...." Here was indeed serious trouble. The +_brunnoviki_ were the Armoured Car troops, the key to the situation; +whoever controlled the _brunnoviki_ controlled the city. "The +Commissars of the Committee for Salvation and the Duma have been +talking to them. There's a meeting on to decide.... + +"Decide what? Which side they'll fight on?" + +"Oh, no. That's not the way to do it. They'll never fight against +the Bolsheviki. They will vote to remain neutral--and then the +_yunkers_ and Cossacks--" + +The door of the great Mikhailovsky Riding-School yawned blackly. Two +sentinels tried to stop us, but we brushed by hurriedly, deaf to +their indignant expostulations. Inside only a single arc-light +burned dimly, high up near the roof of the enormous hall, whose +lofty pilasters and rows of windows vanished in the gloom. Around +dimly squatted the monstrous shapes of the armoured cars. One stood +alone in the centre of the place, under the light, and round it were +gathered some two thousand dun-colored soldiers, almost lost in the +immensity of that imperial building. A dozen men, officers, chairmen +of the Soldiers' Committees and speakers, were perched on top of the +car, and from the central turret a soldier was speaking. This was +Khanjunov, who had been president of last summer's all-Russian +Congress of _Brunnoviki._ A lithe, handsome figure in his leather +coat with lieutenant's shoulder-straps, he stood pleading eloquently +for neutrality. + +"It is an awful thing," he said, "for Russians to kill their Russian +brothers. There must not be civil war between soldiers who stood +shoulder to shoulder against the Tsar, and conquered the foreign +enemy in battles which will go down in history! What have we, +soldiers, got to do with these squabbles of political parties? I +will not say to you that the Provisional Government was a democratic +Government; we want no coalition with the bourgeoisie--no. But we +must have a Government of the united democracy, or Russia is lost! +With such a Government there will be no need for civil war, and the +killing of brother by brother!" + +This sounded reasonable--the great hall echoed to the crash of hands +and voices. + +A soldier climbed up, his face white and strained, "Comrades!" he +cried, "I came from the Rumanian front, to urgently tell you all: +there must be peace! Peace at once! Whoever can give us peace, +whether it be the Bolsheviki or this new Government, we will follow. +Peace! We at the front cannot fight any longer. We cannot fight +either Germans or Russians--" With that he leaped down, and a sort of +confused agonised sound rose up from all that surging mass, which +burst into something like anger when the next speaker, a Menshevik +_oboronetz,_ tried to say that the war must go on until the Allies +were victorious. + +"You talk like Kerensky!" shouted a rough voice. + +A Duma delegate, pleading for neutrality. Him they listened to, +muttering uneasily, feeling him not one of them. Never have I seen +men trying so hard to understand, to decide. They never moved, stood +staring with a sort of terrible intentness at the speaker, their +brows wrinkled with the effort of thought, sweat standing out on +their foreheads; great giants of men with the innocent clear eyes of +children and the faces of epic warriors.... + +Now a Bolshevik was speaking, one of their own men, violently, full +of hate. They liked him no more than the other. It was not their +mood. For the moment they were lifted out of the ordinary run of +common thoughts, thinking in terms of Russia, of Socialism, the +world, as if it depended on them whether the Revolution were to live +or die.... + +Speaker succeeded speaker, debating amid tense silence, roars of +approval, or anger: should we come out or not? Khanjunov returned, +persuasive and sympathetic. But wasn't he an officer, and an +_oboronotz,_ however much he talked of peace? Then a workman from +Vasili Ostrov, but him they greeted with, "And are _you_ going to +give us peace, working-man?" Near us some men, many of them +officers, formed a sort of _claque_ to cheer the advocates of +Neutrality. They kept shouting, "Khanjunov! Khanjunov!" and whistled +insultingly when the Bolsheviki tried to speak. + +Suddenly the committeemen and officers on top of the automobile +began to discuss something with great heat and much gesticulation. +The audience shouted to know what was the matter, and all the great +mass tossed and stirred. A soldier, held back by one of the +officers, wrenched himself loose and held up his hand. + +"Comrades!" he cried, "Comrade Krylenko is here and wants to speak +to us." An outburst of cheers, whistlings, yells of _"Prosim! +Prosim! Dolby!_ Go ahead! Go ahead! Down with him!" in the midst of +which the People's Commissar for Military Affairs clambered up the +side of the car, helped by hands before and behind, pushed and +pulled from below and above. Rising he stood for a moment, and then +walked out on the radiator, put his hands on his hips and looked +around smiling, a squat, short-legged figure, bare-headed, without +insignia on his uniform. + +The _claque_ near me kept up a fearful shouting, "Khanjunov! We want +Khanjunov! Down with him! Shut up! Down with the traitor!" The whole +place seethed and roared. Then it began to move, like an avalanche +bearing down upon us, great black-browed men forcing their way +through. + +"Who is breaking up our meeting?" they shouted. "Who is whistling +here?" The _claque,_ rudely burst asunder, went flying--nor did it +gather again.... + +"Comrade soliders!" began Krylenko, in a voice husky with fatigue. +"I cannot speak well to you; I am sorry; but I have not had any +sleep for four nights.... + +"I don't need to tell you that I am a soldier. I don't need to tell +you that I want peace. What I must say is that the Bolshevik party, +successful in the Workers' and Soldiers' Revolution, by the help of +you and of all the rest of the brave comrades who have of you and of +all the rest of the brave comrades who have hurled down forever the +power of the blood-thirsty bourgeoisie, promised to offer peace to +all the peoples, and that has already been done--to-day!" Tumultuous +applause. + +"You are asked to remain neutral--to remain neutral while the +_yunkers_ and the Death Battalions, who are _never_ neutral, shoot +us down in the streets and bring back to Petrograd Kerensky--or +perhaps some other of the gang. Kaledin is marching from the Don. +Kerensky is coming from the front. Kornilov is raising the +_Tekhintsi_ to repeat his attempt of August. All these Mensheviki +and Socialist Revolutionaries who call upon you now to prevent civil +war--how have they retained the power except by civil war, that civil +war which has endured ever since last July, and in which they +constantly stood on the side of the bourgeoisie, as they do now? + +"How can I persuade you, if you have made up your minds? The +question is very plain. On one side are Kerensky, Kaledin, Kornilov, +the Mensheviki, Socialist Revolutionaries, Cadets, Dumas, officers.... +They tell us that their objects are good. On the other side are the +workers, the soldiers and sailors, the poorest peasants. The +Government is in your hands. You are the masters. Great Russia +belongs to you. Will you give it back?" + +While he spoke, he kept himself up by sheer evident effort of will, +and as he went on the deep sincere feeling back of his words broke +through the tired voice. At the end he totered, almost falling; a +hundred hands reached up to help him down, and the great dim spaces +of the hall gave back the surf of sound that beat upon him. + +Khanjunov tried to speak again, but "Vote! Vote! Vote!" they cried. +At length, giving in, he read the resolution: that the _brunnoviki_ +withdraw their representative from the Military Revolutionary +Committee, and declare their neutrality in the present civil war. +All those in favour should go to the right; those opposed, to the +left. There was a moment of hesitation, a still expectancy, and then +the crowd began to surge faster and faster, stumbling over one +another, to the left, hundreds of big soldiers in a solid mass +rushing across the dirt floor in the faint light.... Near us about +fifty men were left stranded, stubbornly in favour, and even as the +high roof shook under the shock of victorious roaring, they turned +and rapidly walked out of the building--and, some of them, out of the +Revolution.... + +Imagine this struggle being repeated in every barracks of the city, +the district, the whole front, all Russia. Imagine the sleepless +Krylenkos, watching the regiments, hurrying from place to place, +arguing, threatening, entreating. And then imaging the same in all +the locals of every labour union, in the factories, the villages, on +the battle-ships of the far-flung Russian fleets; think of the +hundreds of thousands of Russian men staring up at speakers all over +the vast country, workmen, peasants, soldiers, sailors, trying so +hard to understand and to choose, thinking so intensely--and deciding +so unanimously at the end. So was the Russian Revolution.... + +Up at Smolny the new Council of People's Commissars was not idle. +Already the first decree was on the presses, to be circulated in +thousands through the city streets that night, and shipped in bales +by every train southward and east: + +In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic, chosen by the +All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies +with participation of peasant deputies, the Council of People's +Commissars decrees: + +1. The elections for the Constituent Assembly shall take place at +the date determined upon--November 12. + +2. All electoral commissions, organs of local self-government, +Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, and soldiers' +organisations on the front should make every effort to assure free +and regular elections at the date determined upon. + +In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic, _The +President of the Council of People's Commissars_, + +VLADIMIR ULIANOV-LENIN. + +In the Municipal building the Duma was in full blast. A member of +the Council of the Republic was talking as we came in. The Council, +he said, did not consider itself dissolved at all, but merely unable +to continue its labours until it secured a new meeting-place. In the +meanwhile, its Committee of Elders had determined to enter _en +masse_ the Committee for Salvation.... This, I may remark +parenthetically, is the last time history mentions the Council of +the Russian Republic.... + +Then followed the customary string of delegates from the Ministries, +the _Vikzhel,_ the Union of Posts and Telegraphs, for the hundredth +time reiterating their determination not to work for the Bolshevik +usurpers. A _yunker_ who had been in the Winter Palace told a +highly-coloured tale of the heroism of himself and his comrades, and +disgraceful conduct of the Red Guards--all of which was devoutly +believed. Somebody read aloud an account in the Socialist +Revolutionary paper _Narod,_ which stated that five hundred million +rubles' worth of damage had been done in the Winter Palace, and +describing in great detail the loot and breakage. + +From time to time couriers came from the telephone with news. The +four Socialist Ministers had been released from prison. Krylenko had +gone to Peter-Paul to tell Admiral Verderevsky that the Ministry of +Marine was deserted, and to beg him, for the sake of Russia, to take +charge under the authority of the Council of People's Commissars; +and the old seaman had consented.... Kerensky was advancing north from +Gatchina, the Bolshevik garrisons falling back before him. Smolny +had issued another decree, enlarging the powers of the City Dumas to +deal with food supplies. + +This last piece of insolence caused an outburst of fury. He, Lenin, +the usurper, the tyrant, whose Commissars had seized the Municipal +garage, entered the Municipal ware houses, were interfering with the +Supply Committees and the distribution of food--he presumed to define +the limits of power of the free, independent, autonomous City +Government! One member, shaking his fist, moved to cut off the food +of the city if the Bolsheviki dared to interfere with the Supply +Committees.... Another, representative of the Special Supply +Committee, reported that the food situation was very grave, and +asked that emissaries be sent out to hasten food trains. + +Diedonenko announced dramatically that the garrison was wavering. +The Semionovsky regiment had already decided to submit to the orders +of the Socialist Revolutionary party; the crews of the torpedo-boats +on the Neva were shaky. Seven members were at once appointed to +continue the propaganda.... + +Then the old Mayor stepped into the tribune: "Comrades and citizens! +I have just learned that the prisoners in Peter Paul are in danger. +Fourteen _yunkers_ of the Pavlovsk school have been stripped and +tortured by the Bolshevik guards. One has gone mad. They are +threatening to lynch the Ministers!" There was a whirlwind of +indignation and horror, which only grew more violent when a stocky +little woman dressed in grey demanded the floor, and lifted up her +hard, metallic voice. This was Vera Slutskaya, veteran revolutionist +and Bolshevik member of the Duma. + +"That is a lie and a provocation!" she said, unmoved at the torrent +of abuse. "The Workers' and Peasants' Government, which has +abolished the death penalty, cannot permit such deeds. We demand +that this story be investigated, at once; if there is any truth in +it, the Government will take energetic measures!" + +A commission composed of members of all parties was immediately +appointed, and with the Mayor, sent to Peter Paul to investigate. As +we followed them out, the Duma was appointing another commission to +meet Kerensky--to try and avoid bloodshed when he entered the +capital.... + +It was midnight when we bluffed our past the guards at the gate of +the fortress, and went forward under the faint glimmer of rare +electric lights along the side of the church where lie the tombs of +the Tsars, beneath the slender golden spire and the chimes, which, +for months, continued to play _Bozhe Tsaria Khrani_[17] every day at +noon.... The place was deserted; in most of the windows there were not +even lights. Occasionally we bumped into a burly figure stumbling along +in the dark, who answered questions with the usual, _"Ya nieznayu."_ + +[17] "God Save the Tsar." + +[Graphic, page 166: Pass to Reed from Department of Prisons +translation follows] + +Pass from the Department of Prisons of the Soviet Government to +visit freely all prisons of Petrograd and Cronstadt. (Translation) + + Commissar + Chief Bureau of Prisons + 6th of November, 1917. + No. 213 + Petrograd, Smolny + Institute, room No. 56-- + + PASS +To the representative of the American Socialist press, JOHN REED, to +visit all places of confinement in the cities of Petrograd and +Cronstadt, for the purpose of generally investigating the condition +of the prisoners, and for thorough social information for the +purpose of stopping the flood of newspaper lies against demorcracy. + Chief Commissar + Secretary + +On the left loomed the low dark outline of Trubetskoi Bastion, that +living grave in which so many martyrs of liberty had lost their +lives or their reason in the days of the Tsar, where the Provisional +Government had in turn shut up the Ministers of the Tsar, and now +the Bolsheviki had shut up the Ministers of the Provisional +Government. + +A friendly sailor led us to the office of the commandant, in a +little house near the Mint. Half a dozen Red Guards, sailors and +soldiers were sitting around a hot room full of smoke, in which a +samovar steamed cheerfully. They welcomed us with great cordiality, +offering tea. The commandant was not in; he was escorting a +commission of _"sabotazhniki"_ (sabotageurs) from the City Duma, who +insisted that the _yunkers_ were all being murdered. This seemed to +amuse them very much. At one side of the room sat a bald-headed, +dissipated-looking little man in a frock-coat and a rich fur coat, +biting his moustache and staring around him like a cornered rat. He +had just been arrested. Somebody said, glancing carelessly at him, +that he was a Minister or something.... The little man didn't seem to +hear it; he was evidently terrified, although the occupants of the +room showed no animosity whatever toward him. + +I went across and spoke to him in French. "Count Tolstoy," he +answered, bowing stiffly. "I do not understand why I was arrested. I +was crossing the Troitsky Bridge on my way home when two of these--of +these--persons held me up. I was a Commissar of the Provisional +Government attached to the General Staff, but in no sense a member +of the Government..." + +"Let him go," said a sailor. "He's harmless...." + +"No," responded the soldier who had brought the prisoner. "We must +ask the commandant." + +"Oh, the commandant!" sneered the sailor. "What did you make a +revolution for? To go on obeying officers?" + +A _praporshtchik_ of the Pavlovsky regiment was telling us how the +insurrection started. "The _polk_ (regiment) was on duty at the +General Staff the night of the 6th. Some of my comrades and I were +standing guard; Ivan Pavlovitch and another man--I don't remember his +name--well, they hid behind the window-curtains in the room where the +Staff was having a meeting, and they heard a great many things. For +example, they heard orders to bring the Gatchina _yunkers_ to +Petrograd by night, and an order for the Cossacks to be ready to +march in the morning.... The principal points in the city were to be +occupied before dawn. Then there was the business of opening the +bridges. But when they began to talk about surrounding Smolny, then +Ivan Pavlovitch couldn't stand it any longer. That minute there was +a good deal of coming and going, so he slipped out and came down to +the guard-room, leaving the other comrade to pick up what he could. + +"I was already suspicious that something was going on. Automobiles +full of officers kept coming, and all the Ministers were there. Ivan +Pavlovitch told me what he had heard. It was half-past two in the +morning. The secretary of the regimental Committee was there, so we +told him and asked what to do. + +"'Arrest everybody coming and going!' he says. So we began to do +it. In an hour we had some officers and a couple of Ministers, whom +we sent up to Smolny right away. But the Military Revolutionary +Committee wasn't ready; they didn't know what to do; and pretty soon +back came the order to let everybody go and not arrest anybody else. +Well, we ran all the way to Smolny, and I guess we talked for an +hour before they finally saw that it was war. It was five o'clock +when we got back to the Staff, and by that time most of them were +gone. But we got a few, and the garrison was all on the march...." + +A Red Guard from Vasili Ostrov described in great detail what had +happened in his district on the great day of the rising. "We didn't +have any machine-guns over there," he said, laughing, "and we +couldn't get any from Smolny. Comrade Zalking, who was a member of +the _Uprava_ (Central Bureau) of the Ward Duma, remembered all at +once that there was lying in the meeting-room of the _Uprava_ a +machinegun which had been captured from the Germans. So he and I and +another comrade went there. The Mensheviki and Socialist +Revolutionaries were having a meeting. Well, we opened the door and +walked right in on them, as they sat around the table--twelve or +fifteen of them, three of us. When they saw us they stopped talking +and just stared. We walked right across the room, uncoupled the +machine-gun; Comrade Zalkind picked up one part, I the other, we put +them on our shoulders and walked out--and not a single man said a +word!" + +"Do you know how the Winter Palace was captured?" asked a third man, +a sailor. "Along about eleven o'clock we found out there weren't any +more _yunkers_ on the Neva side. So we broke in the doors and +filtered up the different stairways one by one, or in little +bunches. When we got to the top of the stairs the _yunkers_ held us +up and took away our guns. Still our fellows kept coming up, little +by little, until we had a majority. Then we turned around and took +away the _yunkers'_ guns...." + +Just then the commandant entered--a merry-looking young +non-commissioned officer with his arm in a sling, and deep circles +of sleeplessness under his eyes. His eye fell first on the prisoner, +who at once began to explain. + +"Oh, yes," interrupted the other. "You were one of the committee who +refused to surrender the Staff Wednesday afternoon. However, we +don't want you, citizen. Apologies--" He opened the door and waved +his arm for Count Tolstoy to leave. Several of the others, +especially the Red Guards, grumbled protests, and the sailor +remarked triumphantly, _"Vot!_ There! Didn't I say so?" + +Two soldiers now engaged his attention. They had been elected a +committee of the fortress garrison to protest. The prisoners, they +said, were getting the same food as the guards, when there wasn't +even enough to keep a man from being hungry. "Why should the +counter-revolutionists be treated so well?" + +"We are revolutionists, comrades, not bandits," answered the +commandant. He turned to us. We explained that rumours were going +about that the _yunkers_ were being tortured, and the lives of the +Ministers threatened. Could we perhaps see the prisoners, so as to +be able to prove to the world--?" + +"No," said the young soldier, irritably. "I am not going to disturb +the prisoners again. I have just been compelled to wake them up--they +were sure we were going to massacre them.... Most of the _yunkers_ +have been released anyway, and the rest will go out to-morrow." He +turned abruptly away. + +"Could we talk to the Duma commission, then?" + +The Commandant, who was pouring himself a glass of tea, nodded. +"They are still out in the hall," he said carelessly. + +Indeed they stood there just outside the door, in the feeble light +of an oil lamp, grouped around the Mayor and talking excitedly. + +"Mr. Mayor," I said, "we are American correspondents. Will you +please tell us officially the result of your investigations?" + +He turned to us his face of venerable dignity. + +"There is no truth in the reports," he said slowly. "Except for the +incidents which occurred as the Ministers were being brought here, +they have been treated with every consideration. As for the +_yunkers,_ not one has received the slightest injury...." + +Up the Nevsky, in the empty after-midnight gloom, an interminable +column of soldiers shuffled in silence--to battle with Kerensky. In +dim back streets automobiles without lights flitted to and fro, and +there was furtive activity in Fontanka 6, headquarters of the +Peasants' Soviet, in a certain apartment of a huge building on the +Nevsky, and in the _Injinierny Zamok_ (School of Engineers); the +Duma was illuminated.... + +In Smolny Institute the Military Revolutionary Committee flashed +baleful fire, pounding like an over-loaded dynamo.... + + + + +Chapter VII + +The Revolutionary Front + + +Saturday, November 10th.... + +Citizens! + +The Military Revolutionary Committee declares that it will not +tolerate any violation of revolutionary order.... + +Theft, brigandage, assaults and attempts at massacre will be +severely punished.... + +Following the example of the Paris Commune, the Committee will +destroy without mercy any looter or instigator of disorder.... + +Quiet lay the city. Not a hold-up, not a robbery, not even a drunken +fight. By night armed patrols went through the silent streets, and +on the corners soldiers and Red Guards squatted around little fires, +laughing and singing. In the daytime great crowds gathered on the +sidewalks listening to interminable hot debates between students and +soldiers, business men and workmen. + +Citizens stopped each other on the street. + +"The Cossacks are coming?" + +"No...." + +"What's the latest?" + +"I don't know anything. Where's Kerensky?" + +"They say only eight versts from Petrograd.... Is it true that the +Bolsheviki have fled to the battleship _Avrora?"_ + +"They say so...." + +Only the walls screamed, and the few newspapers; denunciation, +appeal, decree.... + +An enormous poster carried the hysterical manifesto of the Executive +Committee of the Peasants' Soviets: + +....They (the Bolsheviki) dare to say that they are supported by the +Soviets of Peasants' Deputies, and that they are speaking on behalf +of the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies.... + +Let all working-class Russia know that this is a LIE, AND THAT ALL +THE WORKING PEASANTS--in the person of--the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE +ALL-RUSSIAN SOVIETS OF PEASANTS' DEPUTIES--refutes with indignation +all participation of the organised peasantry in this criminal +violation of the will of the working-classes.... + +From the Soldier Section of the Socialist Revolutionary party: + +The insane attempt of the Bolsheviki is on the eve of collapse. The +garrison is divided.... The Ministries are on strike and bread is +getting scarcer. All factions except the few Bolsheviki have left +the Congress. The Bolsheviki are alone.... + +We call upon all sane elements to group themselves around the +Committee for Salvation of Country and Revolution, and to prepare +themselves seriously to be ready at the first call of the Central +Committee.... + +In a hand-bill the Council of the Republic recited its wrongs: + +Ceding to the force of bayonets, the Council of the Republic has +been obliged to separate, and temporarily to interrupt its meetings. + +The usurpers, with the words "Liberty and Socialism" on their lips, +have set up a rule of arbitrary violence. They have arrested the +members of the Provisional Government, closed the newspapers, seized +the printing-shops....This power must be considered the enemy of the +people and the Revolution; it is necessary to do battle with it, and +to pull it down.... + +The Council of the Republic, until the resumption of its labours, +invites the citizens of the Russian Republic to group themselves +around the....local Committees for Salvation of Country and +Revolution, which are organising the overthrow of the Bolsheviki and +the creation of a Government capable of leading the country to the +Constituent Assembly. + +_Dielo Naroda_ said: + +A revolution is a rising of all the people.... But here what have we? +Nothing but a handful of poor fools deceived by Lenin and Trotzky.... +Their decrees and their appeals will simply add to the museum of +historical curiosities.... + +And _Narodnoye Slovo_(People's Word-Populist Socialist): + +"Workers' and Peasants' Government?" That is only a pipedream; +nobody, either in Russia or in the countries of our Allies, will +recognise this "Government"--or even in the enemy countries.... + +The bourgeois press had temporarily disappeared...._Pravada_ had an +account of the first meeting of the new _Tsay-ee-kah,_ now the +parliament of the Russian Soviet Republic. Miliutin, Commissar of +Agriculture, remarked that the Peasants' Executive Committee had +called an All-Russian Peasant Congress for December 13th. + +"But we cannot wait," he said. "We must have the backing of the +peasants. I propose that _we_ call the Congress of Peasants, and do +it immediately...." The Left Socialist Revolutionaries agreed. An +Appeal to the Peasants of Russia was hastily drafted, and a +committee of five elected to carry out the project. + +The question of detailed plans for distributing the land, and the +question of Workers' Control of Industry, were postponed until the +experts working on them should submit a report. + +Three decrees (See App. VII, Sect. 1) were read and approved: first, +Lenin's "General Rules For the Press," ordering the suppression of +all newspapers inciting to resistance and disobedience to the new +Government, inciting to criminal acts, or deliberately perverting +the news; the Decree of Moratorium for House-rents; and the Decree +Establishing a Workers' Militia. Also orders, one giving the +Municipal Duma power to requisition empty apartments and houses, the +other directing the unloading of freight cars in the railroad +terminals, to hasten the distribution of necessities and to free the +badly-needed rolling-stock.... + +Two hours later the Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviets was +sending broadcast over Russia the following telegram: + +The arbitrary organisation of the Bolsheviki, which is called +"Bureau of Organisation for the National Congress of Peasants," is +inviting all the Peasants' Soviets to send delegates to the Congress +at Petrograd.... + +The Executive Committee of the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies +declares that it considers, now as well as before, that it would be +dangerous to take away from the provinces at this moment the forces +necessary to prepare for elections to the Constituent Assembly, +which is the only salvation of the working-class and the country. We +confirm the date of the Congress of Peasants, _December 13th._ + +At the Duma all was excitement, officers coming and going, the Mayor +in conference with the leaders of the Committee for Salvation. A +Councillor ran in with a copy of Kerensky's proclamation, dropped by +hundreds from an aeroplane low flying down the Nevsky, which +threatened terrible vengeance on all who did not submit, and ordered +soldiers to lay down their arms and assemble immediately in Mars +Field. + +The Minister-President had taken Tsarskoye Selo, we were told, and +was already in the Petrograd campagna, five miles away. He would +enter the city to-morrow--in a few hours. The Soviet troops in +contact with his Cossacks were said to be going over to the +Provisional Government. Tchernov was somewhere in between, trying to +organise the "neutral" troops into a force to halt the civil war. + +In the city the garrison regiments were leaving the Bolsheviki, they +said. Smolny was already abandoned.... All the Governmental machinery +had stopped functioning. The employees of the State Bank had refused +to work under Commissars from Smolny, refused to pay out money to +them. All the private banks were closed. The Ministries were on +strike. Even now a committee from the Duma was making the rounds of +business houses, collecting a fund to pay the salaries of the +strikers.... + +Trotzky had gone to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ordered the +clerks to translate the Decree on Peace into foreign languages; six +hundred functionaries had hurled their resignations in his face.... +Shliapnikov, Commissar of Labour, had commanded all the employees of +his Ministry to return to their places within twenty-four hours, or +lose their places and their pension-rights; only the door-servants +had responded.... Some of the branches of the Special Food Supply +Committee had suspended work rather than submit to the Bolsheviki.... +In spite of lavish promises of high wages and better conditions, the +operators at the Telephone Exchange would not connect Soviet +headquarters.... + +The Socialist Revolutionary Party had voted to expel all members who +had remained in the Congress of Soviets, and all who were taking +part in the insurrection.... + +News from the provinces. Moghilev had declared against the +Bolsheviki. At Kiev the Cossacks had overthrown the Soviets and +arrested all the insurrectionary leaders. The Soviet and garrison of +Luga, thirty thousand strong, affirmed its loyalty to the +Provisional Government, and appealed to all Russia to rally around +it. Kaledin had dispersed all Soviets and Unions in the Don Basin, +and his forces were moving north.... + +Said a representative of the Railway Workers: "Yesterday we sent a +telegram all over Russia demanding that war between the political +parties cease at once, and insisting on the formation of a coalition +Socialist Government. Otherwise we shall call a strike to-morrow +night.... In the morning there will be a meeting of all factions to +consider the question. The Bolsheviki seem anxious for an +agreement...." + +"If they last that long!" laughed the City Engineer, a stout, ruddy +man.... + +As we came up to Smolny--not abandoned, but busier than ever, throngs +of workers and soldiers running in and out, and doubled guards +everywhere--we met the reporters for the bourgeois and "moderate" +Socialist papers. + +"Threw us out!" cried one, from _Volia Naroda._ "Bonch-Bruevitch +came down to the Press Bureau and told us to leave! Said we were +spies!" They all began to talk at once: "Insult! Outrage! Freedom of +the press!" + +In the lobby were great tables heaped with stacks of appeals, +proclamations and orders of the Military Revolutionary Committee. +Workmen and soldiers staggered past, carrying them to waiting +automobiles. + +One began: + +TO THE PILLORY! + +In this tragic moment through which the Russian masses are living, +the Mensheviki and their followers and the Right Socialist +Revolutionaries have betrayed the working-class. They have enlisted +on the side of Kornilov, Kerensky and Savinkov.... + +They are printing orders of the traitor Kerensky and creating a +panic in the city, spreading the most ridiculous rumours of mythical +victories by that renegade.... + +Citizens! Don't believe these false rumours. No power can defeat the +People's Revolution.... Premier Kerensky and his followers await +speedy and well-deserved punishment.... + +We are putting them in the Pillory. We are abandoning them to the +enmity of all workers, soldiers, sailors and peasants, on whom they +are trying to rivet the ancient chains. They will never be able to +wash from their bodies the stain of the people's hatred and contempt. + +Shame and curses to the traitors of the People!... + +The Military Revolutionary Committee had moved into larger quarters, +room 17 on the top floor. Red Guards were at the door. Inside, the +narrow space in front of the railing was crowded with well-dressed +persons, outwardly respectful but inwardly full of murder--bourgeois +who wanted permits for their automobiles, or passports to leave the +city, among them many foreigners.... Bill Shatov and Peters were on +duty. They suspended all other business to read us the latest +bulletins. + +The One Hundred Seventy-ninth Reserve Regiment offers its unanimous +support. Five thousand stevedores at the Putilov wharves greet the +new Government. Central Committee of the Trade Unions--enthusiastic +support. The garrison and squadron at Reval elect Military +Revolutionary Committees to cooperate, and despatch troops. Military +Revolutionary Committees control in Pskov and Minsk. Greetings from +the Soviets of Tsaritzin, Rovensky-on-Don, Tchernogorsk, +Sevastopol.... The Finland Division, the new Committees of the Fifth +and Twelfth Armies, offer allegiance.... + +From Moscow the news is uncertain. Troops of the Military +Revolutionary Committee occupy the strategic points of the city; two +companies on duty in the Kremlin have gone over to the Soviets, but +the Arsenal is in the hands of Colonel Diabtsev and his _yunkers._ +The Revolutionary Committee demanded arms for the workers, and +Riabtsev parleyed with them until this morning, when suddenly he +sent an ultimatum to the Committee, ordering Soviet troops to +surrender and the Committee to disband. Fighting has begun.... + +In Petrograd the Staff submitted to Smolny's Commissars at once. The +_Tsentroflot,_ refusing, was stormed by Dybenko and a company of +Cronstadt sailors, and a new _Tsentroflot_ set up, supported by the +Baltic and the Black Sea battleships.... + +But beneath all the breezy assurance there was a chill premonition, +a feeling of uneasiness in the air. Kerensky's Cossacks were coming +fast; they had artillery. Skripnik, Secretary of the Factory-Shop +Committees, his face drawn and yellow, assured me that there was a +whole army corps of them, but he added, fiercely, "They'll never +take us alive!" Petrovsky laughed weariedly, "To-morrow maybe we'll +get a sleep--a long one...." Lozovsky, with his emaciated, red-bearded +face, said, "What chance have we? All alone.... A mob against trained +soldiers!" + +South and south-west the Soviets had fled before Kerensky, and the +garrisons of Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Tsarskoye Selo were divided--half +voting to remain neutral, the rest, without officers, falling back +on the capital in the wildest disorder. + +In the halls they were pasting up bulletins: + +FROM KRASNOYE SELO, NOVEMBER 10TH, 8 A.M. + +_To be communicated to all Commanders of Staffs, Commanders in +Chief, Commanders, everywhere and to all, all, all._ + +The ex-Minister Kerensky has sent a deliberately false telegram to +every one everywhere to the effect that the troops of revolutionary +Petrograd have voluntarily surrendered their arms and joined the +armies of the former Government, the Government of Treason, and that +the soldiers have been ordered by the Military Revolutionary +Committee to retreat. The troops of a free people do not retreat nor +do they surrender. + +Our troops have left Gatchina in order to avoid bloodshed between +themselves and their mistaken brother-Cossacks, and in order to take +a more convenient position, which is at present so strong that if +Kerensky and his companions in arms should even increase their +forces ten times, still there would be no cause for anxiety. The +spirit of our troops is excellent. + +In Petrograd all is quiet. + +_Chief of the Defence of Petrograd and the Petrograd District,_ + +Lieutenant-Colonel Muraviov. + +As we left the Military Revolutionary Committee Antonov entered, a +paper in his hand, looking like a corpse. + +"Send this," said he. + +TO ALL DISTRICT SOVIETS OF WORKERS' DEPUTIES AND FACTORYSHOP +COMMITTEES + +The Kornilovist bands of Kerensky are threatening the approaches to +the capital. All the necessary orders have been given to crush +mercilessly the counter-revolutionary attempt against the people and +its conquests. + +The Army and the Red Guard of the Revolution are in need of the +immediate support of the workers. + +WE ORDER THE WARD SOVIETS AND FACTORY-SHOP COMMITTEES: + +1. To move out the greatest possible number of workers for the +digging of trenches, the erection of barricades and reinforcing of +wire entanglements. + +2. Wherever it shall be necessary for this purpose to stop work at +the factories this shall be done immediately. + +3. All common and barbed wire available must be assembled, and also +all implements for the digging of trenches and the erection of +barricades. + +4. All available arms must be taken. + +5. THE STRICTEST DISCIPLINE IS TO BE OBSERVED, AND EVERY ONE MUST BE +READY TO SUPPORT THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION BY ALL MEANS. + +_Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet of Worker's and Soldiers' +Deputies,_ + +People's Commissar LEON TROTZKY. + +_Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee,_ + +Commander in Chief PODVOISKY. + +As we came out into the dark and gloomy day all around the grey +horizon factory whistles were blowing, a hoarse and nervous sound, +full of foreboding. By tens of thousands the working-people poured +out, men and women; by tens of thousands the humming slums belched +out their dun and miserable hordes. Red Petrograd was in danger! +Cossacks! South and southwest they poured through the shabby streets +toward the Moskovsky Gate, men, women and children, with rifles, +picks, spades, rolls of wire, cartridge-belts over their working +clothes.... Such an immense, spontaneous outpouring of a city never +was seen! They rolled along torrent-like, companies of soldiers +borne with them, guns, motor-trucks, wagons--the revolutionary +proletariat defending with its breast the capital of the Workers' +and Peasants' Republic! + +Before the door of Smolny was an automobile. A slight man with thick +glasses magnifying his red-rimmed eyes, his speech a painful effort, +stood leaning against a mud-guard with his hands in the pockets of a +shabby raglan. A great bearded sailor, with the clear eyes of youth, +prowled restlessly about, absently toying with an enormous +blue-steel revolver, which never left his hand. These were Antonov +and Dybenko. + +Some soldiers were trying to fasten two military bicycles on the +running-board. The chauffeur violently protested; the enamel would +get scratched, he said. True, he was a Bolshevik, and the automobile +was commandeered from a bourgeois; true, the bicycles were for the +use of orderlies. But the chauffeur's professional pride was +revolted.... So the bicycles were abandoned.... + +The People's Commissars for War and Marine were going to inspect the +revolutionary front--wherever that was. Could we go with them? +Certainly not. The automobile only held five--the two Commissars, two +orderlies and the chauffeur. However, a Russian acquaintance of +mine, whom I will call Trusishka, calmly got in and sat down, nor +could any argument dislodge him.... + +I see no reason to doubt Trusishka's story of the journey. As they +went down the Suvorovsky Prospect some one mentioned food. They +might be out three or four days, in a country indifferently well +provisioned. They stopped the car. Money? The Commissar of War +looked through his pockets--he hadn't a kopek. The Commissar of +Marine was broke. So was the chauffeur. Trusishka bought the +provisions.... + +Just as they turned into the Nevsky a tire blew out. + +"What shall we do?" asked Antonov. + +"Commandeer another machine!" suggested Dybenko, waving his +revolver. Antonov stood in the middle of the street and signalled a +passing machine, driven by a soldier. + +"I want that machine," said Antonov. + +"You won't get it," responded the soldier. + +"Do you know who I am?" Antonov produced a paper upon which was +written that he had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the +armies of the Russian Republic, and that every one should obey him +without question. + +"I don't care if you're the devil himself," said the soldier, hotly. +"This machine belongs to the First Machine-Gun Regiment, and we're +carrying ammunition in it, and you can't have it...." + +The difficulty, however, was solved by the appearance of an old +battered taxi-cab, flying the Italian flag. (In time of trouble +private cars were registered in the name of foreign consulates, so +as to be safe from requisition.) From the interior of this was +dislodged a fat citizen in an expensive fur coat, and the party +continued on its way. + +Arrived at Narvskaya Zastava, about ten miles out, Antonov called +for the commandant of the Red Guard. He was led to the edge of the +town, where some few hundred workmen had dug trenches and were +waiting for the Cossacks. + +"Everything all right here, comrade?" asked Antonov. + +"Everything perfect, comrade," answered the commandant. + +"The troops are in excellent spirits.... Only one thing--we have no +ammunition...." + +"In Smolny there are two billion rounds," Antonov told him. "I will +give you an order." He felt in his pockets. "Has any one a piece of +paper?" + +Dybenko had none--nor the couriers. Trusishka had to offer his +note-book.... + +"Devil! I have no pencil!" cried Antonov. "Who's got a pencil?" +Needless to say, Trusishka had the only pencil in the crowd.... + +We who were left behind made for the Tsarskoye Selo station. Up the +Nevsky, as we passed, Red Guards were marching, all armed, some with +bayonets and some without. The early twilight of winter was falling. +Heads up they tramped in the chill mud, irregular lines of four, +without music, without drums. A red flag crudely lettered in gold, +"Peace! Land!" floated over them. They were very young. The +expression on their faces was that of who know they are going to +die.... Half-fearful, half-contemptuous, the crowds on the sidewalk +watched them pass, in hateful silence.... + +[Graphic, page 184: Pass to the Northern Front] + +This pass was issued upon the recommendation of Trotzky three days +after the Bolshevik Revolution. It gives me the right of free travel +to the Northern front--and an added note on the back extends the +permission to all fronts. It will be noticed that the speaks of the +_Petersburg_, instead of the _Petrograd_ Soviet; it was the fashion +among thorough-going internationalists to abolish all names which +smacked of "patriotism"; but at the same time, it would not do to +restore the "Saint."... + (Translation) + Executive Committee + Petrograd Soviet of + Workers' and Soldiers' + Deputies + Military Section + 28th October, 1917 + No. 1435 + CERTIFICATE + +The present certificate is given to the representative of the +American Social Democracy, the internationalist comrade JOHN REED. +The Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petersburg Soviet of +Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies gives him the right of free travel +through the entire Northern front, for the purpose of reporting to +our American comrades--internationalists concerning events in Russia. + For the President + For the Secretary + +At the railroad station nobody knew just where Kerensky was, or +where the front lay. Trains went no further, however, than +Tsarskoye.... + +Our car was full of commuters and country people going home, laden +with bundles and evening papers. The talk was all of the Bolshevik +rising. Outside of that, however, one would never have realised that +civil war was rending mighty Russia in two, and that the train was +headed into the zone of battle. Through the window we could see, in +the swiftly-deepening darkness, masses of soldiers going along the +muddy road toward the city, flinging out their arms in argument. A +freight-train, swarming with troops and lit up by huge bonfires, was +halted on a siding. That was all. Back along the flat horizon the +glow of the city's lights faded down the night. A street-car crawled +distantly along a far-flung suburb.... + +Tsarskoye Selo station was quiet, but knots of soldiers stood here +and there talking in low tones and looking uneasily down the empty +track in the direction of Gatchina. I asked some of them which side +they were on. "Well," said one, "we don't exactly know the rights of +the matter.... There is no doubt that Kerensky is a provocator, but we +do not consider it right for Russian men to be shooting Russian men." + +In the station commandant's office was a big, jovial, bearded common +soldier, wearing the red arm-band of a regimental committee. Our +credentials from Smolny commanded immediate respect. He was plainly +for the Soviets, but bewildered. + +"The Red Guards were here two hours ago, but they went away again. A +Commissar came this morning, but he returned to Petrograd when the +Cossacks arrived." + +"The Cossacks are here then?" + +He nodded, gloomily. "There has been a battle. The Cossacks came +early in the morning. They captured two or three hundred of our men, +and killed about twenty-five." + +"Where are the Cossacks?" + +"Well, they didn't get this far. I don't know just where they are. +Off that way...." He waved his arm vaguely westward. + +We had dinner--an excellent dinner, better and cheaper than could be +got in Petrograd--in the station restaurant. Nearby sat a French +officer who had just come on foot from Gatchina. All was quiet +there, he said. Kerensky held the town. "Ah, these Russians," he +went on, "they are original! What a civil war! Everything except the +fighting!" + +We sallied out into the town. Just at the door of the station stood +two soldiers with rifles and bayonets fixed. They were surrounded by +about a hundred business men, Government officials and students, who +attacked them with passionate argument and epithet. The soldiers +were uncomfortable and hurt, like children unjustly scolded. + +A tall young man with a supercilious expression, dressed in the +uniform of a student, was leading the attack. + +"You realise, I presume," he said insolently, "that by taking up +arms against your brothers you are making yourselves the tools of +murderers and traitors?" + +"Now brother," answered the soldier earnestly, "you don't understand. +There are two classes, don't you see, the proletariat and the +bourgeoisie. We--" + +"Oh, I know that silly talk!" broke in the student rudely. "A bunch +of ignorant peasants like you hear somebody bawling a few +catch-words. You don't understand what they mean. You just echo them +like a lot of parrots." The crowd laughed. "I'm a Marxian student. +And I tell you that this isn't Socialism you are fighting for. It's +just plain pro-German anarchy!" + +"Oh, yes, I know," answered the soldier, with sweat dripping from +his brow. "You are an educated man, that is easy to see, and I am +only a simple man. But it seems to me--" + +"I suppose," interrupted the other contemptuously, "that you believe +Lenin is a real friend of the proletariat?" + +"Yes, I do," answered the soldier, suffering. + +"Well, my friend, do you know that Lenin was sent through Germany in +a closed car? Do you know that Lenin took money from the Germans?" + +"Well, I don't know much about that," answered the soldier +stubbornly, "but it seems to me that what he says is what I want to +hear, and all the simple men like me. Now there are two classes, the +bourgeoisie and the proletariat--" + +"You are a fool! Why, my friend, I spent two years in Schluesselburg +for revolutionary activity, when you were still shooting down +revolutionists and singing 'God Save the Tsar!' My name is Vasili +Georgevitch Panyin. Didn't you ever hear of me?" + +"I'm sorry to say I never did," answered the soldier with humility. +"But then, I am not an educated man. You are probably a great hero." + +"I am," said the student with conviction. "And I am opposed to the +Bolsheviki, who are destroying our Russia, our free Revolution. Now +how do you account for that?" + +The soldier scratched his head. "I can't account for it at all," he +said, grimacing with the pain of his intellectual processes. "To me +it seems perfectly simple--but then, I'm not well educated. It seems +like there are only two classes, the proletariat and the +bourgeoisie--" + +"There you go again with your silly formula!" cried the student. + +"--only two classes," went on the soldier, doggedly. + +"And whoever isn't on one side is on the other..." + +We wandered on up the street, where the lights were few and far +between, and where people rarely passed. A threatening silence hung +over the place--as of a sort of purgatory between heaven and hell, a +political No Man's Land. Only the barber shops were all brilliantly +lighted and crowded, and a line formed at the doors of the public +bath; for it was Saturday night, when all Russia bathes and perfumes +itself. I haven't the slightest doubt that Soviet troops and +Cossacks mingled in the places where these ceremonies were performed. + +The nearer we came to the Imperial Park, the more deserted were the +streets. A frightened priest pointed out the headquarters of the +Soviet, and hurried on. It was in the wing of one of the Grand Ducal +palaces, fronting the Park. The windows were dark, the door locked. +A soldier, lounging about with his hands in the top of his trousers, +looked us up and down with gloomy suspicion. "The Soviet went away +two days ago," said he. "Where?" A shrug. _"Nie znayu._ I don't +know." + +A little further along was a large building, brightly illuminated. +From within came a sound of hammering. While we were hesitating, a +soldier and a sailor came down the street, hand in hand. I showed +them my pass from Smolny. "Are you for the Soviets?" I asked. They +did not answer, but looked at each other in a frightened way. + +"What is going on in there?" asked the sailor, pointing to the +building. + +"I don't know." + +Timidly the soldier put out his hand and opened the door a crack. +Inside a great hall hung with bunting and evergreens, rows of +chairs, a stage being built. + +A stout woman with a hammer in her hand and her mouth full of tacks +came out. "What do you want?" she asked. + +"Is there a performance to-night?" said the sailor, nervously. + +"There will be private theatricals Sunday night," she answered +severely. "Go away." + +We tried to engage the soldier and sailor in conversation, but they +seemed frightened and unhappy, and drew off into the darkness. + +We strolled toward the Imperial Palaces, along the edge of the vast, +dark gardens, their fantastic pavilions and ornamental bridges +looming uncertainly in the night, and soft water splashing from the +fountains. At one place, where a ridiculous iron swan spat +unceasingly from an artificial grotto, we were suddenly aware of +observation, and looked up to encounter the sullen, suspicious gaze +of half a dozen gigantic armed soldiers, who stared moodily down +from a grassy terrace. I climbed up to them. "Who are you?" I asked. + +"We are the guard," answered one. They all looked very depressed, as +undoubtedly they were, from weeks and weeks of all-day all-night +argument and debate. + +"Are you Kerensky's troops, or the Soviets'?" + +There was silence for a moment, as they looked uneasily at each +other. Then, "We are neutral," said he. + +We went on through the arch of the huge Ekaterina Palace, into the +Palace enclosure itself, asking for headquarters. A sentry outside a +door in a curving white wing of the Palace said that the commandant +was inside. + +In a graceful, white, Georgian room, divided into unequal parts by a +two-sided fire-place, a group of officers stood anxiously talking. +They were pale and distracted, and evidently hadn't slept. To one, +an oldish man with a white beard, his uniform studded with +decorations, who was pointed out as the Colonel, we showed our +Bolshevik papers. + +He seemed surprised. "How did you get here without being killed?" he +asked politely. "It is very dangerous in the streets just now. +Political passion is running very high in Tsarskoye Selo. There was +a battle this morning, and there will be another to-morrow morning. +Kerensky is to enter the town at eight o'clock." + +"Where are the Cossacks?" + +"About a mile over that way." He waved his arm. + +"And you will defend the city against them?" + +"Oh dear no." He smiled. "We are holding the city for Kerensky." Our +hearts sank, for our passes stated that we were revolutionary to the +core. The Colonel cleared his throat. "About those passes of yours," +he went on. "Your lives will be in danger if you are captured. +Therefore, if you want to see the battle, I will give you an order +for rooms in the officers' hotel, and if you will come back here at +seven o'clock in the morning, I will give you new passes." + +"So you are for Kerensky?" we said. + +"Well, not exactly _for_ Kerensky." The Colonel hesitated. "You see, +most of the soldiers in the garrison are Bolsheviki, and to-day, +after the battle, they all went away in the direction of Petrograd, +taking the artillery with them. You might say that none of the +_soldiers_ are for Kerensky; but some of them just don't want to +fight at all. The _officers_ have almost all gone over to Kerensky's +forces, or simply gone away. We are--ahem--in a most difficult +position, as you see...." + +We did not believe that there would be any battle.... The Colonel +courteously sent his orderly to escort us to the railroad station. +He was from the South, born of French immigrant parents in +Bessarabia. "Ah," he kept saying, "it is not the danger or the +hardships I mind, but being so long, three years, away from my +mother...." + +Looking out of the window of the train as we sped through the cold +dark toward Petrograd, I caught glimpses of clumps of soldiers +gesticulating in the light of fires, and of clusters of armoured +cars halted together at cross-roads, the chauffeurs hanging out of +the turrets and shouting to each other.... + +All the troubled night over the bleakflats leaderless bands of +soldiers and Red Guards wandered, clashing and confused, and the +Commissars of the Military Revolutionary Committee hurried from one +group to another, trying to organise a defence.... + +Back in town excited throngs were moving in tides up and down the +Nevsky. Something was in the air. From the Warsaw Railway station +could be heard far-off cannonade. In the _yunker_ schools there was +feverish activity. Duma members went from barracks to barracks, +arguing and pleading, narrating fearful stories of Bolshevik +violence--massacre of the _yunkers_ in the Winter Palace, rape of the +women soldiers, the shooting of the girl before the Duma, the murder +of Prince Tumanov.... In the Alexander Hall of the Duma building the +Committee for Salvation was in special session; Commissars came and +went, running.... All the journalists expelled from Smolny were there, +in high spirits. They did not believe our report of conditions in +Tsarskoye. Why, everybody knew that Tsarskoye was in Kerensky's +hands, and that the Cossacks were now at Pulkovo. A committee was +being elected to meet Kerensky at the railway station in the +morning.... + +One confided to me, in strictest secrecy, that the +counter-revolution would begin at midnight. He showed me two +proclamations, one signed by Gotz and Polkovnikov, ordering the +_yunker_ schools, soldier convalescents in the hospitals, and the +Knights of St. George to mobilise on a war footing and wait for +orders from the Committee for Salvation; the other from the +Committee for Salvation itself, which read as follows: + +To the Population of Petrograd! + +Comrades, workers, soldiers and citizens of revolutionary Petrograd! + +The Bolsheviki, while appealing for peace at the front, are inciting +to civil war in the rear. + +Do not dig their provocatory appeals! + +Do not dig trenches! + +Down with the traitorous barricades! + +Lay down your arms! + +Soldiers, return to your barracks! + +The war begun in Petrograd--is the death of the Revolution! + +In the name of liberty, land, and peace, unite around the Committee +for Salvation of Country and Revolution! + +As we left the Duma a company of Red Guards, stern-faced and +desperate, came marching down the dark, deserted street with a dozen +prisoners--members of the local branch of the Council of Cossacks, +caught red-handed plotting counter-revolution in their headquarters.... + +A soldier, accompanied by a small boy with a pail of paste, was +sticking up great flaring notices: + +By virtue of the present, the city of Petrograd and its suburbs are +declared in a state of siege. All assemblies or meetings in the +streets, and generally in the open air, are forbidden until further +orders. + +N. PODVOISKY, President of the Military + +Revolutionary Committee. + +As we went home the air was full of confused sound--automobile horns, +shouts, distant shots. The city stirred uneasily, wakeful. + +In the small hours of the morning a company of _yunkers,_ disguised +as soldiers of the Semionovsky Regiment, presented themselves at the +Telephone Exchange just before the hour of changing guard. They had +the Bolshevik password, and took charge without arousing suspicion. +A few minutes later Antonov appeared, making a round of inspection. +Him they captured and locked in a small room. When the relief came +it was met by a blast of rifle-fire, several being killed. + +Counter-revolution had begun... + + + + +Chapter VIII + +Counter-Revolution + + +Next morning, Sunday the 11th, the Cossacks entered Tsarskoye Selo, +Kerensky (See App. VIII, Sect. 1) himself riding a white horse and +all the church-bells clamouring. From the top of a little hill +outside the town could be seen the golden spires and many-coloured +cupolas, the sprawling grey immensity of the capital spread along +the dreary plain, and beyond, the steely Gulf of Finland. + +There was no battle. But Kerensky made a fatal blunder. At seven in +the morning he sent word to the Second Tsarskoye Selo Rifles to lay +down their arms. The soldiers replied that they would remain +neutral, but would not disarm. Kerensky gave them ten minutes in +which to obey. This angered the soldiers; for eight months they had +been governing themselves by committee, and this smacked of the old +regime.... A few minutes later Cossack artillery opened fire on the +barracks, killing eight men. From that moment there were no more +"neutral" soldiers in Tsarskoye.... + +Petrograd woke to bursts of rifle-fire, and the tramping thunder of +men marching. Under the high dark sky a cold wind smelt of snow. At +dawn the Military Hotel and the Telegraph Agency had been taken by +large forces of _yunkers,_ and bloodily recaptured. The Telephone +Station was besieged by sailors, who lay behind barricades of +barrels, boxes and tin sheets in the middle of the Morskaya, or +sheltered themselves at the corner of the Gorokhovaya and of St. +Isaac's Square, shooting at anything that moved. Occasionally an +automobile passed in and out, flying the Red Cross flag. The sailors +let it pass.... + +Albert Rhys Williams was in the Telephone Exchange. He went out with +the Red Cross automobile, which was ostensibly full of wounded. +After circulating about the city, the car went by devious ways +to the Mikhailovsky _yunker_ school, headquarters of the +counter-revolution. A French officer, in the court-yard, seemed to +be in command.... By this means ammunition and supplies were conveyed +to the Telephone Exchange. Scores of these pretended ambulances +acted as couriers and ammunition trains for the _yunkers._ + +Five or six armoured cars, belonging to the disbanded British +Armoured Car Division, were in their hands. As Louise Bryant was +going along St. Isaac's Square one came rolling up from the +Admiralty, on its way to the Telephone Exchange. At the corner of +the Gogolia, right in front of her, the engine stalled. Some sailors +ambushed behind wood-piles began shooting. The machine-gun in the +turret of the thing slewed around and spat a hail of bullets +indiscriminately into the wood-piles and the crowd. In the archway +where Miss Bryant stood seven people were shot dead, among them two +little boys. Suddenly, with a shout, the sailors leaped up and +rushed into the flaming open; closing around the monster, they +thrust their bayonets into the loop-holes, again and again, yelling... +The chauffeur pretended to be wounded, and they let him go free--to +run to the Duma and swell the tale of Bolshevik atrocities....Among +the dead was a British Officer.... + +Later the newspapers told of another French officer, captured in a +_yunker_ armoured car and sent to Peter-Paul. The French Embassy +promptly denied this, but one of the City Councillors told me that +he himself had procured the officer's release from prison.... + +Whatever the official attitude of the Allied Embassies, individual +French and British officers were active these days, even to the +extent of giving advice at executive sessions of the Committee for +Salvation. + +All day long in every quarter of the city there were skirmishes +between _yunkers_ and Red Guards, battles between armoured cars.... +Volleys, single shots and the shrill chatter of machine-guns could +be heard, far and near. The iron shutters of the shops were drawn, +but business still went on. Even the moving-picture shows, all +outside lights dark, played to crowded houses. The street-cars ran. +The telephones were all working; when you called Central, shooting +could be plainly heard over the wire.... Smolny was cut off, but the +Duma and the Committee for Salvation were in constant communication +with all the _yunker_ schools and with Kerensky at Tsarskoye. + +At seven in the morning the Vladimir _yunker_ school was visited by +a patrol of soldiers, sailors and Red Guards, who gave the _yunkers_ +twenty minutes to lay down their arms. The ultimatum was rejected. +An hour later the _yunkers_ got ready to march, but were driven back +by a violent fusillade from the corner of the Grebetskaya and the +Bolshoy Prospekt. Soviet troops surrounded the building and opened +fire, two armoured cars cruising back and forth with machine guns +raking it. The _yunkers_ telephoned for help. The Cossacks replied +that they dare not come, because a large body of sailors with two +cannon commanded their barracks. The Pavlovsk school was surrounded. +Most of the Mikhailov _yunkers_ were fighting in the streets.... + +At half-past eleven three field-pieces arrived. Another demand to +surrender was met by the _yunkers_ shooting down two of the Soviet +delegates under the white flag. Now began a real bombardment. Great +holes were torn in the walls of the school. The _yunkers_ defended +themselves desperately; shouting waves of Red Guards, assaulting, +crumpled under the withering blast.... Kerensky telephoned from +Tsarskoye to refuse all parley with the Military Revolutionary +Committee. + +Frenzied by defeat and their heaps of dead, the Soviet troops opened +a tornado of steel and flame against the battered building. Their +own officers could not stop the terrible bombardment. A Commissar +from Smolny named Kirilov tried to halt it; he was threatened with +lynching. The Red Guards' blood was up. + +At half-past two the _yunkers_ hoisted a white flag; they would +surrender if they were guaranteed protection. This was promised. +With a rush and a shout thousands of soldiers and Red Guards poured +through windows, doors and holes in the wall. Before it could be +stopped five _yunkers_ were beaten and stabbed to death. The rest, +about two hundred, were taken to Peter-Paul under escort, in small +groups so as to avoid notice. On the way a mob set upon one party, +killing eight more _yunkers_.... More than a hundred Red Guards and +soldiers had fallen.... + +Two hours later the Duma got a telephone message that the victors +were marching toward the _Injinierny Zamok_--the Engineers' school. A +dozen members immediately set out to distribute among them armfuls +of the latest proclamation of the Committee for Salvation. Several +did not come back.... All the other schools surrendered without +resistance, and the _yunkers_ were sent unharmed to Peter-Paul and +Cronstadt.... + +The Telephone Exchange held out until afternoon, when a Bolshevik +armoured car appeared, and the sailors stormed the place. Shrieking, +the frightened telephone girls ran to and fro; the _yunkers_ tore +from their uniforms all distinguishing marks, and one offered +Williams _anything_ for the loan of his overcoat, as a disguise.... +"They will massacre us! They will massacre us!" they cried, for many +of them had given their word at the Winter Palace not to take up +arms against the People. Williams offered to mediate if Antonov were +released. This was immediately done; Antonov and Williams made +speeches to the victorious sailors, inflamed by their many dead--and +once more the _yunkers_ went free.... All but a few, who in their +panic tried to flee over the roofs, or to hide in the attic, and +were found and hurled into the street. + +Tired, bloody, triumphant, the sailors and workers swarmed into the +switchboard room, and finding so many pretty girls, fell back in an +embarrassed way and fumbled with awkward feet. Not a girl was +injured, not one insulted. Frightened, they huddled in the corners, +and then, finding themselves safe, gave vent to their spite. "Ugh! +The dirty, ignorant people! The fools!"... The sailors and Red Guards +were embarrassed. "Brutes! Pigs!" shrilled the girls, indignantly +putting on their coats and hats. Romantic had been their experience +passing up cartridges and dressing the wounds of their dashing young +defenders, the _yunkers,_ many of them members of noble families, +fighting to restore their beloved Tsar! These were just common +workmen, peasants, "Dark People."... + +The Commissar of the Military Revolutionary Committee, little +Vishniak, tried to persuade the girls to remain. He was effusively +polite. "You have been badly treated," he said. "The telephone +system is controlled by the Municipal Duma. You are paid sixty +rubles a month, and have to work ten hours and more.... From now on +all that will be changed. The Government intends to put the +telephones under control of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. +Your wages will be immediately raised to one hundred and fifty +rubles, and your working-hours reduced. As members of the +working-class you should be happy--" + +Members of the _working-class_ indeed! Did he mean to infer that +there was anything in common between these--these animals--and _us?_ +Remain? Not if they offered a thousand rubles!... Haughty and spiteful +the girls left the place.... + +The employees of the building, the line-men and labourers--they +stayed. But the switch-boards must be operated--the telephone was +vital.... Only half a dozen trained operators were available. +Volunteers were called for; a hundred responded, sailors, soldiers, +workers. The six girls scurried backward and forward, instructing, +helping, scolding.... So, crippled, halting, but _going,_ the wires +slowly began to hum. The first thing was to connect Smolny with the +barracks and the factories; the second, to cut off the Duma and the +_yunker_ schools.... Late in the afternoon word of it spread through +the city, and hundreds of bourgeois called up to scream, "Fools! +Devils! How long do you think you will last? Wait till the Cossacks +come!" + +Dusk was already falling. On the almost deserted Nevsky, swept by a +bitter wind, a crowd had gathered before the Kazan Cathedral, +continuing the endless debate; a few workmen, some soldiers and the +rest shop-keepers, clerks and the like. + +"But Lenin won't get Germany to make peace!" cried one. + +A violent young soldier replied. "And whose fault is it? Your damn +Kerensky, dirty bourgeois! To hell with Kerensky! We don't want him! +We want Lenin...." + +Outside the Duma an officer with a white arm-band was tearing down +posters from the wall, swearing loudly. One read: + +To the Population of Petrograd! + +At this dangerous hour, when the Municipal Duma ought to use +every means to calm the population, to assure it bread and +other necessities, the Right Socialist Revolutionaries and the +Cadets, forgetting their duty, have turned the Duma into a +counter-revolutionary meeting, trying to raise part of the +population against the rest, so as to facilitate the victory of +Kornilov-Kerensky. Instead of doing their duty, the Right Socialist +Revolutionaries and the Cadets have transformed the Duma into an +arena of political attack upon the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' +and Peasants' Deputies, against the revolutionary Government of +peace, bread and liberty. + +Citizens of Petrograd, we, the Bolshevik Municipal Councillors +elected by you--we want you to know that the Right Socialist +Revolutionaries and the Cadets are engaged in counter-revolutionary +action, have forgotten their duty, and are leading the population to +famine, to civil war. We, elected by 183,000 votes, consider it our +duty to bring to the attention of our constituents what is going on +in the Duma, and declare that we disclaim all responsibility for the +terrible but inevitable consequences.... + +Far away still sounded occasional shots, but the city lay quiet, +cold, as if exhausted by the violent spasms which had torn it. + +In the Nicolai Hall the Duma session was coming to an end. Even the +truculent Duma seemed a little stunned. One after another the +Commissars reported--capture of the Telephone Exchange, +street-fighting, the taking of the Vladimir school.... "The Duma," +said Trupp, "is on the side of the democracy in its struggle against +arbitrary violence; but in any case, whichever side wins, the Duma +will always be against lynchings and torture...." + +Konovski, Cadet, a tall old man with a cruel face: "When the troops +of the legal Government arrive in Petrograd, they will shoot down +these insurgents, and that will not be lynching!" Protests all over +the hall, even from his own party. + +Here there was doubt and depression. The counter-revolution was +being put down. The Central Committee of the Socialist Revolutionary +party had voted lack of confidence in its officers; the left wing +was in control; Avksentiev had resigned. A courier reported +that the Committee of Welcome sent to meet Kerensky at the railway +station had been arrested. In the streets could be heard the dull +rumble of distant cannonading, south and southwest. Still Kerensky +did not come... + +Only three newspapers were out--_Pravda, Dielo Naroda_ and _Novaya +Zhizn._ All of them devoted much space to the new "coalition" +Government. The Socialist Revolutionary paper demanded a Cabinet +without either Cadets or Bolsheviki. Gorky was hopeful; Smolny had +made concessions. A purely Socialist Government was taking shape--all +elements except the bourgeoisie. As for _Pravda,_ it sneered: + +We ridicule these coalitions with political parties whose most +prominent members are petty journalists of doubtful reputation; our +"coalition" is that of the proletariat and the revolutionary Army +with the poor peasants... + +On the walls a vainglorious announcement of the _Vikzhel,_ +threatening to strike if both sides did not compromise: + +The conquerors of these riots, the saviours of the wreck of our +country, these will be neither the Bolsheviki, nor the Committee for +Salvation, nor the troops of Kerensky--but we, the Union of +Railwaymen... + +Red Guards are incapable of handling a complicated business like the +railways; as for the Provisional Government, it has shown itself +incapable of holding the power... + +We refuse to lend our services to any party which does not act by +authority of ... a Government based on the confidence of all the +democracy.... + +Smolny thrilled with the boundless vitality of inexhaustible +humanity in action. + +In Trade Union headquarters Lozovsky introduced me to a delegate of +the Railway Workers of the Nicolai line, who said that the men were +holding huge mass-meetings, condemning the action of their leaders. + +"All power to the Soviets!" he cried, pounding on the table. +"The _oborontsi_ in the Central Committee are playing Kornilov's +game. They tried to send a mission to the Stavka, but we arrested +them at Minsk.... Our branch has demanded an All-Russian +Convention, and they refuse to call it...." + +The same situation as in the Soviets, the Army Committees. One after +another the various democratic organisations, all over Russia, were +cracking and changing. The Cooperatives were torn by internal +struggles; the meetings of the Peasants' Executive broke up in +stormy wrangling; even among the Cossacks there was trouble.... + +On the top floor the Military Revolutionary Committee was in full +blast, striking and slacking not. Men went in, fresh and vigorous; +night and day and night and day they threw themselves into the +terrible machine; and came out limp, blind with fatigue, hoarse and +filthy, to fall on the floor and sleep.... The Committee for Salvation +had been outlawed. Great piles of new proclamations (See App. VIII, +Sect. 2) littered the floor: + +... The conspirators, who have no support among the garrison or the +working-class, above all counted on the suddenness of their attack. +Their plan was discovered in time by Sub-Lieutenant Blagonravov, +thanks to the revolutionary vigilance of a soldier of the Red Guard, +whose name shall be made public. At the centre of the plot was the +Committee for Salvation. Colonel Polkovnikov was in command of their +forces, and the orders were signed by Gotz, former member of the +Provisional Government, allowed at liberty on his word of honour.... + +Bringing these facts to the attention of the Petrograd population, +the Military Revolutionary Committee orders the arrest of all +concerned in the conspiracy, who shall be tried before the +Revolutionary Tribunal.... + +From Moscow, word that the _yunkers_ and Cossacks had surrounded the +Kremlin and ordered the Soviet troops to lay down their arms. The +Soviet forces complied, and as they were leaving the Kremlin, were +set upon and shot down. Small forces of Bolsheviki had been driven +from the Telephone and Telegraph offices; the _yunkers_ now held the +centre of the city. ... But all around them the Soviet troops were +mustering. Street-fighting was slowly gathering way; all attempts at +compromise had failed.... On the side of the Soviet, ten thousand +garrison soldiers and a few Red Guards; on the side of the +Government, six thousand _yunkers,_ twenty-five hundred Cossacks and +two thousand White Guards. + +The Petrograd Soviet was meeting, and next door the new +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ acting on the decrees and orders (See App. VIII, +Sect. 3) which came down in a steady stream from the Council of +People's Commissars in session upstairs; on the Order in Which Laws +Are to be Ratified and Published, Establishing an Eight hour Days +for Workers, and Lunatcharsky's "Basis for a System of Popular +Education." Only a few hundred people were present at the two +meetings, most of them armed. Smolny was almost deserted, except for +the guards, who were busy at the hall windows, setting up +machine-guns to command the flanks of the building. + +In the _Tsay-ee-kah_ a delegate of the _Vikzhel_ was speaking: "We +refuse to transport the troops of either party.... We have sent a +committee to Kerensky to say that if he continues to march on +Petrograd we will break his lines of communication...." + +He made the usual plea for a conference of all the Socialist parties +to form a new Government.... + +Kameniev answered discreetly. The Bolsheviki would be very glad to +attend the conference. The centre of gravity, however, lay not in +composition of such a Government, but in its acceptance of the +programme of the Congress of Soviets. + +... The _Tsay-ee-kah_ had deliberated on the declaration made by the +Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the Social Democrats +Internationalists, and had accepted the proposition of proportional +representation at the conference, even including delegates from the +Army Committees and the Peasants' Soviets.... + +In the great hall, Trotzky recounted the events of the day. + +"We offered the Vladimir _yunkers_ a chance to surrender," he said. +"We wanted to settle matters without bloodshed. But now that blood +has been spilled there is only one way--pitiless struggle. It would +be childish to think we can win by any other means.... The moment is +decisive. Everybody must cooperate with the Military Revolutionary +Committee, report where there are stores of barbed wire, benzine, +guns.... We've won the power; now we must keep it!" + +The Menshevik Yoffe tried to read his party's declaration, but +Trotzky refused to allow "a debate about principle." + +"Our debates are now in the streets," he cried. "The decisive step +has been taken. We all, and I in particular, take the responsibility +for what is happening...." + +Soldiers from the front, from Gatchina, told their stories. One from +the Death Battalion, Four Hundred Eighty-first Artillery: "When the +trenches hear of this, they will cry, 'This is _our_ Government!'" A +_yunker_ from Peterhof said that he and two others had refused to +march against the Soviets; and when his comrades had returned from +the defence of the Winter Palace they appointed him their Commissar, +to go to Smolny and offer their services to the _real_ Revolution.... + +Then Trotzky again, fiery, indefatigable, giving orders, answering +questions. + +"The petty bourgeoisie, in order to defeat the workers, soldiers and +peasants, would combine with the devil himself!" he said once. Many +cases of drunkenness had been remarked the last two days. "No +drinking, comrades! No one must be on the streets after eight in the +evening, except the regular guards. All places suspected of having +stores of liquor should be searched, and the liquor destroyed. (See +App. VIII, Sect. 4) No mercy to the sellers of liquor...." + +The Military Revolutionary Committee sent for the delegation from +the Viborg section; then for the members from Putilov. They clumped +out hurriedly. + +"For each revolutionist killed," said Trotzky, "we shall kill five +counter-revolutionists!" + +Down-town again. The Duma brilliantly illuminated and great crowds +pouring in. In the lower hall wailing and cries of grief; the throng +surged back and forth before the bulletin board, where was posted a +list of _yunkers_ killed in the day's fighting--or supposed to be +killed, for most of the dead afterward turned up safe and sound.... Up +in the Alexander Hall the Committee for Salvation held forth. The +gold and red epaulettes of officers were conspicuous, the familiar +faces of the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary intellectuals, +the hard eyes and bulky magnificence of bankers and diplomats, +officials of the old regime, and well-dressed women.... + +The telephone girls were testifying. Girl after girl came to the +tribune--over-dressed, fashion-aping little girls, with pinched faces +and leaky shoes. Girl after girl, flushing with pleasure at the +applause of the "nice" people of Petrograd, of the officers, the +rich, the great names of politics--girl after girl, to narrate her +sufferings at the hands of the proletariat, and proclaim her loyalty +to all that was old, established and powerful.... + +The Duma was again in session in the Nicolai Hall. The Mayor said +hopefully that the Petrograd regiments were ashamed of their +actions; propaganda was making headway. + +[Graphic, page 205: Proclamation for "wine pogroms"] + +Revolutionary law and order. A proclamation of the Finland Regiment, +in December, 1917, announcing desperate remedies for "wine pogroms." +For translation see Appendix 5. + +... Emissaries came and went, reporting horrible deeds by the +Bolsheviki, interceding to save the _yunkers,_ busily investigating.... + +"The Bolsheviki," said Trupp, "will be conquered by moral force, and +not by bayonets....." + +Meanwhile all was not well on the revolutionary front. The enemy had +brought up armoured trains, mounted with cannon. The Soviet forces, +mostly raw Red Guards, were without officers and without a definite +plan. Only five thousand regular soldiers had joined them; the rest +of the garrison was either busy suppressing the _yunker_ revolt, +guarding the city, or undecided what to do. At ten in the evening +Lenin addressed a meeting of delegates from the city regiments, who +voted overwhelmingly to fight. A Committee of five soldiers was +elected to serve as General Staff, and in the small hours of the +morning the regiments left their barracks in full battle array.... +Going home I saw them pass, swinging along with the regular tread of +veterans, bayonets in perfect alignment, through the deserted +streets of the conquered city.... + +At the same time, in the headquarters of the _Vikzhel_ down on the +Sadovaya, the conference of all the Socialist parties to form a new +Government was under way. Abramovitch, for the centre Mensheviki, +said that there should be neither conquerors nor conquered--that +bygones should be bygones. ...In this were agreed all the left wing +parties. Dan, speaking in the name of the right Mensheviki, proposed +to the Bolsheviki the following conditions for a truce: The Red +Guard to be disarmed, and the Petrograd garrison to be placed at the +orders of the Duma; the troops of Kerensky not to fire a single shot +or arrest a single man; a Ministry of all the Socialist parties +_except the Bolsheviki._ For Smolny Riazanov and Kameniev declared +that a coalition ministry of all parties was acceptable, but +protested at Dan's proposals. The Socialist Revolutionaries were +divided; but the Executive Committee of the Peasants's Soviets and +the Populist Socialists flatly refused to admit the Bolsheviki.... +After bitter quarrelling a commission was elected to draw up a +workable plan.... + +All that night the commission wrangled, and all the next day, and +the next night. Once before, on the 9th of November, there had been +a similar effort at conciliation, led by Martov and Gorky; but at +the approach of Kerensky and the activity of the Committee for +Salvation, the right wing of the Mensheviki, Socialist Revolutionaries +and Populist Socialists suddenly withdrew. Now they were awed by +the crushing of the _yunker_ rebellion... + +Monday the 12th was a day of suspense. The eyes of all Russia were +fixed on the grey plain beyond the gates of Petrograd, where all the +available strength of the old order faced the unorganised power of +the new, the unknown. In Moscow a truce had been declared; both +sides parleyed, awaiting the result in the capital. Now the +delegates to the Congress of Soviets, hurrying on speeding trains to +the farthest reaches of Asia, were coming to their homes, carrying +the fiery cross. In wide-spreading ripples news of the miracle +spread over the face of the land, and in its wake towns, cities and +far villages stirred and broke, Soviets and Military Revolutionary +Committees against Dumas, Zemstvos and Government Commissars--Red +Guards against White--street fighting and passionate speech.... The +result waited on the word from Petrograd.... + +Smolny was almost empty, but the Duma was thronged and noisy. The +old Mayor, in his dignified way, was protesting against the Appeal +of the Bolshevik Councillors. + +"The Duma is not a centre of counter-revolution," he said, warmly. +"The Duma takes no part in the present struggle between the parties. +But at a time when there is no legal power in the land, the only +centre of order is the Municipal Self-Government. The peaceful +population recognises this fact; the foreign Embassies recognise +only such documents as are signed by the Mayor of the town. The mind +of a European does not admit of any other situation, as the +Municipal self-government is the only organ which is capable of +protecting the interests of the citizens. The City is bound to show +hospitality, to all organisations which desire to profit by such +hospitality, and therefore the Duma cannot prevent the distribution +of any newspapers whatever within the Duma building. The sphere of +our work is increasing, and we must be given full liberty of action, +and our rights must be respected by both parties.... + +"We are perfectly neutral. When the Telephone Exchange was occupied +by the _yunkers_ Colonel Polkovnikov ordered the telephones to +Smolny disconnected, but I protested, and the telephones were kept +going...." + +At this there was ironic laughter from the Bolshevik benches, and +imprecations from the right. + +"And yet," went on Schreider, "they look upon us as +counter-revolutionaries and report us to the population. They +deprive us of our means of transport by taking away our last +motor-cars. It will not be our fault if there is famine in the town. +Protests are of no use...." + +Kobozev, Bolshevik member of the Town Board, was doubtful whether +the Military Revolutionary Committee had requisitioned the Municipal +automobiles. Even granting the fact, it was probably done by some +unauthorised individual, in the emergency. + +"The Mayor," he continued, "tells us that we must not make political +meetings out of the Duma. But every Menshevik and Socialist +Revolutionary here talks nothing but party propaganda, and at the +door they distribute their illegal newspapers, _Iskri_ (Sparks), +_Soldatski Golos_ and _Rabotchaya Gazeta,_ inciting to insurrection. +What if we Bolsheviki should also begin to distribute our papers +here? But this shall not be, for we respect the Duma. We have not +attacked the Municipal Self-Government, and we shall not do so. But +you have addressed an Appeal to the population, and we are entitled +also to do so...." + +Followed him Shingariov, Cadet, who said that there could be no +common language with those who were liable to be brought before the +Attorney General for indictment, and who must be tried on the charge +of treason.... He proposed again that all Bolshevik members should be +expelled from the Duma. This was tabled, however, for there were no +personal charges against the members, and they were active in the +Municipal administration. + +Then two Mensheviki Internationalists, declaring that the Appeal of +the Bolshevik Councillors was a direct incitement to massacre. "If +everything that is against the Bolsheviki is counter-revolutionary," +said Pinkevitch, "then I do not know the difference between +revolution and anarchy.... The Bolsheviki are depending upon the +passions of the unbridled masses; we have nothing but moral force. +We will protest against massacres and violence from both sides, as +our task is to find a peaceful issue." + +"The notice posted in the streets under the heading 'To the +Pillory,' which calls upon the people to destroy the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolutionaries," said Nazariev, "is a crime which you, +Bolsheviki, will not be able to wash away. Yesterday's horrors are +but a preface to what you are preparing by such a proclamation.... I +have always tried to reconcile you with the other parties, but at +present I feel for you nothing but contempt!" + +The Bolshevik Councillors were on their feet, shouting angrily, +assailed by hoarse, hateful voices and waving arms.... + +Outside the hall I ran into the City Engineer, the Menshevik Gomberg +and three or four reporters. They were all in high spirits. + +"See!" they said. "The cowards are afraid of us. They don't dare +arrest the Duma! Their Military Revolutionary Committee doesn't dare +to send a Commissar into this building. Why, on the corner of the +Sadovaya to-day, I saw a Red Guard try to stop a boy selling +_Soldatski Golos_.... The boy just laughed at him, and a crowd of +people wanted to lynch the bandit. It's only a few hours more, now. +Even if Kerensky wouldn't come they haven't the men to run a +Government. Absurd! I understand they're even fighting among +themselves at Smolny!" + +A Socialist Revolutionary friend of mine drew me aside. "I know +where the Committee for Salvation is hiding," he said. "Do you want +to go and talk with them?" + +By this time it was dusk. The city had again settled down to +normal--shop-shutters up, lights shining, and on the streets great +crowds of people slowly moving up and down and arguing.... + +At Number 86 Nevsky we went through a passage into a courtyard, +surrounded by tall apartment buildings. At the door of apartment 229 +my friend knocked in a peculiar way. There was a sound of scuffling; +an inside door slammed; then the front door opened a crack and a +woman's face appeared. After a minute's observation she led us in--a +placid-looking, middle-aged lady who at once cried, "Kyril, it's all +right!" In the dining-room, where a samovar steamed on the table and +there were plates full of bread and raw fish, a man in uniform +emerged from behind the window-curtains, and another, dressed like a +workman, from a closet. They were delighted to meet an American +reporter. With a certain amount of gusto both said that they would +certainly be shot if the Bolsheviki caught them. They would not give +me their names, but both were Socialist Revolutionaries.... + +"Why," I asked, "do you publish such lies in your newspapers?" + +Without taking offence the officer replied, "Yes, I know; but what +can we do?" He shrugged. "You must admit that it is necessary for us +to create a certain frame of mind in the people...." + +The other man interrupted. "This is merely an adventure on the part +of the Bolsheviki. They have no intellectuals.... The Ministries +won't work.... Russia is not a city, but a whole country.... Realising +that they can only last a few days, we have decided to come to the +aid of the strongest force opposed to them--Kerensky--and help to +restore order." + +"That is all very well," I said. "But why do you combine with the +Cadets?" + +The pseudo-workman smiled frankly. "To tell you the truth, at this +moment the masses of the people are following the Bolsheviki. We +have no following--now. We can't mobilise a handful of soldiers. +There are no arms available.... The Bolsheviki are right to a certain +extent; there are at this moment in Russia only two parties with any +force--the Bolsheviki and the reactionaries, who are all hiding under +the coat-tails of the Cadets. The Cadets think they are using us; +but it is really we who are using the Cadets. When we smash the +Bolsheviki we shall turn against the Cadets...." + +"Will the Bolsheviki be admitted into the new Government?" + +He scratched his head. "That's a problem," he admitted. "Of course +if they are not admitted, they'll probably do this all over again. +At any rate, they will have a chance to hold the balance of power in +the Constituent--that is, if there _is_ a Constituent." + +"And then, too," said the officer, "that brings up the question of +admitting the Cadets into the new Government--and for the same +reasons. You know the Cadets do not really want the Constituent +Assembly--not if the Bolsheviki can be destroyed now." He shook his +head. "It is not easy for us Russians, politics. You Americans are +born politicians; you have had politics all your lives. But for +us--well, it has only been a year, you know!" + +"What do you think of Kerensky?" I asked. + +"Oh, Kerensky is guilty of the sins of the Provisional Government," +answered the other man. "Kerensky himself forced us to accept +coalition with the bourgeoisie. If he had resigned, as he +threatened, it would have meant a new Cabinet crisis only sixteen +weeks before the Constituent Assembly, and that we wanted to avoid." + +"But didn't it amount to that anyway?" + +"Yes, but how were we to know? They tricked us--the Kerenskys and +Avksentievs. Gotz is a little more radical. I stand with Tchernov, +who is a real revolutionist.... Why, only to-day Lenin sent word that +he would not object to Tchernov entering the Government. + +"We wanted to get rid of the Kerensky Government too, but we thought +it better to wait for the Constituent.... At the beginning of this +affair I was with the Bolsheviki, but the Central Committee of my +party voted unanimously against it--and what could I do? It was a +matter of party discipline.... + +"In a week the Bolshevik Government will go to pieces; if the +Socialist Revolutionaries could only stand aside and wait, the +Government would fall into their hands. But if we wait a week the +country will be so disorganised that the German imperialists will be +victorious. That is why we began our revolt with only two regiments +of soldiers promising to support us--and they turned against us.... +That left only the _yunkers_...." + +"How about the Cossacks?" + +The officer sighed. "They did not move. At first they said they +would come out if they had infantry support. They said moreover that +they had their men with Kerensky, and that they were doing their +part.... Then, too, they said that the Cossacks were always accused of +being the hereditary enemies of democracy.... And finally, 'The +Bolsheviki promise that they will not take away our land. There is +no danger to us. We remain neutral.'" + +During this talk people were constantly entering and leaving--most of +them officers, their shoulder-straps torn off. We could see them in +the hall, and hear their low, vehement voices. Occasionally, through +the half-drawn portieres, we caught a glimpse of a door opening into +a bath-room, where a heavily-built officer in a colonel's uniform +sat on the toilet, writing something on a pad held in his lap. I +recognised Colonel Polkovnikov, former commandant of Petrograd, for +whose arrest the Military Revolutionary Committee would have paid a +fortune. + +"Our programme?" said the officer. "This is it. Land to be turned +over to the Land Committees. Workmen to have full representation in +the control of industry. An energetic peace programme, but not an +ultimatum to the world such as the Bolsheviki issued. The Bolsheviki +cannot keep their promises to the masses, even in the country +itself. We won't let them.... They stole our land programme in order +to get the support of the peasants. That is dishonest. If they had +waited for the Constituent Assembly--" + +"It doesn't matter about the Constituent Assembly!" broke in the +officer. "If the Bolsheviki want to establish a Socialist state +here, we cannot work with them in any event! Kerensky made the great +mistake. He let the Bolsheviki know what he was going to do by +announcing in the Council of the Republic that he had ordered their +arrest.... + +"But what," I said, "do you intend to do now?" + +The two men looked at one another. "You will see in a few days. If +there are enough troops from the front on our side, we shall not +compromise with the Bolsheviki. If not, perhaps we shall be forced +to...." + +Out again on the Nevsky we swung on the step of a streetcar bulging +with people, its platforms bent down from the weight and scraping +along the ground, which crawled with agonising slowness the long +miles to Smolny. + +Meshkovsky, a neat, frail little man, was coming down the hall, +looking worried. The strikes in the Ministries, he told us, were +having their effect. For instance, the Council of People's +Commissars had promised to publish the Secret Treaties; but Neratov, +the functionary in charge, had disappeared, taking the documents +with him. They were supposed to be hidden in the British Embassy.... + +Worst of all, however, was the strike in the banks. "Without money," +said Menzhinsky, "we are helpless. The wages of the railroad men, of +the postal and telegraph employees, must be paid.... The banks are +closed; and the key to the situation, the State Bank, is also shut. +All the bank-clerks in Russia have been bribed to stop work.... + +"But Lenin has issued an order to dynamite the State Bank vaults, +and there is a Decree just out, ordering the private banks to open +to-morrow, or we will open them ourselves!" + +The Petrograd Soviet was in full swing, thronged with armed men, +Trotzky reporting: + +"The Cossacks are falling back from Krasnoye Selo." (Sharp, exultant +cheering.) "But the battle is only beginning. At Pulkovo heavy +fighting is going on. All available forces must be hurried there.... + +"From Moscow, bad news. The Kremlin is in the hands of the +_yunkers,_ and the workers have only a few arms. The result depends +upon Petrograd. + +"At the front, the decrees on Peace and Land are provoking great +enthusiasm. Kerensky is flooding the trenches with tales of +Petrograd burning and bloody, of women and children massacred by the +Bolsheviki. But no one believes him.... + +"The cruisers _Oleg, Avrora_ and _Respublica_ are anchored in the +Neva, their guns trained on the approaches to the city...." + +"Why aren't you out there with the Red Guards?" shouted a rough +voice. + +"I'm going now!" answered Trotzky, and left the platform. His face a +little paler than usual, he passed down the side of the room, +surrounded by eager friends, and hurried out to the waiting +automobile. + +Kameniev now spoke, describing the proceedings of the reconciliation +conference. The armistice conditions proposed by the Mensheviki, he +said, had been contemptuously rejected. Even the branches of the +Railwaymen's Union had voted against such a proposition.... + +"Now that we've won the power and are sweeping all Russia," he +declared, "all they ask of us are three little things: 1. To +surrender the power. 2. To make the soldiers continue the war. 3. To +make the peasants forget about the land...." + +Lenin appeared for a moment, to answer the accusations of the +Socialist Revolutionaries: + +"They charge us with stealing their land programme.... If that is so, +we bow to them. It is good enough for us...." + +So the meeting roared on, leader after leader explaining, exhorting, +arguing, soldier after soldier, workman after workman, standing up +to speak his mind and his heart.... The audience flowed, changing and +renewed continually. From time to time men came in, yelling for the +members of such and such a detachment, to go to the front; others, +relieved, wounded, or coming to Smolny for arms and equipment, +poured in.... + +It was almost three o'clock in the morning when, as we left the +hall, Holtzman, of the Military Revolutionary Committee, came +running down the hall with a transfigured face. + +"It's all right!" he shouted, grabbing my hands. "Telegram from the +front. Kerensky is smashed! Look at this!" + +He held out a sheet of paper, scribbled hurriedly in pencil, and +then, seeing we couldn't read it, he declaimed aloud: + +Pulkovo. Staff. 2.10 A.M. + +The night of October 30th to 31st will go down in history. The +attempt of Kerensky to move counter-revolutionary troops against the +capital of the Revolution has been decisively repulsed. Kerensky is +retreating, we are advancing. The soldiers, sailors and workers of +Petrograd have shown that they can and will with arms in their hands +enforce the will and authority of the democracy. The bourgeoisie +tried to isolate the revolutionary army. Kerensky attempted to break +it by the force of the Cossacks. Both plans met a pitiful defeat. + +The grand idea of the domination of the worker and peasant democracy +closed the ranks of the army and hardened its will. All the country +from now on will be convinced that the Power of the Soviets is no +ephemeral thing, but an invincible fact.... The repulse of Kerensky is +the repulse of the land-owners, the bourgeoisie and the Kornilovists +in general. The repulse of Kerensky is the confirmation of the right +of the people to a peaceful free life, to land, bread and power. The +Pulkovo detachment by its valorous blow has strengthened the cause +of the Workers' and Peasants's Revolution. There is no return to the +past. Before us are struggles, obstacles and sacrifices. But the +road is clear and victory is certain. + +Revolutionary Russia and the Soviet Power can be proud of their +Pulkovo detachment, acting under the command of Colonel Walden. +Eternal memory to those who fell! Glory to the warriors of the +Revolution, the soldiers and the officers who were faithful to the +People! + +Long live revolutionary, popular, Socialist Russia! + +In the name of the Council, + +L. TROTZKY, People's Commissar.... + +Driving home across Znamensky Square, we made out an unusual crowd +in front of the Nicolai Railway Station. Several thousand sailors +were massed there, bristling with rifles. + +Standing on the steps, a member of the _Vikzhel_ was pleading with +them. + +"Comrades, we cannot carry you to Moscow. We are neutral. We do not +carry troops for either side. We cannot take you to Moscow, where +already there is terrible civil war...." + +All the seething Square roared at him; the sailors began to surge +forward. Suddenly another door was flung wide; in it stood two or +three brakeman, a fireman or so. + +"This way, comrades!" cried one. "We will take you to Moscow--or +Vladivostok, if you like! Long live the Revolution!" + + + + +Chapter IX + +Victory + + +_Order Number I_ + +To the Troops of the Pulkovo Detachment. + +November 13, 1917. 38 minutes past 9 a. m. + +After a cruel fight the troops of the Pulkovo detachment completely +routed the counter-revolutionary forces, who retreated from their +positions in disorder, and under cover of Tsarskoye Selo fell back +toward Pavlovsk II and Gatchina. + +Our advanced units occupied the northeastern extremity of Tsarskoye +Selo and the station Alexandrovskaya. The Colpinno detachment was on +our left, the Krasnoye Selo detachment to our right. + +I ordered the Pulkovo forces to occupy Tsarskoye Selo, to fortify +its approaches, especially on the side of Gatchina. + +Also to pass and occupy Pavlovskoye, fortifying its southern side, +and to take up the railroad as far as Dno. + +The troops must take all measures to strengthen the positions +occupied by them, arranging trenches and other defensive works. + +They must enter into close liaison with the detachments of Colpinno +and Krasnoye Selo, and also with the Staff of the Commander in Chief +for the Defence of Petrograd. + +Signed, + +_Commander in Chief aver all Forces acting against the +Counter-revolutionary Troops of Kerensky,_ + +Lieutenant-Colonel MURAVIOV. + +Tuesday morning. But how is this? Only two days ago the Petrograd +campagna was full of leaderless bands, wandering aimlessly; without +food, without artillery, without a plan. What had fused that +disorganised mass of undisciplined Red Guards, and soldiers without +officers, into an army obedient to its own elected high command, +tempered to meet and break the assault of cannon and Cossack +cavalry? (See App. IX, Sect. 1) + +People in revolt have a way of defying military precedent. The +ragged armies of the French Revolution are not forgotten--Valmy and +the Lines of Weissembourg. Massed against the Soviet forces were +_yunkers,_ Cossacks, land-owners, nobility, Black Hundreds--the Tsar +come again, _Okhrana_ and Siberian chains; and the vast and terrible +menace of the Germans.... Victory, in the words of Carlyle, meant +"Apotheosis and Millennium without end!" + +Sunday night, the Commissars of the Military Revolutionary Committee +returning desperately from the field, the garrison of Petrograd +elected its Committee of Five, its Battle Staff, three soldiers and +two officers, all certified free from counter-revolutionary taint. +Colonel Muraviov, ex-patriot, was in command--an efficient man, but +to be carefully watched. At Colpinno, at Obukhovo, at Pulkovo and +Krasnoye Selo were formed provisional detachments, increased in size +as the stragglers came in from the surrounding country--mixed +soldiers, sailors and Red Guards, parts of regiments, infantry, +cavalry and artillery all together, and a few armoured cars. + +Day broke, and the pickets of Kerensky's Cossacks came in touch. +Scattered rifle-fire, summons to surrender. Over the bleak plain on +the cold quiet air spread the sound of battle, falling upon the ears +of roving bands as they gathered about their little fires, waiting.... +So it was beginning! They made toward the battle; and the worker +hordes pouring out along the straight roads quickened their pace.... +Thus upon all the points of attack automatically converged angry +human swarms, to be met by Commissars and assigned positions, or +work to do. This was _their_ battle, for _their_ world; the officers +in command were elected by _them._ For the moment that incoherent +multiple will was one will.... + +Those who participated in the fighting described to me how the +sailors fought until they ran out of cartridges, and then stormed; +how the untrained workmen rushed the charging Cossacks and tore them +from their horses; how the anonymous hordes of the people, gathering +in the darkness around the battle, rose like a tide and poured over +the enemy.... Before midnight of Monday the Cossacks broke and were +fleeing, leaving their artillery behind them, and the army of the +proletariat, on a long ragged front, moved forward and rolled into +Tsarskoye, before the enemy had a chance to destroy the great +Government wireless station, from which now the Commissars of Smolny +were hurling out to the world paeans of triumph.... + +TO ALL SOVIETS OF WORKERS' AND SOLDIERS' DEPUTIES + +The 12th of November, in a bloody combat near Tsarskoye Selo, the +revolutionary army defeated the counter-revolutionary troops of +Kerensky and Kornilov. In the name of the Revolutionary Government I +order all regiments to take the offensive against the enemies of the +revolutionary democracy, and to take all measures to arrest +Kerensky, and also to oppose any adventure which might menace the +conquests of the Revolution and the victory of the proletariat. + +Long live the Revolutionary Army! +MURAVIOV. + +News from the provinces.... + +At Sevastopol the local Soviet had assumed the power; a huge meeting +of the sailors on the battleships in the harbour had forced their +officers to line up and swear allegiance to the new Government. At +Nizhni Novgorod the Soviet was in control. From Kazan came reports +of a battle in the streets, _yunkers_ and a brigade of artillery +against the Bolshevik garrison.... + +Desperate fighting had broken out again in Moscow. The _yunkers_ and +White Guards held the Kremlin and the centre of the town, beaten +upon from all sides by the troops of the Military Revolutionary +Committee. The Soviet artillery was stationed in Skobeliev Square, +bombarding the City Duma building, the Prefecture and the Hotel +Metropole. The cobblestones of the Tverskaya and Nikitskaya had been +torn up for trenches and barricades. A hail of machine-gun fire +swept the quarters of the great banks and commercial houses. There +were no lights, no telephones; the bourgeois population lived in the +cellars.... The last bulletin said that the Military Revolutionary +Committee had delivered an ultimatum to the Committee of Public +Safety, demanding the immediate surrender of the Kremlin, or +bombardment would follow. + +"Bombard the Kremlin?" cried the ordinary citizen. "They dare not!" + +From Vologda to Chita in far Siberia, from Pskov to Sevastopol on +the Black Sea, in great cities and little villages, civil war burst +into flame. From thousands of factories, peasant communes, regiments +and armies, ships on the wide sea, greetings poured into +Petrograd--greetings to the Government of the People. + +The Cossack Government at Novotcherkask telegraphed to Kerensky, +_"The Government of the Cossack troops invites the Provisional +Government and the members of the Council of the Republic to come, +if possible, to Novotcherkask, where we can organise in common the +struggle against the Bolsheviki."_ + +In Finland, also, things were stirring. The Soviet of Helsingfors +and the _Tsentrobalt_ (Central Committee of the Baltic Fleet), +jointly proclaimed a state of siege, and declared that all attempts +to interfere with the Bolshevik forces, and all armed resistance to +its orders, would be severely repressed. At the same time the +Finnish Railway Union called a countrywide general strike, to put +into operation the laws passed by the Socialist Diet of June, 1917, +dissolved by Kerensky.... + +Early in the morning I went out to Smolny. Going up the long wooden +sidewalk from the outer gate I saw the first thin, hesitating +snow-flakes fluttering down from the grey, windless sky. "Snow!" +cried the soldier at the door, grinning with delight. "Good for the +health!" Inside, the long, gloomy halls and bleak rooms seemed +deserted. No one moved in all the enormous pile. A deep, uneasy +sound came to my ears, and looking around, I noticed that everywhere +on the floor, along the walls, men were sleeping. Rough, dirty men, +workers and soldiers, spattered and caked with mud, sprawled alone +or in heaps, in the careless attitudes of death. Some wore ragged +bandages marked with blood. Guns and cartridge-belts were scattered +about.... The victorious proletarian army! + +In the upstairs buffet so thick they lay that one could hardly walk. +The air was foul. Through the clouded windows a pale light streamed. +A battered samovar, cold, stood on the counter, and many glasses +holding dregs of tea. Beside them lay a copy of the Military +Revolutionary Committee's last bulletin, upside down, scrawled with +painful hand-writing. It was a memorial written by some soldier to +his comrades fallen in the fight against Kerensky, just as he had +set it down before falling on the floor to sleep. The writing was +blurred with what looked like tears.... + +Alexei Vinogradov + +D. Maskvin + +S. Stolbikov + +A. Voskressensky + +D. Leonsky + +D. Preobrazhensky + +V. Laidansky + +M. Berchikov + +These men were drafted into the Army on November 15th, 1916. Only +three are left of the above. + +Mikhail Berchikov + +Alexei Voskressensky + +Dmitri Leonsky + +_Sleep, Warrior eagles, sleep with peaceful soul._ + +_You have deserved, our own ones, happiness and_ + +_Eternal peace. Under the earth of the grave_ + +_You have straitly closed your ranks. Sleep, Citizens!_ + +Only the Military Revolutionary Committee still functioned, +unsleeping. Skripnik, emerging from the inner room, said that Gotz +had been arrested, but had flatly denied signing the proclamation of +the Committee for Salvation, as had Avksentiev; and the Committee +for Salvation itself had repudiated the Appeal to the garrison. +There was still disafiection among the city regiments, Skripnik +reported; the Volhynsky Regiment had refused to fight against +Kerensky. + +Several detachments of "neutral" troops, with Tchernov at their +head, were at Gatchina, trying to persuade Kerensky to halt his +attack on Petrograd. + +Skripnik laughed. "There can be no 'neutrals' now," he said. "We've +won!" His sharp, bearded face glowed with an almost religious +exaltation. "More than sixty delegates have arrived from the Front, +with assurances of support by all the armies except the troops on +the Rumanian front, who have not been heard from. The Army +Committees have suppressed all news from Petrograd, but we now have +a regular system of couriers...." + +[Graphic, page 224: Certificate approving telegram transmission] + +Order given me at Staff headquarters by command of the Council of +People's Commissars, to transmit the first despatch out of Perograd +after the November Revolution, over the Government wires to America. + (Translation) + STAFF + Military Revolutionary + Commitee + Sov. W. & S. D. + 2 November, 1917 + No. 1860 + CERTIFICATE +Is given by the present to the journalist of +the New York Socialist press JOHN REED, that the text of the +telegram (herewith) has been examined by the Government of People's +Commissars, and there is no objection to its transmission, and also +it is recommended that all cooperate in every way to transmit same +to its destination. + For the Commander in Chief, ANTONOV + Chief of Staff, VLAD. BONCH-BRUEVITCH + +Down in the front hall Kameniev was just entering, worn out by the +all-night session of the Conference to Form a New Government, but +happy. "Already the Socialist Revolutionaries are inclined to admit +us into the new Government," he told me. "The right wing groups are +frightened by the Revolutionary Tribunals; they demand, in a sort of +panic, that we dissolve them before going any further. ... We have +accepted the proposition of the _Vikzhel_ to form a homogeneous +Socialist Ministry, and they're working on that now. You see, it all +springs from our victory. When we were down, they would't have us at +any price; not everybody's in favour of some agreement with the +Soivets.... What we need is a really decisive victory. Kerensky wants +an armistice, but he'll have to surrender (See App. IX, Sect. 2) ...." + +That was the temper of the Bolshevik leaders. To a foreign +journalist who asked Trotzky what statement he had to make to the +world, Trotzky replied: "At this moment the only statement possible +is the one we are making through the mouths of our cannon!" + +But there was an undercurrent of real anxiety in the tide of +victory; the question of finances. Instead of opening the banks, as +had been ordered by the Military Revolutionary Committee, the Union +of Bank Employees had held a meeting and declared a formal strike. +Smolny had demanded some thirty-five millions of rubles from the +State Bank, and the cashier had locked the vaults, only paying out +money to the representatives of the Provisional Government. The +reactionaries were using the State Bank as a political weapon; for +instance, when the _Vikzhel_ demanded money to pay the salaries of +the employees of the Government railroads, it was told to apply to +Smolny.... + +I went to the State Bank to see the new Commissar, a redhaired +Ukrainean Bolshevik named Petrovitch. He was trying to bring order +out of the chaos in which affairs had been left by the striking +clerks. In all the offices of the huge place perspiring volunteer +workers, soldiers and sailors, their tongues sticking out of their +mouths in the intensity of their effort, were poring over the great +ledgers with a bewildered air.... + +The Duma building was crowded. There were still isolated cases of +defiance toward the new Government, but they were rare. The Central +Land Committee had appealed to the Peasants, ordering them not to +recognise the Land Decree passed by the Congress of the Soviets, +because it would cause confusion and civil war. Mayor Schreider +announced that because of the Bolshevik insurrection, the elections +to the Constituent Assembly would have to be indefinitely postponed. + +Two questions seemed to be uppermost in all minds, shocked by the +ferocity of the civil war; first, a truce to the bloodshed (See App. +IX, Sect. 3)--second, the creation of a new Government. There was no +longer any talk of "destroying the Bolsheviki"--and very little about +excluding them from the Government, except from the Populist +Socialists and the Peasants' Soviets. Even the Central Army +Committee at the _Stavka,_ the most determined enemy of Smolny, +telephoned from Moghilev: "If, to constitute the new Ministry, it is +necessary to come to an understanding with the Bolsheviki, we agree +to admit them _in a minority_ to the Cabinet." + +_Pravda,_ ironically calling attention to Kerensky's "humanitarian +sentiments," published his despatch to the Committee for Salvation: + +In accord with the proposals of the Committee for Salvation and all +the democratic organisations united around it, I have halted all +military action against the rebels. A delegate of the Committee has +been sent to enter into negotiations. Take all measures to stop the +useless shedding of blood. + +The _Vikzhel_ sent a telegram to all Russia: + +The Conference of the Union of Railway Workers with the +representatives of both the belligerent parties, who admit the +necessity of an agreement, protest energetically against the use of +political terrorism in the civil war, especially when it is carried +on between different factions of the revolutionary democracy, and +declare that political terrorism, in whatever form, is in +contradiction to the very idea of the negotiations for a new +Government.... + +[Graphic, page 227: Leaflet] + +Popular leaflet sold in the streets just after the Bolshevik +insurrection, containing rhymes and jokes about the defeated +bourgeoisie and the "moderate" Socialist leaders, Called, "How THE +BOORZHUI (BOURGEOISIE) LOST THE POWER." + +Delegations from the Conference were sent to the Front, to Gatchina. +In the Conference itself everything seemed on the point of final +settlement. It had even been decided to elect a Provisional People's +Council, composed of about four hundred members--seventy-five +representing Smolny, seventy-five the old _Tsay-ee-kah,_ and the +rest split up among the Town Dumas, the Trade Unions, Land +Committees and political parties. Tchernov was mentioned as the new +Premier. Lenin and Trotzky, rumour said, were to be excluded.... + +About noon I was again in front of Smolny, talking with the driver +of an ambulance bound for the revolutionary front. Could I go with +him? Certainly! He was a volunteer, a University student, and as we +rolled down the street shouted over his shoulder to me phrases of +execrable German: _"Also, gut! Wir nach die Kasernen zu essen +gehen!"_ I made out that there would be lunch at some barracks. + +On the Kirotchnaya we turned into an immense courtyard surrounded by +military buildings, and mounted a dark stairway to a low room lit by +one window. At a long wooden table were seated some twenty soldiers, +eating _shtchi_ (cabbage soup) from a great tin wash-tub with wooden +spoons, and talking loudly with much laughter. + +"Welcome to the Battalion Committee of the Sixth Reserve Engineers' +Battalion!" cried my friend, and introduced me as an American +Socialist. Whereat every one rose to shake my hand, and one old +soldier put his arms around me and gave me a hearty kiss. A wooden +spoon was produced and I took my place at the table. Another tub, +full of _kasha,_ was brought in, a huge loaf of black bread, and of +course the inevitable tea-pots. At once every one began asking me +questions about America: Was it true that people in a free country +sold their votes for _money?_ If so, how did they get what they +wanted? How about this "Tammany"? Was it true that in a free country +a little group of people could control a whole city, and exploited +it for their personal benefit? Why did the people stand it? Even +under the Tsar such things could not happen in Russia; true, here +there was always graft, but to buy and sell a whole city full of +people! And in a free country! Had the people no revolutionary +feeling? I tried to explain that in my country people tried to +change things by law. + +"Of course," nodded a young sergeant, named Baklanov, who spoke +French. "But you have a highly developed capitalist class? Then the +capitalist class must control the legislatures and the courts. How +then can the people change things? I am open to conviction, for I do +not know your country; but to me it is incredible...." + +I said that I was going to Tsarskoye Selo. "I, too," said Baklanov, +suddenly. "And I--and I--" The whole roomful decided on the spot to go +to Tsarskoye Selo. + +Just then came a knock on the door. It opened, and in it stood the +figure of the Colonel. No one rose, but all shouted a greeting. "May +I come in?" asked the Colonel. "_Prosim! Prosim!_" they answered +heartily. He entered, smiling, a tall, distinguished figure in a +goat-skin cape embroidered with gold. "I think I heard you say that +you were going to Tsarskoye Selo, comrades," he said. "Could I go +with you?" + +Baklanov considered. "I do not think there is anything to be done +here to-day," he answered. "Yes, comrade, we shall be very glad to +have you." The Colonel thanked him and sat down, filling a glass of +tea. + +In a low voice, for fear of wounding the Colonel's pride, Baklanov +explained to me. "You see, I am the chairman of the Committee. We +control the Battalion absolutely, except in action, when the Colonel +is delegated by us to command. In action his orders must be obeyed, +but he is strictly responsible to us. In barracks he must ask our +permission before taking any action.... You might call him our +Executive Officer...." + +Arms were distributed to us, revolvers and rifles--"we might meet +some Cossacks, you know"--and we all piled into the ambulance, +together with three great bundles of newspapers for the front. +Straight down the Liteiny we rattled, and along the Zagorodny +Prospekt. Next to me sat a youth with the shoulder-straps of a +Lieutenant, who seemed to speak all European languages with equal +fluency. He was a member of the Battalion Committee. + +"I am not a Bolshevik," he assured me, emphatically. "My family is a +very ancient and noble one. I, myself, am, you might say, a Cadet...." + +"But how--?" I began, bewildered. + +"Oh, yes, I am a member of the Committee. I make no secret of my +political opinions, but the others do not mind, because they know I +do not believe in opposing the will of the majority.... I have refused +to take any action in the present civil war, however, for I do not +believe in taking up arms against my brother Russians...." + +"Provocator! Kornilovitz!" the others cried at him gaily, slapping +him on the shoulder.... + +Passing under the huge grey stone archway of the Moskovsky Gate, +covered with golden hieroglyphics, ponderous Imperial eagles and the +names of Tsars, we sped out on the wide straight highway, grey with +the first light fall of snow. It was thronged with Red Guards, +stumbling along on foot toward the revolutionary front, shouting and +singing; and others, greyfaced and muddy, coming back. Most of them +seemed to be mere boys. Women with spades, some with rifles and +bandoleers, others wearing the Red Cross on their arm-bands--the +bowed, toil-worn women of the slums. Squads of soldiers marching out +of step, with an affectionate jeer for the Red Guards; sailors, +grim-looking; children with bundles of food for their fathers and +mothers; all these, coming and going, trudged through the whitened +mud that covered the cobbles of the highway inches deep. We passed +cannon, jingling southward with their caissons; trucks bound both +ways, bristling with armed men; ambulances full of wounded from the +direction of the battle, and once a peasant cart, creaking slowly +along, in which sat a white-faced boy bent over his shattered +stomach and screaming monotonously. In the fields on either side +women and old men were digging trenches and stringing barbed wire +entanglements. + +Back northward the clouds rolled away dramatically, and the pale sun +came out. Across the flat, marshy plain Petrograd glittered. To the +right, white and gilded and coloured bulbs and pinnacles; to the +left, tall chimneys, some pouring out black smoke; and beyond, a +lowering sky over Finland. On each side of us were churches, +monasteries.... Occasionally a monk was visible, silently watching the +pulse of the proletarian army throbbing on the road. + +At Pulkovo the road divided, and there we halted in the midst of a +great crowd, where the human streams poured from three directions, +friends meeting, excited and congratulatory, describing the battle +to one another. A row of houses facing the cross-roads was marked +with bullets, and the earth was trampled into mud half a mile +around. The fighting had been furious here.... In the near distance +riderless Cossack horses circled hungrily, for the grass of the +plain had died long ago. Right in front of us an awkward Red Guard +was trying to ride one, falling off again and again, to the +childlike delight of a thousand rough men. + +The left road, along which the remnants of the Cossacks had +retreated, led up a little hill to a hamlet, where there was a +glorious view of the immense plain, grey as a windless sea, +tumultuous clouds towering over, and the imperial city disgorging +its thousands along all the roads. Far over to the left lay the +little hill of Kranoye Selo, the parade-ground of the Imperial +Guards' summer camp, and the Imperial Dairy. In the middle distance +nothing broke the flat monotony but a few walled monasteries and +convents, some isolated factories, and several large buildings with +unkempt grounds that were asylums and orphanages.... + +"Here," said the driver, as we went on over a barren hill, "here was +where Vera Slutskaya died. Yes, the Bolshevik member of the Duma. It +happened early this morning. She was in an automobile, with Zalkind +and another man. There was a truce, and they started for the front +trenches. They were talking and laughing, when all of a sudden, from +the armoured train in which Kerensky himself was riding, somebody +saw the automobile and fired a cannon. The shell struck Vera +Slutskaya and killed her...." + +And so we came into Tsarskoye, all bustling with the swaggering +heroes of the proletarian horde. Now the palace where the Soviet had +met was a busy place. Red Guards and sailors filled the court-yard, +sentries stood at the doors, and a stream of couriers and Commissars +pushed in and out. In the Soviet room a samovar had been set up, and +fifty or more workers, soldiers, sailors and officers stood around, +drinking tea and talking at the top of their voices. In one corner +two clumsy-handed workingmen were trying to make a multigraphing +machine go. At the centre table, the huge Dybenko bent over a map, +marking out positions for the troops with red and blue pencils. In +his free hand he carried, as always, the enormous bluesteel +revolver. Anon he sat himself down at a typewriter and pounded away +with one finger; every little while he would pause, pick up the +revolver, and lovingly spin the chamber. + +A couch lay along the wall, and on this was stretched a young +workman. Two Red Guards were bending over him, but the rest of the +company did not pay any attention. In his breast was a hole; through +his clothes fresh blood came welling up with every heart-beat. His +eyes were closed and his young, bearded face was greenish-white. +Faintly and slowly he still breathed, with every breath sighing, +_"Mir boudit! Mir boudit!_ (Peace is coming! Peace is coming!)" + +Dybenko looked up as we came in. "Ah," he said to Baklanov. +"Comrade, will you go up to the Commandant's headquarters and take +charge? Wait; I will write you credentials." He went to the +typewriter and slowly picked out the letters. + +The new Commandant of Tsarskoye Selo and I went toward the Ekaterina +Palace, Baklanov very excited and important. In the same ornate, +white room some Red Guards were rummaging curiously around, while my +old friend, the Colonel, stood by the window biting his moustache. +He greeted me like a long-lost brother. At a table near the door sat +the French Bessarabian. The Bolsheviki had ordered him to remain, +and continue his work. + +"What could I do?" he muttered. "People like myself cannot fight on +either side in such a war as this, no matter how much we may +instinctively dislike the dictatorship of the mob.... I only regret +that I am so far from my mother in Bessarabia!" + +Baklanov was formally taking over the office from the Commandant. +"Here," said the Colonel nervously, "are the keys to the desk." + +A Red Guard interrupted. "Where's the money?" he asked rudely. The +Colonel seemed surprised. "Money? Money? Ah, you mean the chest. +There it is," said the Colonel, "just as I found it when I took +possession three days ago. Keys?" The Colonel shrugged. "I have no +keys." + +The Red Guard sneered knowingly. "Very convenient," he said. + +"Let us open the chest," said Baklanov. "Bring an axe. Here is an +American comrade. Let him smash the chest open, and write down what +he finds there." + +I swung the axe. The wooden chest was empty. + +"Let's arrest him," said the Red Guard, venomously. "He is +Kerensky's man. He has stolen the money and given it to Kerensky." + +Baklanov did not want to. "Oh, no," he said. "It was the Kornilovitz +before him. He is not to blame. + +"The devil!" cried the Red Guard. "He is Kerensky's man, I tell you. +If _you_ won't arrest him, then _we_ will, and we'll take him to +Petrograd and put him in Peter-Paul, where he belongs!" At this the +other Red Guards growled assent. With a piteous glance at us the +Colonel was led away.... + +Down in front of the Soviet palace an auto-truck was going to the +front. Half a dozen Red Guards, some sailors, and a soldier or two, +under command of a huge workman, clambered in, and shouted to me to +come along. Red Guards issued from headquarters, each of them +staggering under an arm-load of small, corrugated-iron bombs, filled +with _grubit_--which, they say, is ten times as strong, and five +times as sensitive as dynamite; these they threw into the truck. A +three-inch cannon was loaded and then tied onto the tail of the +truck with bits of rope and wire. + +We started with a shout, at top speed of course; the heavy truck +swaying from side to side. The cannon leaped from one wheel to the +other, and the _grubit_ bombs went rolling back and forth over our +feet, fetching up against the sides of the car with a crash. + +The big Red Guard, whose name was Vladimir Nicolaievitch, plied me +with questions about America. "Why did America come into the war? +Are the American workers ready to throw over the capitalists? What +is the situation in the Mooney case now? Will they extradite Berkman +to San Francisco?" and other, very difficult to answer, all +delivered in a shout above the roaring of the truck, while we held +on to each other and danced amid the caroming bombs. + +Occasionally a patrol tried to stop us. Soldiers ran out into the +road before us, shouted _"Shtoi!"_ and threw up their guns. + +We paid no attention. "The devil take you!" cried the Red Guards. +"We don't stop for anybody! We're Red Guards!" And we thundered +imperiously on, while Vladimir Nicolaievitch bellowed to me about +the internationalisation of the Panama Canal, and such matters.... + +About five miles out we saw a squad of sailors marching back, and +slowed down. + +"Where's the front, brothers?" + +The foremost sailor halted and scratched his head. "This morning," +he said, "it was about half a kilometer down the road. But the damn +thing isn't anywhere now. We walked and walked and walked, but we +couldn't find it." + +They climbed into the truck, and we proceeded. It must have been +about a mile further that Vladimir Nicolaievitch cocked his ear and +shouted to the chauffeur to stop. + +"Firing!" he said. "Do you hear it?" For a moment dead silence, and +then, a little ahead and to the left, three shots in rapid +succession. Along here the side of the road was heavily wooded. Very +much excited now, we crept along, speaking in whispers, until the +truck was nearly opposite the place where the firing had come from. +Descending, we spread out, and every man carrying his rifle, went +stealthily into the forest. + +Two comrades, meanwhile, detached the cannon and slewed it around +until it aimed as nearly as possible at our backs. + +It was silent in the woods. The leaves were gone, and the +tree-trunks were a pale wan colour in the low, sickly autumn sun. +Not a thing moved, except the ice of little woodland pools shivering +under our feet. Was it an ambush? + +We went uneventfully forward until the trees began to thin, and +paused. Beyond, in a little clearing, three soldiers sat around a +small fire, perfectly oblivious. + +Vladimir Nicolaievitch stepped forward. _"Zra'zvuitye,_ comrades!" +he greeted, while behind him one cannon, twenty rifles and a +truck-load of _grubit_ bombs hung by a hair. The soldiers scrambled +to their feet. + +"What was the shooting going on around here?" + +One of the soldiers answered, looking relieved, "Why we were just +shooting a rabbit or two, comrade...." + +The truck hurtled on toward Romanov, through the bright, empty day. +At the first cross-roads two soldiers ran out in front of us, waving +their rifles. We slowed down, and stopped. + +"Passes, comrades!" + +The Red Guards raised a great clamour. "We are Red Guards. We don't +need any passes.... Go on, never mind them!" + +But a sailor objected. "This is wrong, comrades. We must have +revolutionary discipline. Suppose some counterrevolutionaries came +along in a truck and said: 'We don't need any passes?' The comrades +don't know you." + +At this there was a debate. One by one, however, the sailors and +soldiers joined with the first. Grumbling, each Red Guard produced +his dirty _bumaga_ (paper). All were alike except mine, which had +been issued by the Revolutionary Staff at Smolny. The sentries +declared that I must go with them. The Red Guards objected +strenuously, but the sailor who had spoken first insisted. "This +comrade we know to be a true comrade," he said. "But there are +orders of the Committee, and these orders must be obeyed. That is +revolutionary discipline...." + +In order not to make any trouble, I got down from the truck, and +watched it disappear careening down the road, all the company waving +farewell. The soldiers consulted in low tones for a moment, and then +led me to a wall, against which they placed me. It flashed upon me +suddenly; they were going to shoot me! + +In all three directions not a human being was in sight. The only +sign of life was smoke from the chimney of a _datchya,_ a rambling +wooden house a quarter of a mile up the side road. The two soldiers +were walking out into the road. Desperately I ran after them. + +"But comrades! See! Here is the seal of the Military Revolutionary +Committee!" + +They stared stupidly at my pass, then at each other. + +"It is different from the others," said one, sullenly. "We cannot +read, brother." + +I took him by the arm. "Come!" I said. "Let's go to that house. Some +one there can surely read." They hesitated. "No," said one. The +other looked me over. "Why not?" he muttered. "After all, it is a +serious crime to kill an innocent man." + +We walked up to the front door of the house and knocked. A short, +stout woman opened it, and shrank back in alarm, babbling, "I don't +know anything about them! I don't know anything about them!" One of +my guards held out the pass. She screamed. "Just to read it, +comrade." Hesitatingly she took the paper and read aloud, swiftly: + +The bearer of this pass, John Reed, is a representative of the +American Social-Democracy, an internationalist.... + +Out on the road again the two soldiers held another consultation. +"We must take you to the Regimental Committee," they said. In the +fast-deepening twilight we trudged along the muddy road. +Occasionally we met squads of soldiers, who stopped and surrounded +me with looks of menace, handling my pass around and arguing +violently as to whether or not I should be killed.... + +It was dark when we came to the barracks of the Second Tsarskoye +Selo Rifles, low sprawling buildings huddled along the post-road. A +number of soldiers slouching at the entrance asked eager questions. +A spy? A provocator? We mounted a winding stair and emerged into a +great, bare room with a huge stove in the centre, and rows of cots +on the floor, where about a thousand soldiers were playing cards, +talking, singing, and asleep. In the roof was a jagged hole made by +Kerensky's cannon.... + +I stood in the doorway, and a sudden silence ran among the groups, +who turned and stared at me. Of a sudden they began to move, slowly +and then with a rush, thundering, with faces full of hate. +"Comrades! Comrades!" yelled one of my guards. "Committee! +Committee!" The throng halted, banked around me, muttering. Out of +them shouldered a lean youth, wearing a red arm-band. + +"Who is this?" he asked roughly. The guards explained. "Give me the +paper!" He read it carefully, glancing at me with keen eyes. Then he +smiled and handed me the pass. "Comrades, this is an American +comrade. I am Chairman of the Committee, and I welcome you to the +Regiment...." A sudden general buzz grew into a roar of greeting, and +they pressed forward to shake my hand. + +"You have not dined? Here we have had our dinner. You shall go to +the Officers' Club, where there are some who speak your language...." + +He led me across the court-yard to the door of another building. An +aristocratic-looking youth, with the shoulder straps of a +Lieutenant, was entering. The Chairman presented me, and shaking +hands, went back. + +"I am Stepan Georgevitch Morovsky, at your service," said the +Lieutenant, in perfect French. From the ornate entrance hall a +ceremonial staircase led upward, lighted by glittering lustres. On +the second floor billiard-rooms, card-rooms, a library opened from +the hall. We entered the dining-room, at a long table in the centre +of which sat about twenty officers in full uniform, wearing their +gold- and silver-handled swords, the ribbons and crosses of Imperial +decorations. All rose politely as I entered, and made a place for me +beside the Colonel, a large, impressive man with a grizzled beard. +Orderlies were deftly serving dinner. The atmosphere was that of any +officers' mess in Europe. Where was the Revolution? + +"You are not Bolsheviki?" I asked Morovsky. + +A smile went around the table, but I caught one or two glancing +furtively at the orderly. + +"No," answered my friend. "There is only one Bolshevik officer in +this regiment. He is in Petrograd to-night. The Colonel is a +Menshevik. Captain Kherlov there is a Cadet. I myself am a Socialist +Revolutionary of the right wing.... I should say that most of the +officers in the Army are not Bolsheviki, but like me they believe in +democracy; they believe that they must follow the soldier-masses...." + +Dinner over, maps were brought, and the Colonel spread them out on +the table. The rest crowded around to see. + +"Here," said the Colonel, pointing to pencil marks, "were our +positions this morning. Vladimir Kyrilovitch, where is your company?" + +Captain Kherlov pointed. "According to orders, we occupied the +position along this road. Karsavin relieved me at five o'clock." + +Just then the door of the room opened, and there entered the +Chairman of the Regimental Committee, with another soldier. They +joined the group behind the Colonel, peering at the map. + +"Good," said the Colonel. "Now the Cossacks have fallen back ten +kilometres in our sector. I do not think it is necessary to take up +advanced positions. Gentlemen, for to-night you will hold the +present line, strengthening the positions by--" + +"If you please," interrupted the Chairman of the Regimental +Committee. "The orders are to advance with all speed, and prepare to +engage the Cossacks north of Gatchina in the morning. A crushing +defeat is necessary. Kindly make the proper dispositions." + +There was a short silence. The Colonel again turned to the map. +"Very well," he said, in a different voice. "Stepan Georgevitch, you +will please--" Rapidly tracing lines with a blue pencil, he gave his +orders, while a sergeant made shorthand notes. The sergeant then +withdrew, and ten minutes later returned with the orders +typewritten, and one carbon copy. The Chairman of the Committee +studied the map with a copy of the orders before him. + +"All right," he said, rising. Folding the carbon copy, he put it in +his pocket. Then he signed the other, stamped it with a round seal +taken from his pocket, and presented it to the Colonel.... + +Here was the Revolution! + +I returned to the Soviet palace in Tsarskoye in the Regimental Staff +automobile. Still the crowds of workers, soldiers and sailors +pouring in and out, still the choking press of trucks, armoured +cars, cannon before the door, and the shouting, the laughter of +unwonted victory. Half a dozen Red Guards forced their way through, +a priest in the middle. This was Father Ivan, they said, who had +blessed the Cossacks when they entered the town. I heard afterward +that he was shot.... (See App. IX, Sect. 4) + +Dybenko was just coming out, giving rapid orders right and left. In +his hand he carried the big revolver. An automobile stood with +racing engine at the kerb. Alone, he climbed in the rear seat, and +was off-off to Gatchina, to conquer Kerensky. + +Toward nightfall he arrived at the outskirts of the town, and went +on afoot. What Dybenko told the Cossacks nobody knows, but the fact +is that General Krasnov and his staff and several thousand Cossacks +surrendered, and advised Kerensky to do the same. (See App. IX, +Sect. 5) + +As for Kerensky--I reprint here the deposition made by General +Krasnov on the morning of November 14th: + +"Gatchina, November 14, 1917. To-day, about three o'clock (A. M.), I +was summoned by the Supreme Commander (Kerensky). He was very +agitated, and very nervous. + +"'General,' he said to me, 'you have betrayed me. Your Cossacks +declare categorically that they will arrest me and deliver me to the +sailors.' + +"'Yes,' I answered, 'there is talk of it, and I know that you have +no sympathy anywhere.' + +"'But the officers say the same thing.' + +"'Yes, most of all it is the officers who are discontented with you.' + +"'What shall I do? I ought to commit suicide!' + +"'If you are an honorable man, you will go immediately to Petrograd +with a white flag, you will present yourself to the Military +Revolutionary Committee, and enter into negotiations as Chief of the +Provisional Government.' + +"'All right. I will do that, General.' + +"'I will give you a guard and ask that a sailor go with you.' + +"'No, no, not a sailor. Do you know whether it is true that Dybenko +is here?' + +"'I don't know who Dybenko is.' + +"'He is my enemy. + +"'There is nothing to do. If you play for high stakes you must know +how to take a chance.' + +"'Yes. I'll leave to-night!' + +"'Why? That would be a flight. Leave calmly and openly, so that +every one can see that you are not running away.' + +"'Very well. But you must give me a guard on which I can count.' + +"'Good.' + +"I went out and called the Cossack Russkov, of the Tenth Regiment of +the Don, and ordered him to pick out ten Cossacks to accompany the +Supreme Commander. Half an hour later the Cossacks came to tell me +that Kerensky was not in his quarters, that he had run away. + +"I gave the alarm and ordered that he be searched for, supposing +that he could not have left Gatchina, but he could not be found...." + +And so Kerensky fled, alone, "disguised in the uniform of a sailor," +and by that act lost whatever popularity he had retained among the +Russian masses.... + +I went back to Petrograd riding on the front seat of an auto truck, +driven by a workman and filled with Red Guards. We had no kerosene, +so our lights were not burning. The road was crowded with the +proletarian army going home, and new reserves pouring out to take +their places. Immense trucks like ours, columns of artillery, +wagons, loomed up in the night, without lights, as we were. We +hurtled furiously on, wrenched right and left to avoid collisions +that seemed inevitable, scraping wheels, followed by the epithets of +pedestrians. + +Across the horizon spread the glittering lights of the capital, +immeasurably more splendid by night than by day, like a dike of +jewels heaped on the barren plain. + +The old workman who drove held the wheel in one hand, while with the +other he swept the far-gleaming capital in an exultant gesture. + +"Mine!" he cried, his face all alight. "All mine now! My Petrograd!" + + + + +Chapter X + +Moscow + + +The Military Revolutionary Committee, with a fierce intensity, +followed up its victory: + +November 14th. + +To all Army, corps, divisional and regimental Committees, to all +Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, to all, all, +all. + +Conforming to the agreement between the Cossacks, _yunkers,_ +soldiers, sailors and workers, it has been decided to arraign +Alexander Feodorvitch Kerensky before a tribunal of the people. We +demand that Kerensky be arrested, and that he be ordered, in the name +of the organisations hereinafter mentioned, to come immediately to +Petrograd and present himself to the tribunal. + +Signed, + +_The Cossacks of the First Division of Ussuri Cavalry; the Committee +of Yunkers of the Petrograd detachment of Franc-Tireurs; the delegate +of the Fifth Army._ + +People's Commissar DYBENKO. + +The Committee for Salvation, the Duma, the Central Committee of the +Socialist Revolutionary party--proudly claiming Kerensky as a +member--all passionately protested that he could only be held +responsible to the Constituent Assembly. + +On the evening of November 16th I watched two thousand Red Guards +swing down the Zagorodny Prospekt behind a military band playing the +_Marseillaise_--and how appropriate it sounded--with blood-red flags +over the dark ranks of workmen, to welcome home again their brothers +who had defended "Red Petrograd." In the bitter dusk they tramped, +men and women, their tall bayonets swaying; through streets faintly +lighted and slippery with mud, between silent crowds of bourgeois, +contemptuous but fearful.... + +All were against them--business men, speculators, investors, +land-owners, army officers, politicians, teachers, students, +professional men, shop-keepers, clerks, agents. The other Socialist +parties hated the Bolsheviki with an implacable hatred. On the side +of the Soviets were the rank and file of the workers, the sailors, +all the undemoralised soldiers, the landless peasants, and a few--a +very few--intellectuals.... + +From the farthest corners of great Russia, whereupon desperate +street-fighting burst like a wave, news of Kerensky's defeat came +echoing back the immense roar of proletarian victory. Kazan, Saratov, +Novgorod, Vinnitza--where the streets had run with blood; Moscow, +where the Bolsheviki had turned their artillery against the last +strong-hold of the bourgeoisie--the Kremlin. + +"They are bombarding the Kremlin!" The news passed from mouth to +mouth in the streets of Petrograd, almost with a sense of terror. +Travellers from "white and shining little mother Moscow" told fearful +tales. Thousands killed; the Tverskaya and the Kuznetsky Most in +flames; the church of Vasili Blazheiny a smoking ruin; Usspensky +Cathedral crumbling down; the Spasskaya Gate of the Kremlin +tottering; the Duma burned to the ground. (See App. X, Sect. 1) + +Nothing that the Bolsheviki had done could compare with this fearful +blasphemy in the heart of Holy Russia. To the ears of the devout +sounded the shock of guns crashing in the face of the Holy Orthodox +Church, and pounding to dust the sanctuary of the Russian nation.... + +On November 15th, Lunatcharsky, Commissar of Education, broke into +tears at the session of the Council of People's Commissars, and +rushed from the room, crying, "I cannot stand it! I cannot bear the +monstrous destruction of beauty and tradition...." + +That afternoon his letter of resignation was published in the +newspapers: + +I have just been informed, by people arriving from Moscow, what has +happened there. + +The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, the Cathedral of the +Assumption, are being bombarded. The Kremlin, where are now gathered +the most important art treasures of Petrograd and of Moscow, is under +artillery fire. There are thousands of victims. + +The fearful struggle there has reached a pitch of bestial ferocity. + +What is left? What more can happen? + +I cannot bear this. My cup is full. I am unable to endure these +horrors. It is impossible to work under the pressure of thoughts +which drive me mad! + +That is why I am leaving the Council of People's Commissars. + +I fully realise the gravity of this decision. But I can bear no +more.... (See App. X, Sect. 2) + +That same day the White Guards and _yunkers_ in the Kremlin +surrendered, and were allowed to march out unharmed. The treaty of +peace follows: + +1. The Committee of Public Safety ceases to exist. + +2. The White Guard gives up its arms and dissolves. The officers +retain their swords and regulations side-arms. In the Military +Schools are retained only the arms necessary for instruction; all +others are surrendered by the _yunkers._ The Military Revolutionary +Committee guarantees the liberty and inviolability of the person. + +3. To settle the question of disarmament, as set forth in section 2, +a special commission is appointed, consisting of representatives from +all organisations which took part in the peace negotiations. + +4. From the moment of the signature of this peace treaty, both +parties shall immediately give order to cease firing and halt all +military operations, taking measures to ensure punctual obedience to +this order. + +5. At the signature of the treaty, all prisoners made by the two +parties shall be released.... + +For two days now the Bolsheviki had been in control of the city. The +frightened citizens were creeping out of their cellars to seek their +dead; the barricades in the streets were being removed. Instead of +diminishing, however, the stories of destruction in Moscow continued +to grow.... And it was under the influence of these fearful reports +that we decided to go there. + +Petrograd, after all, in spite of being for a century the seat of +Government, is still an artificial city. Moscow is real Russia, +Russia as it was and will be; in Moscow we would get the true feeling +of the Russian people about the Revolution. Life was more intense +there. + +For the past week the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, +aided by the rank and file of the Railway Workers, had seized control +of the Nicolai Railroad, and hurled trainload after trainload of +sailors and Red Guards southwest.... We were provided with passes from +Smolny, without which no one could leave the capital.... When the train +backed into the station, a mob of shabby soldiers, all carrying huge +sacks of eatables, stormed the doors, smashed the windows, and poured +into all the compartments, filling up the aisles and even climbing +onto the roof. Three of us managed to wedge our way into a +compartment, but almost immediately about twenty soldiers entered.... +There was room for only four people; we argued, expostulated, and the +conductor joined us--but the soldiers merely laughed. Were they to +bother about the comfort of a lot of _boorzhui_ (bourgeois)? We +produced the passes from Smolny; instantly the soldiers changed their +attitude. + +"Come, comrades," cried one, "these are American _tovarishtchi._ They +have come thirty thousand versts to see our Revolution, and they are +naturally tired...." + +With polite and friendly apologies the soldiers began to leave. +Shortly afterward we heard them breaking into a compartment occupied +by two stout, well-dressed Russians, who had bribed the conductor and +locked their door.... + +About seven o'clock in the evening we drew out of the station, an +immense long train drawn by a weak little locomotive burning wood, +and stumbled along slowly, with many stops. The soldiers on the roof +kicked with their heels and sang whining peasant songs; and in the +corridor, so jammed that it was impossible to pass, violent political +debates raged all night long. Occasionally the conductor came +through, as a matter of habit, looking for tickets. He found very few +except ours, and after a half-hour of futile wrangling, lifted his +arms despairingly and withdrew. The atmosphere was stifling, full of +smoke and foul odours; if it hadn't been for the broken windows we +would doubtless have smothered during the night. + +In the morning, hours late, we looked out upon a snowy world. It was +bitter cold. About noon a peasant woman got on with a basket-full of +bread-chunks and a great can of luke warm coffee-substitute. From +then on until dark there was nothing but the packed train, jolting +and stopping, and occasional stations where a ravenous mob swooped +down on the scantily-furnished buffet and swept it clean.... At one of +these halts I ran into Nogin and Rykov, the seceding Commissars, who +were returning to Moscow to put their grievances before their own +Soviet, and further along was Bukharin, a short, red-bearded man +with the eyes of a fanatic--"more Left than Lenin," they said of him.... + +Then the three strokes of the bell and we made a rush for the train, +worming our way through the packed and noisy aisle.... A good-natured +crowd, bearing the discomfort with humorous patience, interminably +arguing about everything from the situation in Petrograd to the +British Trade-Union system, and disputing loudly with the few +_boorzhui_ who were on board. Before we reached Moscow almost every +car had organised a Committee to secure and distribute food, and +these Committees became divided into political factions, who wrangled +over fundamental principles.... + +The station at Moscow was deserted. We went to the office of the +Commissar, in order to arrange for our return tickets. He was a +sullen youth with the shoulder-straps of a Lieutenant; when we showed +him our papers from Smolny, he lost his temper and declared that he +was no Bolshevik, that he represented the Committee of Public +Safety.... It was characteristic--in the general turmoil attending the +conquest of the city, the chief railway station had been forgotten by +the victors.... + +Not a cab in sight. A few blocks down the street, however, we woke up +a grotesquely-padded _izvostchik_ asleep upright on the box of his +little sleigh. "How much to the centre of the town?" + +He scratched his head. "The _barini_ won't be able to find a room in +any hotel," he said. "But I'll take you around for a hundred +rubles...." Before the Revolution it cost _two!_ We objected, but he +simply shrugged his shoulders. "It takes a good deal of courage to +drive a sleigh nowadays," he went on. We could not beat him down +below fifty.... As we sped along the silent, snowy half-lighted +streets, he recounted his adventures during the six days' fighting. +"Driving along, or waiting for a fare on the corner," he said, "all +of a sudden _pooff!_ a cannon ball exploding here, _pooff!_ a cannon +ball there, _ratt-ratt!_ a machine-gun.... I gallop, the devils +shooting all around. I get to a nice quiet street and stop, doze a +little, _pooff!_ another cannon ball, _ratt-ratt_.... Devils! Devils! +Devils! Brrr!" + +In the centre of the town the snow-piled streets were quiet with the +stillness of convalescence. Only a few arc-lights were burning, only +a few pedestrians hurried along the side-walks. An icy wind blew from +the great plain, cutting to the bone. At the first hotel we entered +an office illuminated by two candles. + +"Yes, we have some very comfortable rooms, but all the windows are +shot out. If the _gospodin_ does not mind a little fresh air...." + +Down the Tverskaya the shop-windows were broken, and there were +shell-holes and torn-up paving stones in the street. Hotel after +hotel, all full, or the proprietors still so frightened that all they +could say was, "No, no, there is no room! There is no room!" On the +main streets, where the great banking-houses and mercantile houses +lay, the Bolshevik artillery had been indiscriminately effective. As +one Soviet official told me, "Whenever we didn't know just where the +_yunkers_ and White Guards were, we bombarded their pocketbooks...." + +At the big Hotel National they finally took us in; for we were +foreigners, and the Military Revolutionary Committee had promised to +protect the dwellings of foreigners.... On the top floor the manager +showed us where shrapnel had shattered several windows. "The +animals!" said he, shaking his first at imaginary Bolsheviki. "But +wait! Their time will come; in just a few days now their ridiculous +Government will fall, and then we shall make them suffer!" + +We dined at a vegetarian restaurant with the enticing name, "I Eat +Nobody," and Tolstoy's picture prominent on the walls, and then +sallied out into the streets. + +The headquarters of the Moscow Soviet was in the palace of the former +Governor-General, an imposing white building fronting Skobeliev +Square. Red Guards stood sentry at the door. At the head of the wide, +formal stairway, whose walls were plastered with announcements of +committee-meetings and addresses of political parties, we passed +through a series of lofty ante-rooms, hung with red-shrouded pictures +in gold frames, to the splendid state salon, with its magnificent +crystal lustres and gilded cornices. A low-voiced hum of talk, +underlaid with the whirring bass of a score of sewing machines, +filled the place. Huge bolts of red and black cotton cloth were +unrolled, serpentining across the parqueted floor and over tables, at +which sat half a hundred women, cutting and sewing streamers and +banners for the Funeral of the Revolutionary Dead. The faces of these +women were roughened and scarred with life at its most difficult; +they worked now sternly, many of them with eyes red from weeping.... +The losses of the Red Army had been heavy. + +At a desk in one corner was Rogov, an intelligent, bearded man with +glasses, wearing the black blouse of a worker. He invited us to march +with the Central Executive Committee in the funeral procession next +morning.... + +"It is impossible to teach the Socialist Revolutionaries and the +Mensheviki anything!" he exclaimed. "They compromise from sheer +habit. Imagine! They proposed that we hold a joint funeral with the +_yunkers!"_ + +[Graphic, page 251: Questionaire for the Bourgeoioisie] + +Distributed to all bourgeois households in Moscow by the Moscow +Military Revolutionary Commitee, so as to provide a basis for the +requisition of clothing for the Army and the poor workers. For +translation see Appendix 3. (See App. X, Sect. 3) + +Across the hall came a man in a ragged soldier-coat and _shapka,_ +whose face was familiar; I recognised Melnichansky, whom I had known +as the watch-maker George Melcher in Bayonne, New Jersey, during the +great Standard Oil strike. Now, he told me, he was secretary of the +Moscow Metal-Workers' Union, and a Commissar of the Military +Revolutionary Committee during the fighting.... + +"You see me!" he cried, showing his decrepit clothing. "I was with +the boys in the Kremlin when the _yunkers_ came the first time. They +shut me up in the cellar and swiped my overcoat, my money, watch and +even the ring on my finger. This is all I've got to wear!" + +From him I learned many details of the bloody six-day battle which +had rent Moscow in two. Unlike in Petrograd, in Moscow the City Duma +had taken command of the _yunkers_ and White Guards. Rudnev, the +Mayor, and Minor, president of the Duma, had directed the activities +of the Committee of Public Safety and the troops. Riabtsev, +Commandant of the city, a man of democratic instincts, had hesitated +about opposing the Military Revolutionary Committee; but the Duma had +forced him.... It was the Mayor who had urged the occupation of the +Kremlin; "They will never dare fire on you there," he said.... + +One garrison regiment, badly demoralised by long inactivity, had been +approached by both sides. The regiment held a meeting to decide what +action to take. Resolved, that the regiment remain neutral, and +continue its present activities--which consisted in peddling rubbers +and sunflower seeds! + +"But worst of all," said Melnichansky, "we had to organise while we +were fighting. The other side knew just what it wanted; but here the +soldiers had their Soviet and the workers theirs.... There was a +fearful wrangle over who should be Commander-in-chief; some regiments +talked for days before they decided what to do; and when the officers +suddenly deserted us, we had no battle-staff to give orders...." + +Vivid little pictures he gave me. On a cold grey day he had stood at +a corner of the Nikitskaya, which was swept by blasts of machine-gun +fire. A throng of little boys were gathered there--street waifs who +used to be newsboys. Shrill, excited as if with a new game, they +waited until the firing slackened, and then tried to run across the +street.... Many were killed, but the rest dashed backward and forward, +laughing, daring each other.... + +Late in the evening I went to the _Dvorianskoye Sobranie_--the Nobles' +Club--where the Moscow Bolsheviki were to meet and consider the report +of Nogin, Rykov and the others who had left the Council of People's +Commissars. + +The meeting-place was a theatre, in which, under the old regime, to +audiences of officers and glittering ladies, amateur presentations of +the latest French comedy had once taken place. + +At first the place filled with the intellectuals--those who lived near +the centre of the town. Nogin spoke, and most of his listeners were +plainly with him. It was very late before the workers arrived; the +working-class quarters were on the outskirts of the town, and no +street-cars were running. But about midnight they began to clump up +the stairs, in groups of ten or twenty--big, rough men, in coarse +clothes, fresh from the battle-line, where they had fought like +devils for a week, seeing their comrades fall all about them. + +Scarcely had the meeting formally opened before Nogin was assailed +with a tempest of jeers and angry shouts. In vain he tried to argue, +to explain; they would not listen. He had left the Council of +People's Commissars; he had deserted his post while the battle was +raging. As for the bourgeois press, here in Moscow there was no more +bourgeois press; even the City Duma had been dissolved. (See App. X, +Sect. 4) Bukharin stood up, savage, logical, with a voice which +plunged and struck, plunged and struck.... Him they listened to with +shining eyes. Resolution, to support the action of the Council of +People's Commissars, passed by overwhelming majority. So spoke +Moscow.... + +[Graphic, page 254: Pass to the Kremlin] + +By this the Military Revolutionary Commitee requests to give a pass +for the purpose of investigating the Kremlin, the representatives of +the American Socialist party attached to the Socialist press, +comrades Reed and Bryant. + Chief of the Military Revolutionary Committee + For the Secretary + +Late in the night we went through the empty streets and under the +Iberian Gate to the great Red Square in front of the Kremlin. The +church of Vasili Blazheiny loomed fantastic, its bright-coloured, +convoluted and blazoned cupolas vague in the darkness. There was no +sign of any damage.... Along one side of the square the dark towers and +walls of the Kremlin stood up. On the high walls flickered redly the +light of hidden flames; voices reached us across the immense place, +and the sound of picks and shovels. We crossed over. + +Mountains of dirt and rock were piled high near the base of the wall. +Climbing these we looked down into two massive pits, ten or fifteen +feet deep and fifty yards long, where hundreds of soldiers and +workers were digging in the light of huge fires. + +A young student spoke to us in German. "The Brotherhood Grave," he +explained. "To-morrow we shall bury here five hundred proletarians +who died for the Revolution." + +He took us down into the pit. In frantic haste swung the picks and +shovels, and the earth--mountains grew. No one spoke. Overhead the +night was thick with stars, and the ancient Imperial Kremlin wall +towered up immeasurably. + +"Here in this holy place," said the student, "holiest of all Russia, +we shall bury our most holy. Here where are the tombs of the Tsars, +our Tsar--the People--shall sleep...." His arm was in a sling, from a +bullet-wound gained in the fighting. He looked at it. "You foreigners +look down on us Russians because so long we tolerated a mediaeval +monarchy," said he. "But we saw that the Tsar was not the only tyrant +in the world; capitalism was worse, and in all the countries of the +world capitalism was Emperor.... Russian revolutionary tactics are +best...." + +As we left, the workers in the pit, exhausted and running with sweat +in spite of the cold, began to climb wearily out. Across the Red +Square a dark knot of men came hurrying. They swarmed into the pits, +picked up the tools and began digging, digging, without a word.... + +So, all the long night volunteers of the People relieved each other, +never halting in their driving speed, and the cold light of the dawn +laid bare the great Square, white with snow, and the yawning brown +pits of the Brotherhood Grave, quite finished. + +We rose before sunrise, and hurried through the dark streets to +Skobeliev Square. In all the great city not a human being could be +seen; but there was a faint sound of stirring, far and near, like a +deep wind coming. In the pale half-light a little group of men and +women were gathered before the Soviet headquarters, with a sheaf of +gold-lettered red banners--the Central Executive Committee of the +Moscow Soviets. It grew light. From afar the vague stirring sound +deepened and became louder, a steady and tremendous bass. The city +was rising. We set out down the Tverskaya, the banners flapping +overhead. The little street chapels along our way were locked and +dark, as was the Chapel of the Iberian Virgin, which each new Tsar +used to visit before he went to the Kremlin to crown himself, and +which, day or night, was always open and crowded, and brilliant with +the candles of the devout gleaming on the gold and silver and jewels +of the ikons. Now, for the first time since Napoleon was in Moscow, +they say, the candles were out. + +The Holy Orthodox Church had withdrawn the light of its countenance +from Moscow, the nest of irreverent vipers who had bombarded the +Kremlin. Dark and silent and cold were the churches; the priests had +disappeared. There were no popes to officiate at the Red Burial, +there had been no sacrament for the dead, nor were any prayers to be +said over the grave of the blasphemers. Tikhon, Metropolitan of +Moscow, was soon to excommunicate the Soviets.... + +Also the shops were closed, and the propertied classes stayed at +home--but for other reasons. This was the Day of the People, the +rumour of whose coming was thunderous as surf.... + +Already through the Iberian Gate a human river was flowing, and the +vast Red Square was spotted with people, thousands of them. I +remarked that as the throng passed the Iberian Chapel, where always +before the passerby had crossed himself, they did not seem to notice +it.... + +We forced our way through the dense mass packed near the Kremlin +wall, and stood upon one of the dirt-mountains. Already several men +were there, among them Muranov, the soldier who had been elected +Commandant of Moscow--a tall, simple-looking, bearded man with a +gentle face. + +Through all the streets to the Red Square the torrents of people +poured, thousands upon thousands of them, all with the look of the +poor and the toiling. A military band came marching up, playing the +_Internationale,_ and spontaneously the song caught and spread like +wind-ripples on a sea, slow and solemn. From the top of the Kremlin +wall gigantic banners unrolled to the ground; red, with great letters +in gold and in white, saying, "Martyrs of the Beginning of World +Social Revolution," and "Long Live the Brotherhood of Workers of the +World." + +A bitter wind swept the Square, lifting the banners. Now from the far +quarters of the city the workers of the different factories were +arriving, with their dead. They could be seen coming through the +Gate, the blare of their banners, and the dull red--like blood--of the +coffins they carried. These were rude boxes, made of unplaned wood +and daubed with crimson, borne high on the shoulders of rough men who +marched with tears streaming down their faces, and followed by women +who sobbed and screamed, or walked stiffly, with white, dead faces. +Some of the coffins were open, the lid carried behind them; others +were covered with gilded or silvered cloth, or had a soldier's hat +nailed on the top. There were many wreaths of hideous artificial +flowers.... + +Through an irregular lane that opened and closed again the procession +slowly moved toward us. Now through the Gate was flowing an endless +stream of banners, all shades of red, with silver and gold lettering, +knots of crepe hanging from the top--and some Anarchist flags, black +with white letters. The band was playing the Revolutionary Funeral +March, and against the immense singing of the mass of people, +standing uncovered, the paraders sang hoarsely, choked with sobs.... + +Between the factory-workers came companies of soldiers with their +coffins, too, and squadrons of cavalry, riding at salute, and +artillery batteries, the cannon wound with red and black--forever, it +seemed. Their banners said, "Long live the Third International!" or +"We Want an Honest, General, Democratic Peace!" + +Slowly the marchers came with their coffins to the entrance of the +grave, and the bearers clambered up with their burdens and went down +into the pit. Many of them were women--squat, strong proletarian +women. Behind the dead came other women--women young and broken, or +old, wrinkled women making noises like hurt animals, who tried to +follow their sons and husbands into the Brotherhood Grave, and +shrieked when compassionate hands restrained them. The poor love each +other so! + +All the long day the funeral procession passed, coming in by the +Iberian Gate and leaving the Square by way of the Nikolskaya, a river +of red banners, bearing words of hope and brotherhood and stupendous +prophecies, against a back-ground of fifty thousand people,--under the +eyes of the world's workers and their descendants forever.... + +One by one the five hundred coffins were laid in the pits. Dusk fell, +and still the banners came drooping and fluttering, the band played +the Funeral March, and the huge assemblage chanted. In the leafless +branches of the trees above the grave the wreaths were hung, like +strange, multi-coloured blossoms. Two hundred men began to shovel in +the dirt. It rained dully down upon the coffins with a thudding +sound, audible beneath the singing.... + +The lights came out. The last banners passed, and the last moaning +women, looking back with awful intensity as they went. Slowly from +the great Square ebbed the proletarian tide.... + +I suddenly realised that the devout Russian people no longer needed +priests to pray them into heaven. On earth they were building a +kingdom more bright than any heaven had to offer, and for which it +was a glory to die.... + + + + +Chapter XI + +The Conquest of Power (See App. XI, Sect. 1) + + +DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLES OF RUSSIA (See App. XI, +Sect. 2) + +... The first Congress of Soviets, in June of this year, proclaimed +the right of the peoples of Russia to self-determination. + +The second Congress of Soviets, in November last, confirmed this +inalienable right of the peoples of Russia more decisively and +definitely. + +Executing the will of these Congresses, the Council of People's +Commissars has resolved to establish as a basis for its activity in +the question of Nationalities, the following principles: + +(1) The equality and sovereignty of the peoples of Russia. + +(2) The right of the peoples of Russia to free self-determination, +even to the point of separation and the formation of an independent +state. + +(3) The abolition of any and all national and national religious +privileges and disabilities. + +(4) The free development of national minorities and ethnographic +groups inhabiting the territory of Russia. + +Decrees will be prepared immediately upon the formation of a +Commission on Nationalities. + +In the name of the Russian Republic, + +People's Commissar for Nationalities + +YUSSOV DJUGASHVILI-STALIN + +President of the Council of People's Commissars + +V. ULIANOV (LENIN) + +The Central Rada at Kiev immediately declared Ukraine an independent +Republic, as did the Government of Finland, through the Senate at +Helsingfors. Independent "Governments" spring up in Siberia and the +Caucasus. The Polish Chief Military Committee swiftly gathered +together the Polish troops in the Russian army, abolished their +Committees and established an iron discipline.... + +All these "Governments" and "movements" had two characteristics in +common; they were controlled by the propertied classes, and they +feared and detested Bolshevism.... + +Steadily, amid the chaos of shocking change, the Council of People's +Commissars hammered at the scaffolding of the Socialist order. +Decree on Social Insurance, on Workers' Control, Regulations for +Volost Land Committees, Abolition of Ranks and Titles, Abolition of +Courts and the Creation of People's Tribunals.... (See App. XI, Sect. +3) + +Army after army, fleet after fleet, sent deputations, "joyfully to +greet the new Government of the People." + +In front of Smolny, one day, I saw a ragged regiment just come from +the trenches. The soldiers were drawn up before the great gates, +thin and grey-faced, looking up at the building as if God were in +it. Some pointed out the Imperial eagles over the door, laughing.... +Red Guards came to mount guard. All the soldiers turned to look, +curiously, as if they had heard of them but never seen them. They +laughed good-naturedly and pressed out of line to slap the Red +Guards on the back, with half-joking, half-admiring remarks.... + +The Provisional Government was no more. On November 15th, in all the +churches of the capital, the priests stopped praying for it. But as +Lenin himself told the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ that was "only the beginning +of the conquest of power." Deprived of arms, the opposition, which +still controlled the economic life of the country, settled down to +organise disorganisation, with all the Russian genius for +cooperative action--to obstruct, cripple and discredit the Soviets. + +The strike of Government employees was well organised, financed by +the banks and commercial establishments. Every move of the +Bolsheviki to take over the Government apparatus was resisted. + +Trotzky went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the functionaries +refused to recognise him, locked themselves in, and when the doors +were forced, resigned. He demanded the keys of the archives; only +when he brought workmen to force the locks were they given up. Then +it was discovered that Neratov, former assistant Foreign Minister, +had disappeared with the Secret Treaties.... + +Shliapnikov tried to take possession of the Ministry of Labour. It +was bitterly cold, and there was no one to light the fires. Of all +the hundreds of employees, not one would show him where the office +of the Minister was.... + +Alexandra Kollontai, appointed the 13th of November Commissar +of Public Welfare--the department of charities and public +institutions--was welcomed with a strike of all but forty of the +functionaries in the Ministry. Immediately the poor of the great +cities, the inmates of institutions, were plunged in miserable want: +delegations of starving cripples, of orphans with blue, pinched +faces, besieged the building. With tears streaming down her face, +Kollontai arrested the strikers until they should deliver the keys +of the office and the safe; when she got the keys, however, it was +discovered that the former Minister, Countess Panina, had gone off +with all the funds, which she refused to surrender except on the +order of the Constituent Assembly. (See App. XI, Sect. 4) + +In the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Supplies, the +Ministry of Finance, similar incidents occurred. And the employees, +summoned to return or forfeit their positions and their pensions, +either stayed away or returned to sabotage.... Almost all the +_intelligentzia_ being anti-Bolshevik, there was nowhere for the +Soviet Government to recruit new staffs.... + +The private banks remained stubbornly closed, with a back door open +for speculators. When Bolshevik Commissars entered, the clerks left, +secreting the books and removing the funds. All the employees of the +State Bank struck except the clerks in charge of the vaults and the +manufacture of money, who refused all demands from Smolny and +privately paid out huge sums to the Committee for Salvation and the +City Duma. + +Twice a Commissar, with a company of Red Guards, came formally to +insist upon the delivery of large sums for Government expenses. The +first time, the City Duma members and the Menshevik and Socialist +Revolutionary leaders were present in imposing numbers, and spoke so +gravely of the consequences that the Commissar was frightened. The +second time he arrived with a warrant, which he proceeded to read +aloud in due form; but some one called his attention to the fact +that it had no date and no seal, and the traditional Russian respect +for "documents" forced him again to withdraw.... + +The officials of the Credit Chancery destroyed their books, so that +all record of the financial relations of Russia with foreign +countries was lost. + +The Supply Committees, the administrations of the Municipal-owned +public utilities, either did not work at all, or sabotaged. And when +the Bolsheviki, compelled by the desperate needs of the city +population, attempted to help or to control the public service, all +the employees went on strike immediately, and the Duma flooded +Russia with telegrams about Bolshevik "violation of Municipal +autonomy." + +At Military headquarters, and in the offices of the Ministries of +War and Marine, where the old officials had consented to work, the +Army Committees and the high command blocked the Soviets in every +way possible, even to the extent of neglecting the troops at the +front. The _Vikzhel_ was hostile, refusing to transport Soviet +troops; every troop-train that left Petrograd was taken out by +force, and railway officials had to be arrested each time--whereupon +the _Vikzhel_ threatened an immediate general strike unless they +were released.... + +Smolny was plainly powerless. The newspapers said that all the +factories of Petrograd must shut down for lack of fuel in three +weeks; the _Vikzhel_ announced that trains must cease running by +December first; there was food for three days only in Petrograd, and +no more coming in; and the Army on the Front was starving.... The +Committee for Salvation, the various Central Committees, sent word +all over the country, exhorting the population to ignore the +Government decrees. And the Allied Embassies were either coldly +indifferent, or openly hostile.... + +The opposition newspapers, suppressed one day and reappearing next +morning under new names, heaped bitter sarcasm on the new regime. +(See App. XI, Sect. 5) Even _Novaya Zhizn_ characterised it as "a +combination of demagoguery and impotence." + +From day to day (it said) the Government of the People's Commissars +sinks deeper and deeper into the mire of superficial haste. Having +easily conquered the power... the Bolsheviki can not make use of it. + +Powerless to direct the existing mechanism of Government, they are +unable at the same time to create a new one which might work easily +and freely according to the theories of social experimenters. + +Just a little while ago the Bolsheviki hadn't enough men to run +their growing party--a work above all of speakers and writers; where +then are they going to find trained men to execute the diverse and +complicated functions of government? + +The new Government acts and threatens, it sprays the country with +decrees, each one more radical and more "socialist" than the last. +But in this exhibition of Socialism on Paper--more likely designed +for the stupefaction of our descendants--there appears neither the +desire nor the capacity to solve the immediate problems of the day! + +Meanwhile the _Vikzhel's_ Conference to Form a New Government +continued to meet night and day. Both sides had already agreed in +principle to the basis of the Government; the composition of the +People's Council was being discussed; the Cabinet was tentatively +chosen, with Tchernov as Premier; the Bolsheviki were admitted in a +large minority, but Lenin and Trotzky were barred. The Central +Committees of the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary parties, the +Executive Committee of the Peasant's Soviets, resolved that, +although unalterably opposed to the "criminal politics" of the +Bolsheviki, they would, "in order to halt the fratricidal +bloodshed," not oppose their entrance into the People's Council. + +The flight of Kerensky, however, and the astounding success of the +Soviets everywhere, altered the situation. On the 16th, in a meeting +of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ the Left Socialist Revolutionaries insisted +that the Bolsheviki should form a coalition Government with the +other Socialist parties; otherwise they would withdraw from the +Military Revolutionary Committee and the _Tsay-ee-kah._ Malkin said, +"The news from Moscow, where our comrades are dying on both sides of +the barricades, determines us to bring up once more the question of +organisation of power, and it is not only our right to do so, but +our duty.... We have won the right to sit with the Bolsheviki here +within the walls of Smolny Institute, and to speak from this +tribune. After the bitter internal party struggle, we shall be +obliged, if you refuse to compromise, to pass to open battle +outside.... We must propose to the democracy terms of an acceptable +compromise...." + +After a recess to consider this ultimatum, the Bolsheviki returned +with a resolution, read by Kameniev: + +The _Tsay-ee-kah_ considers it necessary that there enter into the +Government representatives of _all the Socialist parties composing +the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies who +recognise the conquests of the Revolution of November 7th--that is to +say, the establishment of a Government of Soviets, the decrees on +peace, land, workers' control over industry, and the arming of the +working-class._ The _Tsay-ee-kah_ therefore resolves to propose +negotiations concerning the constitution of the Government to all +parties _of the Soviet,_ and insists upon the following conditions +as a basis: + +The Government is responsible to the _Tsay-ee-kah._ The +_Tsay-ee-kah_ shall be enlarged to 150 members. To these 150 +delegates of the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies shall be +added 75 delegates of the _Provincial_ Soviets of Peasants' +Deputies, 80 from the Front organisations of the Army and Navy, 40 +from the Trade Unions (25 from the various All-Russian Unions, in +proportion to their importance, 10 from the _Vikzhel,_ and 5 from +the Post and Telegraph Workers), and 50 delegates from the Socialist +groups in the Petrograd City Duma. In the Ministry itself, at least +one-half the portfolios must be reserved to the Bolsheviki. The +Ministries of Labour, Interior and Foreign Affairs must be given to +the Bolsheviki. The command of the garrisons of Petrograd and Moscow +must remain in the hands of delegates of the Moscow and Petrograd +Soviets. + +The Government undertakes the systematic arming of the workers of +all Russia. + +It is resolved to insist upon the candidature of comrades Lenin and +Trotzky. + +Kameniev explained. "The so-called 'People's Council,'" he said, +"proposed by the Conference, would consist of about 420 members, of +which about 150 would be Bolsheviki. Besides, there would be +delegates from the counter-revolutionary old _Tsay-ee-kah,_ 100 +members chosen by the Municipal Dumas--Kornilovtsi all; 100 delegates +from the Peasants' Soviets--appointed by Avksentiev, and 80 from the +old Army Committees, who no longer represent the soldier masses. + +"We refuse to admit the old _Tsay-ee-kah,_ and also the +representatives of the Municipal Dumas. The delegates from the +Peasants' Soviets shall be elected by the Congress of Peasants, +which we have called, and which will at the same time elect a new +Executive Committee. The proposal to exclude Lenin and Trotzky is a +proposal to decapitate our party, and we do not accept it. And +finally, we see no necessity for a 'People's Council' anyway; the +Soviets are open to all Socialist parties, and the _Tsay-ee-kah_ +represents them in their real proportions among the masses...." + +Karelin, for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, declared that his +party would vote for the Bolshevik resolution, reserving the right +to modify certain details, such as the representation of the +peasants, and demanding that the Ministry of Agriculture be reserved +for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. This was agreed to.... + +Later, at a meeting of the Petrograd Soviet, Trotzky answered a +question about the formation of the new Government: + +"I don't know anything about that. I am not taking part in the +negotiations.... However, I don't think that they are of great +importance...." + +That night there was great uneasiness in the Conference. The +delegates of the City Duma withdrew.... + +But at Smolny itself, in the ranks of the Bolshevik party, a +formidable opposition to Lenin's policy was growing. On the night of +November 17th the great hall was packed and ominous for the meeting +of the _Tsay-ee-kah._ + +Larin, Bolshevik, declared that the moment of elections to the +Constituent Assembly approached, and it was time to do away with +"political terrorism." + +"The measures taken against the freedom of the press should be +modified. They had their reason during the struggle, but now they +have no further excuse. The press should be free, except for appeals +to riot and insurrection." + +In a storm of hisses and hoots from his own party, Larin offered the +following resolution: + +The decree of the Council of People's Commissars concerning the +Press is herewith repealed. + +Measures of political repression can only be employed subject to +decision of a special tribunal, elected by the _Tsay-ee-kah_ +proportionally to the strength of the different parties represented; +and this tribunal shall have the right also to reconsider measures +of repression already taken. + +This was met by a thunder of applause, not only from the Left +Socialist Revolutionaries, but also from a part of the Bolsheviki. + +Avanessov, for the Leninites, hastily proposed that the question of +the Press be postponed until after some compromise between the +Socialist parties had been reached. Overwhelmingly voted down. + +"The revolution which is now being accomplished," went on Avanessov, +"has not hesitated to attack private property; and it is as private +property that we must examine the question of the Press...." + +Thereupon he read the official Bolshevik resolution: + +The suppression of the bourgeois press was dictated not only by +purely military needs in the course of the insurrection, and for the +checking of counter-revolutionary action, but it is also necessary +as a measure of transition toward the establishment of a new regime +with regard to the Press--a regime under which the capitalist owners +of printing-presses and of paper cannot be the all-powerful and +exclusive manufacturers of public opinion. + +We must further proceed to the confiscation of private printing +plants and supplies of paper, which should become the property of +the Soviets, both in the capital and in the provinces, so that the +political parties and groups can make use of the facilities of +printing in proportion to the actual strength of the ideas they +represent--in other words, proportionally to the number of their +constituents. + +The reestablishment of the so-called "freedom of the press," the simple +return of printing presses and paper to the capitalists,--poisoners +of the mind of the people--this would be an inadmissible surrender +to the will of capital, a giving up of one of the most important +conquests of the Revolution; in other words, it would be a measure +of unquestionably counter-revolutionary character. + +Proceeding from the above, the _Tsay-ee-kah_ categorically rejects +all propositions aiming at the reestablishment of the old regime in +the domain of the Press, and unequivocally supports the point of +view of the Council of People's Commissars on this question, against +pretentions and ultimatums dictated by petty bourgeois prejudices, +or by evident surrender to the interests of the counter-revolutionary +bourgeoisie. + +The reading of this resolution was interrupted by ironical shouts +from the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, and bursts of indignation +from the insurgent Bolsheviki. Karelin was on his feet, protesting. +"Three weeks ago the Bolsheviki were the most ardent defenders of +the freedom of the Press... The arguments in this resolution suggest +singularly the point of view of the old Black Hundreds and the +censors of the Tsarist regime--for they also talked of 'poisoners of +the mind of the people.'" + +Trotzky spoke at length in favour of the resolution. He +distinguished between the Press during the civil war, and the Press +after the victory. "During civil war the right to use violence +belongs only to the oppressed...." (Cries of "Who's the oppressed now? +Cannibal!"). + +"The victory over our adversaries is not yet achieved, and the +newspapers are arms in their hands. In these conditions, the closing +of the newspapers is a legitimate measure of defence...." Then passing +to the question of the Press after the victory, Trotzky continued: + +"The attitude of Socialists on the question of freedom of the Press +should be the same as their attitude toward the freedom of +business.... The rule of the democracy which is being established in +Russia demands that the domination of the Press by private property +must be abolished, just as the domination of industry by private +property.... The power of the Soviets should confiscate all +printing-plants." (Cries, "Confiscate the printing-shop of +_Pravda!_") + +"The monopoly of the Press by the bourgeoisie must be abolished. +Otherwise it isn't worth while for us to take the power! Each group +of citizens should have access to print shops and paper.... The +ownership of print-type and of paper belongs first to the workers +and peasants, and only afterwards to the bourgeois parties, which +are in a minority.... The passing of the power into the hands of the +Soviets will bring about a radical transformation of the essential +conditions of existence, and this transformation will necessarily be +evident in the Press.... If we are going to nationalise the banks, can +we then tolerate the financial journals? The old regime must die; +that must be understood once and for all...." Applause and angry cries. + +Karelin declared that the _Tsay-ee-kah_ had no right to pass upon +this important question, which should be left to a special +committee. Again, passionately, he demanded that the Press be free. + +Then Lenin, calm, unemotional, his forehead wrinkled, as he spoke +slowly, choosing his words; each sentence falling like a +hammer-blow. "The civil war is not yet finished; the enemy is still +with us; consequently it is impossible to abolish the measures of +repression against the Press. + +"We Bolsheviki have always said that when we reached a position of +power we would close the bourgeois press. To tolerate the bourgeois +newspapers would mean to cease being a Socialist. When one makes a +Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward--or go +back. He who now talks about the 'freedom of the Press' goes +backward, and halts our headlong course toward Socialism. + +"We have thrown off the yoke of capitalism, just as the first +revolution threw off the yoke of Tsarism. _If the first revolution +had the right to suppress the Monarchist papers,_ then we have the +right to suppress the bourgeois press. It is impossible to separate +the question of the freedom of the Press from the other questions of +the class struggle. We have promised to close these newspapers, and +we shall do it. The immense majority of the people is with us! + +"Now that the insurrection is over, we have absolutely no desire to +suppress the papers of the other Socialist parties, except inasmuch +as they appeal to armed insurrection, or to disobedience to the +Soviet Government. However, we shall not permit them, under the +pretence of freedom of the Socialist press, to obtain, through the +secret support of the bourgeoisie, a monopoly of printing-presses, +ink and paper.... These essentials must become the property of the +Soviet Government, and be apportioned, first of all, to the +Socialist parties in strict proportion to their voting strength...." + +Then the vote. The resolution of Larin and the Left Socialist +Revolutionaries was defeated by 31 to 22; the Lenin motion was +carried by 34 to 24. Among the minority were the Bolsheviki Riazanov +and Lozovsky, who declared that it was impossible for them to vote +against any restriction on the freedom of the Press. + +Upon this the Left Socialist Revolutionaries declared they could no +longer be responsible for what was being done, and withdrew from the +Military Revolutionary Committee and all other positions of +executive responsibility. + +Five members--Nogin, Rykov, Miliutin, Teodorovitch and +Shiapnikov--resigned from the Council of People's Commissars, +declaring: + +We are in favour of a Socialist Government composed of all the +parties in the Soviets. We consider that only the creation of such a +Government can possibly guarantee the results of the heroic struggle +of the working-class and the revolutionary army. Outside of that, +there remains only one way: the constitution of a purely Bolshevik +Government by means of political terrorism. This last is the road +taken by the Council of People's Commissars. We cannot and will not +follow it. We see that this leads directly to the elimination from +political life of many proletarian organisations, to the +establishment of an irresponsible regime, and to the destruction of +the Revolution and the country. We cannot take the responsibility +for such a policy, and we renounce before the _Tsay-ee-kah_ our +function as People's Commissars. + +Other Commissars, without resigning their positions, signed the +declaration--Riazanov, Derbychev of the Press Department, Arbuzov, of +the Government Printing-plant, Yureniev, of the Red Guard, Feodorov, +of the Commissariat of Labour, and Larin, secretary of the Section +of Elaboration of Decrees. + +At the same time Kameniev, Rykov, Miliutin, Zinoviev and Nogin +resigned from the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party, making +public their reasons: + +... The constitution of such a Government (composed of all the parties +of the Soviet) is indispensable to prevent a new flow of blood, the +coming famine, the destruction of the Revolution by the Kaledinists, +to assure the convocation of the Constituent Assembly at the proper +time, and to apply effectively the programme adopted by the Congress +of Soviets.... + +We cannot accept the responsibility for the disastrous policy of the +Central Committee, carried on against the will of an enormous +majority of the proletariat and the soldiers, who are eager to see +the rapid end of the bloodshed between the different political +parties of the democracy.... We renounce our title as members of the +Central Committee, in order to be able to say openly our opinion to +the masses of workers and soldiers.... + +We leave the Central Committee at the moment of victory; we cannot +calmly look on while the policy of the chiefs of the Central +Committee leads toward the loss of the fruits of victory and the +crushing of the proletariat.... + +The masses of the workers, the soldiers of the garrison, stirred +restlessly, sending their delegations to Smolny, to the Conference +for Formation of the New Government, where the break in the ranks of +the Bolsheviki caused the liveliest joy. + +But the answer of the Leninites was swift and ruthless. Shliapnikov +and Teodorovitch submitted to party discipline and returned to their +posts. Kameniev was stripped of his powers as president of the +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ and Sverdlov elected in his place. Zinoviev was +deposed as president of the Petrograd Soviet. On the morning of the +5th, _Pravda_ contained a ferocious proclamation to the people of +Russia, written by Lenin, which was printed in hundreds of thousands +of copies, posted on the walls everywhere, and distributed over the +face of Russia. + +The second All-Russian Congress of Soviets gave the majority to the +Bolshevik party. Only a Government formed by this party can +therefore be a Soviet Government. And it is known to all that the +Central Committee of the Bolshevik party, a few hours before the +formation of the new Government and before proposing the list of its +members to the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, invited to its +meeting three of the most eminent members of the Left Socialist +Revolutionary group, comrades Kamkov, Spiro and Karelin, and ASKED +THEM to participate in the new Government. We regret infinitely that +the invited comrades refused; we consider their refusal inadmissible +for revolutionists and champions of the working-class; we are +willing at any time to include the Left Socialist Revolutionaries in +the Government; but we declare that, as the party of the majority at +the second All-Russian Congress of Soviets, we are entitled and +BOUND before the people to form a Government.... + +... Comrades! Several members of the Central Committee of our party +and the Council of People's Commissars, Kameniev, Zinoviev, Nogin, +Rykov, Miliutin and a few others left yesterday, November 17th, the +Central Committee of our party, and the last three, the Council of +People's Commissars.... + +The comrades who left us acted like deserters, because they not only +abandoned the posts entrusted to them, but also disobeyed the direct +instructions of the Central Committee of our party, to the effect +that they should await the decisions of the Petrograd and Moscow +party organisations before retiring. We blame decisively such +desertion. We are firmly convinced that all conscious workers, +soldiers and peasants, belonging to our party or sympathising with +it, will also disapprove of the behaviour of the deserters.... + +Remember, comrades, that two of these deserters, Kameniev and +Zinoviev, even before the uprising in Petrograd, appeared as +deserters and strike-breakers, by voting at the decisive meeting of +the Central Committee, October 23d, 1917, against the insurrection; +and even AFTER the resolution passed by the Central Committee, they +continued their campaign at a meeting of the party workers.... But the +great impulse of the masses, the great heroism of millions of +workers, soldiers and peasants, in Moscow, Petrograd, at the front, +in the trenches, in the villages, pushed aside the deserters as a +railway train scatters saw-dust.... + +Shame upon those who are of little faith, hesitate, who doubt, who +allow themselves to be frightened by the bourgeoisie, or who succumb +before the cries of the latter's direct or indirect accomplices! +There is NOT A SHADOW of hesitation in the MASSES of Petrograd, +Moscow, and the rest of Russia.... + +... We shall not submit to any ultimatums from small groups of +intellectuals which are not followed by the masses, which are +PRACTICALLY only supported by Kornilovists, Savinkovists, _yunkers,_ +and so forth.... + +The response from the whole country was like a blast of hot storm. +The insurgents never got a chance to "say openly their opinion to +the masses of workers and soldiers." Upon the _Tsay-ee-kah_ rolled +in like breakers the fierce popular condemnation of the "deserters." +For days Smolny was thronged with angry delegations and committees, +from the front, from the Volga, from the Petrograd factories. "Why +did they dare leave the Government? Were they paid by the +bourgeoisie to destroy the Revolution? They must return and submit +to the decisions of the Central Committee!" + +Only in the Petrograd garrison was there still uncertainty. A great +soldier meeting was held on November 24th, addressed by +representatives of all the political parties. By a vast majority +Lenin's policy was sustained, and the Left Socialist Revolutionaries +were told that they must enter the government.... _See next page._ + +The Mensheviki delivered a final ultimatum, demanding that all +Ministers and _yunkers_ be released, that all newspapers be allowed +full freedom, that the Red Guard be disarmed and the garrison put +under command of the Duma. To this Smolny answered that all the +Socialist Ministers and also all but a very few _yunkers_ had been +already set free, that all newspapers were free except the bourgeois +press, and that the Soviet would remain in command of the armed +forces.... On the 19th the Conference to Form a New Government +disbanded, and the opposition one by one slipped away to Moghilev, +where, under the wing of the General Staff, they continued to form +Government after Government, until the end.... + +[Graphic, page 276: Meeting announcement] + +Announcement, posted on the walls of Petrograd, of the result of a +meeting of representatives of the garrison regiments, called to +consider the question of forming a new Government. For translation +see App. XI, Sect. 6. + +Meanwhile the Bolsheviki had been undermining the power of the +_Vikzhel._ An appeal of the Petrograd Soviet to all railway workers +called upon them to force the _Vikzhel_ to surrender its powers. On +the 15th, the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ following its procedure toward the +peasants, called an All-Russian Congress of Railway Workers for +December 1st; the _Vikzhel_ immediately called its own Congress for +two weeks later. On November 16th, the _Vikzhel_ members took their +seats in the _Tsay-ee-kah._ On the night of December 2d, at the +opening session of the All-Russian Congress of Railway Workers, the +_Tsay-ee-kah_ formally offered the post of Commissar of Ways and +Communications to the _Vikzhel_--which accepted.... + +Having settled the question of power, the Bolsheviki turned their +attention to problems of practical administration. First of all the +city, the country, the Army must be fed. Bands of sailors and Red +Guards scoured the warehouses, the railway terminals, even the +barges in the canals, unearthing and confiscating thousands of +_poods_ of food held by private speculators. Emissaries were sent +to the provinces, where with the assistance of the Land Committees +they seized the store-houses of the great grain-dealers. Expeditions +of sailors, heavily armed, were sent out in groups of five thousand, +to the South, to Siberia, with roving commissions to capture cities +still held by the White Guards, establish order, and _get food._ +Passenger traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railroad was suspended for +two weeks, while thirteen trains, loaded with bolts of cloth and +bars of iron assembled by the Factory-Shop Committees, were sent out +eastward, each in charge of a Commissar, to barter with the Siberian +peasants for grain and potatoes.... + +Kaledin being in possession of the coal-mines of the Don, the fuel +question became urgent. Smolny shut off all electric lights in +theatres, shops and restaurants, cut down the number of street cars, +and confiscated the private stores of fire-wood held by the +fuel-dealers.... And when the factories of Petrograd were about to +close down for lack of coal, the sailors of the Baltic Fleet turned +over to the workers two hundred thousand _poods_ from the bunkers of +battle-ships.... + +Toward the end of November occurred the "wine-pogroms" (See App. XI, +Sect. 7)--looting of the wine-cellars--beginning with the plundering +of the Winter Palace vaults. For days there were drunken soldiers on +the streets.... In all this was evident the hand of the +counter-revolutionists, who distributed among the regiments plans +showing the location of the stores of liquor. The Commissars of +Smolny began by pleading and arguing, which did not stop the growing +disorder, followed by pitched battles between soldiers and Red +Guards.... Finally the Military Revolutionary Committee sent out +companies of sailors with machine-guns, who fired mercilessly upon +the rioters, killing many; and by executive order the wine-cellars +were invaded by Committees with hatchets, who smashed the bottles--or +blew them up with dynamite.... + +Companies of Red Guards, disciplined and well-paid, were on duty at +the headquarters of the Ward Soviets day and night, replacing the +old Militia. In all quarters of the city small elective +Revolutionary Tribunals were set up by the workers and soldiers to +deal with petty crime.... + +The great hotels, where the speculators still did a thriving +business, were surrounded by Red Guards, and the speculators thrown +into jail. (See App. XI, Sect. 8)... + +Alert and suspicious, the working-class of the city constituted +itself a vast spy system, through the servants prying into bourgeois +households, and reporting all information to the Military +Revolutionary Committee, which struck with an iron hand, unceasing. +In this way was discovered the Monarchist plot led by former +Duma-member Purishkevitch and a group of nobles and officers, who +had planned an officers' uprising, and had written a letter inviting +Kaledin to Petrograd. (See App. XI, Sect. 9).... In this way was +unearthed the conspiracy of the Petrograd Cadets, who were sending +money and recruits to Kaledin.... + +Neratov, frightened at the outburst of popular fury provoked by his +flight, returned and surrendered the Secret Treaties to Trotzky, who +began their publication in _Pravda,_ scandalising the world.... + +[Graphic, page 279: Proclamation] + +Bolshevik order. A proclamation of the Committee to Fight against +Pogroms, attached to the Petrograd Soviet. For translation see +App. XI, Sect. 11. + +The restrictions on the Press were increased by a decree (See App. +XI, Sect. 10) making advertisements a monopoly of the official +Government newspaper. At this all the other papers suspended +publication as a protest, or disobeyed the law and were closed.... +Only three weeks later did they finally submit. + +Still the strike of the Ministries went on, still the sabotage of +the old officials, the stoppage of normal economic life. Behind +Smolny was only the will of the vast, unorganised popular masses; +and with them the Council of People's Commissars dealt, directing +revolutionary mass-action against its enemies. In eloquent +proclamations, (See App. XI, Sect. 12) couched in simple words and +spread over Russia, Lenin explained the Revolution, urged the people +to take the power into their own hands, by force to break down the +resistance of the propertied classes, by force to take over the +institutions of Government. Revolutionary order. Revolutionary +discipline! Strict accounting and control! No strikes! No loafing! + +[Graphic, page 281: Appeal to work hard] + +Appeal of the Petrograd Soviet, the Petrograd Council of +Professional Unions, and the Petrograd Council of Factory Shop +Committees, to the Workers of Petrograd, urging them to work hard +and not to strike. For translation see App. XI, Sect. 13. + +On the 20th of November the Military Revolutionary Committee issued +a warning: + +The rich classes oppose the power of the Soviets--the Government of +workers, soldiers and peasants. Their sympathisers halt the work of +the employees of the Government and the Duma, incite strikes in the +banks, try to interrupt communication by the railways, the post and +the telegraph.... + +We warn them that they are playing with fire. The country and the +Army are threatened with famine. To fight against it, the regular +functioning of all services is indispensable. The Workers' and +Peasants' Government is taking every measure to assure the country +and the Army all that is necessary. Opposition to these measures is +a crime against the People. We warn the rich classes and their +sympathisers that, if they do not cease their sabotage and their +provocation in halting the transportation of food, they will be the +first to suffer. They will be deprived of the right of receiving +food. All the reserves which they possess will be requisitioned. The +property of the principal criminals will be confiscated. + +We have done our duty in warning those who play with fire. + +We are convinced that in case decisive measures become necessary, we +shall be solidly supported by all workers, soldiers, and peasants. + +On the 22d of November the walls of the city were placarded with a +sheet headed "EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNICATION": + +The Council of People's Commissars has received an urgent telegram +from the Staff of the Northern Front.... + +"There must be no further delay; do not let the Army die of hunger; +the armies of the Northern Front have not received a crust of bread +now for several days, and in two or three days they will not have +any more biscuits--which are being doled out to them from reserve +supplies until now never touched.... Already delegates from all parts +of the Front are talking of a necessary removal of part of the Army +to the rear, foreseeing that in a few days there will be headlong +flight of the soldiers, dying from hunger, ravaged by the three +years' war in the trenches, sick, insufficiently clothed, +bare-footed, driven mad by superhuman misery." + +The Military Revolutionary Committee brings this to the notice of +the Petrograd garrison and the workers of Petrograd. The situation +at the Front demands the most urgent and decisive measures. ... +Meanwhile the higher functionaries of the Government institutions, +banks, railroads, post and telegraph, are on strike and impeding the +work of the Government in supplying the Front with provisions.... Each +hour of delay may cost the life of thousands of soldiers. The +counter-revolutionary functionaries are the most dishonest criminals +toward their hungry and dying brethren on the Front.... + +The MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE GIVES THESE CRIMINALS A LAST +WARNING. In event of the least resistance or opposition on their +part, the harshness of the measures which will be adopted against +them will correspond to the seriousness of their crime.... + + +The masses of workers and soldiers responded by a savage tremor of +rage, which swept all Russia. In the capital the Government and bank +employees got out hundreds of proclamations and appeals (See App. +XI, Sect. 14), protesting, defending themselves, such as this one: + +TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL CITIZENS. + +THE STATE BANK IS CLOSED! + +WHY? + +Because the violence exercised by the Bolsheviki against the State +Bank has made it impossible for us to work. The first act of the +People's Commissars was to DEMAND TEN MILLION RUBLES, and on +November 27th THEY DEMANDED TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS, without any +indication as to where this money was to go. + +... We functionaries cannot take part in plundering the people's +property. We stopped work. + +CITIZENS! The money in the State Bank is yours, the people's money, +acquired by your labour, your sweat and blood. CITIZENS! Save the +people's property from robbery, and us from violence, and we shall +immediately resume work. + +EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE BANK. + +From the Ministry of Supplies, the Ministry of Finance, from the +Special Supply Committee, declarations that the Military +Revolutionary Committee made it impossible for the employees to +work, appeals to the population to support them against Smolny.... But +the dominant worker and soldier did not believe them; it was firmly +fixed in the popular mind that the employees were sabotaging, +starving the Army, starving the people.... In the long bread lines, +which as formerly stood in the iron winter streets, it was not _the +Government_ which was blamed, as it had been under Kerensky, but the +_tchinovniki,_ the sabotageurs; for the Government was _their_ +Government, _their_ Soviets--and the functionaries of the Ministries +were against it.... + +At the centre of all this opposition was the Duma, and its militant +organ, the Committee for Salvation, protesting against all the +decrees of the Council of People's Commissars, voting again and +again not to recognise the Soviet Government, openly cooperating +with the new counter-revolutionary "Governments" set up at +Moghilev.... On the 17th of November, for example, the Committee for +Salvation addressed "all Municipal Governments, Zemstvos, and all +democratic and revolutionary organisations of peasants, workers, +soldiers and other citizens," in these words: + +Do not recognise the Government of the Bolsheviki, and struggle +against it. + +Form local Committees for Salvation of Country and Revolution, who +will unite all democratic forces, so as to aid the All-Russian +Committee for Salvation in the tasks which it has set itself.... + +Meanwhile the elections for the Constituent Assembly in Petrograd +(See App. XI, Sect. 15) gave an enormous plurality to the +Bolsheviki; so that even the Mensheviki Internationalists pointed +out that the Duma ought to be re-elected, as it no longer +represented the political composition of the Petrograd population.... +At the same time floods of resolutions from workers' organisations, +from military units, even from the peasants in the surrounding +country, poured in upon the Duma, calling it "counter-revolutionary, +Kornilovitz," and demanding that it resign. The last days of the +Duma were stormy with the bitter demands of the Municipal workers +for decent living wages, and the threat of strikes.... + +On the 23d a formal decree of the Military Revolutionary Committee +dissolved the Committee for Salvation. On the 29th, the Council of +People's Commissars ordered the dissolution and re-election of the +Petrograd City Duma: + +In view of the fact that the Central Duma of Petrograd, elected +September 2d, ... has definitely lost the right to represent the +population of Petrograd, being in complete disaccord with its state +of mind and its aspirations ... and in view of the fact that the +personnel of the Duma majority, although having lost all political +following, continues to make use of its prerogatives to resist in a +counter-revolutionary manner the will of the workers, soldiers and +peasants, to sabotage and obstruct the normal work of the +Government--the Council of People's Commissars considers it its duty +to invite the population of the capital to pronounce judgment on the +policy of the organ of Municipal autonomy. + +To this end the Council of People's Commissars resolves: + +(1) To dissolve the Municipal Duma; the dissolution to take effect +November 30th, 1917. + +(2) All functionaries elected or appointed by the present Duma shall +remain at their posts and fulfil the duties confided to them, until +their places shall be filled by representatives of the new Duma. + +(3) All Municipal employees shall continue to fulfil their duties; +those who leave the service of their own accord shall be considered +discharged. + +(4) The new elections for the Municipal Duma of Petrograd are fixed +for December 9th, 1917.... + +(5) The Municipal Duma of Petrograd shall meet December 11th, 1917, +at two o'clock. + +(6) Those who disobey this decree, as well as those who +intentionally harm or destroy the property of the Municipality, +shall be immediately arrested and brought before the Revolutionary +Tribunals.... + +The Duma met defiantly, passing resolutions to the effect that it +would "defend its position to the last drop of its blood," and +appealing desperately to the population to save their "own elected +City Government." But the population remained indifferent or +hostile. On the 31st Mayor Schreider and several members were +arrested, interrogated, and released. That day and the next the Duma +continued to meet, interrupted frequently by Red Guards and sailors, +who politely requested the assembly to disperse. At the meeting of +December 2d, an officer and some sailors entered the Nicolai Hall +while a member was speaking, and ordered the members to leave, or +force would be used. They did so, protesting to the last, but +finally "ceding to violence." + +The new Duma, which was elected ten days later, and for which the +"Moderate" Socialists refused to vote, was almost entirely +Bolshevik.... + +There remained several centres of dangerous opposition, such as the +"republics" of Ukraine and Finland, which were showing definitely +anti-Soviet tendencies. Both at Helsingfors and at Kiev the +Governments were gathering troops which could be depended upon, and +entering upon campaigns of crushing Bolshevism, and of disarming and +expelling Russian troops. The Ukrainean Rada had taken command of +all southern Russia, and was furnishing Kaledin reinforcements and +supplies. Both Finland and Ukraine were beginning secret +negotiations with the Germans, and were promptly recognised by the +Allied Governments, which loaned them huge sums of money, joining +with the propertied classes to create counter-revolutionary centres +of attack upon Soviet Russia. In the end, when Bolshevism had +conquered in both these countries, the defeated bourgeoisie called +in the Germans to restore them to power.... + +But the most formidable menace to the Soviet Government was internal +and two-headed--the Kaledin movement, and the Staff at Moghilev, +where General Dukhonin had assumed command. + +[Graphic, page 287: Education Proclamation] + +Proclamation of the Commission of Public Education attached to the +City Duma, concerning the strike of school-teachers, just before the +Christmas holidays. The Duma had been re-elected, and was composed +almost entirely of Bolsheviki. For translation see App. XI, Sect. 17. + +The ubiquitous Muraviov was appointed commander of the war against +the Cossacks, and a Red Army was recruited from among the factory +workers. Hundreds of propagandists were sent to the Don. The Council +of People's Commissars issued a proclamation to the Cossacks, (See +App. XI, Sect. 16) explaining what the Soviet Government was, how +the propertied classes, the _tchin ovniki,_ landlords, bankers and +their allies, the Cossack princes, land-owners and Generals, were +trying to destroy the Revolution, and prevent the confiscation of +their wealth by the people. + +On November 27th a committee of Cossacks came to Smolny to see +Trotzky and Lenin. They demanded if it were true that the Soviet +Government did not intend to divide the Cossack lands among the +peasants of Great Russia? "No," answered Trotzky. The Cossacks +deliberated for a while. "Well," they asked, "does the Soviet +Government intend to confiscate the estates of our great Cossack +land-owners and divide them among the working Cossacks?" To this +Lenin replied. "That," he said, "is for _you_ to do. We shall +support the working Cossacks in all their actions.... The best way to +begin is to form Cossacks Soviets; you will be given representation +in the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ and then it will be _your_ Government, too...." + +The Cossacks departed, thinking hard. Two weeks later General +Kaledin received a deputation from his troops. "Will you," they +asked, "promise to divide the great estates of the Cossack landlords +among the working Cossacks?" + +"Only over my dead body," responded Kaledin. A month later, seeing +his army melt away before his eyes, Kaledin blew out his brains. And +the Cossack movement was no more.... + +Meanwhile at Moghilev were gathered the old _Tsay-ee-kah_ the +"moderate" Socialist leaders--from Avksentiev to Tchernov--the active +chiefs of the old Army Committees, and the reactionary officers. The +Staff steadily refused to recognise the Council of People's +Commissars. It had united about it the Death Battalions, the Knights +of St. George, and the Cossacks of the Front, and was in close and +secret touch with the Allied military attaches, and with the Kaledin +movement and the Ukrainean Rada.... + +The Allied Governments had made no reply to the Peace decree of +November 8th, in which the Congress of Soviets had asked for a +general armistice. + +On November 20th Trotzky addressed a note to the Allied Ambassadors: +(See App. XI, Sect. 18) + +I have the honour to inform you, Mr. Ambassador, that the +All-Russian Congress of Soviets... on November 8th constituted a new +Government of the Russian Republic, in the form of the Council of +People's Commissars. The President of this Government is Vladimir +Ilyitch Lenin. The direction of Foreign Affairs has been entrusted +to me, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs.... + +In drawing your attention to the text, approved by the All-Russian +Congress, of the proposition for an armistice and a democratic peace +without annexations or indemnities, based on the right of +self-determination of peoples, I have the honour to request you to +consider that document as a formal proposal of an immediate +armistice on all fronts, and the opening of immediate peace +negotiations; a proposal which the authorised Government of the +Russian Republic addresses at the same time to all the belligerent +peoples and their Governments. + +Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the profound assurance of the esteem +of the Soviet Government toward your people, who cannot but wish for +peace, like all the other peoples exhausted and drained by this +unexampled butchery.... + +The same night the Council of People's Commissars telegraphed to +General Dukhonin: + +... The Council of People's Commissars considers it indispensable +without delay to make a formal proposal of armistice to all the +powers, both enemy and Allied. A declaration conforming to this +decision has been sent by the Commissar for Foreign Affairs to the +representatives of the Allied powers at Petrograd. + +The Council of People's Commissars orders you, Citizen Commander,... +to propose to the enemy military authorities immediately to cease +hostilities, and enter into negotiations for peace. + +In charging you with the conduct of these preliminary pourparlers, +the Council of People's Commissars orders you: + +1. To inform the Council by direct wire immediately of any and all +steps in the pourparlers with the representatives of the enemy +armies. + +2. Not to sign the act of armistice until it has been passed upon by +the Council of People's Commissars. + +The Allied Ambassadors received Trotzky's note with contemptuous +silence, accompanied by anonymous interviews in the newspapers, full +of spite and ridicule. The order to Dukhonin was characterised +openly as an act of treason.... + +As for Dukhonin, he gave no sign. On the night of November 22nd he +was communicated with by telephone, and asked if he intended to obey +the order. Dukhonin answered that he could not, unless it emanated +from "a Government sustained by the Army and the country." + +By telegraph he was immediately dismissed from the post of Supreme +Commander, and Krylenko appointed in his place. Following his +tactics of appealing to the masses, Lenin sent a radio to all +regimental, divisional and corps Committees, to all soldiers and +sailors of the Army and the Fleet, acquainting them with Dukhonin's +refusal, and ordering that "the regiments on the front shall elect +delegates to begin negotiations with the enemy detachments opposite +their positions...." + +On the 23d, the military attaches of the Allied nations, acting on +instructions from their Governments, presented a note to Dukhonin, +in which he was solemnly warned not to "violate the conditions of +the treaties concluded between the Powers of the Entente." The note +went on to say that if a separate armistice with Germany were +concluded, that act "would result in the most serious consequences" +to Russia. This communication Dukhonin at once sent out to all the +soldiers' Committees.... + +Next morning Trotzky made another appeal to the troops, +characterising the note of the Allied representatives as a flagrant +interference in the internal affairs of Russia, and a bald attempt +"to force by threats the Russian Army and the Russian people to +continue the war in execution of the treaties concluded by the +Tsar...." + +From Smolny poured out proclamation after proclamation, (See App. +XI, Sect. 19) denouncing Dukhonin and the counter-revolutionary +officers about him, denouncing the reactionary politicians gathered +at Moghilev, rousing, from one end of the thousand-mile Front to the +other, millions of angry, suspicious soldiers. And at the same time +Krylenko, accompanied by three detachments of fanatical sailors, set +out for the _Stavka,_ breathing threats of vengeance, (See App. XI, +Sect. 20) and received by the soldiers everywhere with tremendous +ovations--a triumphal progress. The Central Army Committee issued a +declaration in favour of Dukhonin; and at once ten thousand troops +moved upon Moghilev.... + +On December 2d the garrison of Moghilev rose and seized the city, +arresting Dukhonin and the Army Committee, and going out with +victorious red banners to meet the new Supreme Commander. Krylenko +entered Moghilev next morning, to find a howling mob gathered about +the railway-car in which Dukhonin had been imprisoned. Krylenko made +a speech in which he implored the soldiers not to harm Dukhonin, as +he was to be taken to Petrograd and judged by the Revolutionary +Tribunal. When he had finished, suddenly Dukhonin himself appeared +at the window, as if to address the throng. But with a savage roar +the people rushed the car, and falling upon the old General, dragged +him out and beat him to death on the platform.... + +So ended the revolt of the _Stavka_.... + +Immensely strengthened by the collapse of the last important +stronghold of hostile military power in Russia, the Soviet +Government began with confidence the organisation of the state. Many +of the old functionaries flocked to its banner, and many members of +other parties entered the Government service. The financially +ambitious, however, were checked by the decree on Salaries of +Government Employees, fixing the salaries of the People's +Commissars--the highest--at five hundred rubles (about fifty dollars) +a month.... The strike of Government Employees, led by the Union of +Unions, collapsed, deserted by the financial and commercial +interests which had been backing it. The bank clerks returned to +their jobs.... + +With the decree on the Nationalisation of Banks, the formation of +the Supreme Council of People's Economy, the putting into practical +operation of the Land decree in the villages, the democratic +reorganisation of the Army, and the sweeping changes in all branches +of the Government and of life,--with all these, effective only by the +will of the masses of workers, soldiers and peasants, slowly began, +with many mistakes and hitches, the moulding of proletarian Russia. + +Not by compromise with the propertied classes, or with the other +political leaders; not by conciliating the old Government mechanism, +did the Bolsheviki conquer the power. Nor by the organized violence +of a small clique. If the masses all over Russia had not been ready +for insurrection it must have failed. The only reason for Bolshevik +success lay in their accomplishing the vast and simple desires of +the most profound strata of the people, calling them to the work of +tearing down and destroying the old, and afterward, in the smoke of +falling ruins, cooperating with them to erect the frame-work of the +new.... + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Peasants' Congress + + +It was on November 18th that the snow came. In the morning we woke +to window-ledges heaped white, and snowflakes falling so whirling +thick that it was impossible to see ten feet ahead. The mud was +gone; in a twinkling the gloomy city became white, dazzling. The +_droshki_ with their padded coachmen turned into sleights, bounding +along the uneven street at headlong speed, their drivers' beards +stiff and frozen.... In spite of Revolution, all Russia plunging +dizzily into the unknown and terrible future, joy swept the city +with the coming of the snow. Everybody was smiling; people ran into +the streets, holding out their arms to the soft, falling flakes, +laughing. Hidden was all the greyness; only the gold and coloured +spires and cupolas, with heightened barbaric splendour, gleamed +through the white snow. + +Even the sun came out, pale and watery, at noon. The colds and +rheumatism of the rainy months vanished. The life of the city grew +gay, and the very Revolution ran swifter.... + +I sat one evening in a _traktir_--a kind of lower-class inn--across +the street from the gates of Smolny; a low-ceilinged, loud place +called "Uncle Tom's Cabin," much frequented by Red Guards. They +crowded it now, packed close around the little tables with their +dirty table-cloths and enormous china tea-pots, filling the place +with foul cigarette-smoke, while the harassed waiters ran about +crying _"Seichass! Seichass!_ In a minute! Right away!" + +In one corner sat a man in the uniform of a captain, addressing the +assembly, which interrupted him at every few words. + +"You are no better than murderers!" he cried. "Shooting down your +Russian brothers on the streets!" + +"When did we do that?" asked a worker. + +"Last Sunday you did it, when the _yunkers_--" + +"Well, didn't they shoot us?" One man exhibited his arm in a sling. +"Haven't I got something to remember them by, the devils?" + +The captain shouted at the top of his voice. "You should remain +neutral! You should remain neutral! Who are you to destroy the legal +Government? Who is Lenin? A German--" + +"Who are you? A counter-revolutionist! A provocator!" they bellowed +at him. + +When he could make himself heard the captain stood up. "All right!" +said he. "You call yourselves the people of Russia. But you're _not_ +the people of Russia. The _peasants_ are the people of Russia. Wait +until the peasants--" + +"Yes," they cried, "wait until the peasants speak. We know what the +peasants will say.... Aren't they workingmen like ourselves?" + +In the long run, everything depended upon the peasants. While the +peasants had been politically backward, still they had their own +peculiar ideas, and they constituted more than eighty per cent of +the people of Russia. The Bolsheviki had a comparatively small +following among the peasants; and a permanent dictatorship of Russia +by the industrial workers was impossible.... The traditional peasant +party was the Socialist Revolutionary party; of all the parties now +supporting the Soviet Government, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries +were the logical inheritors of peasant leadership--and the Left +Socialist Revolutionaries, who were at the mercy of the organised +city proletariat, desperately needed the backing of the peasants.... + +Meanwhile Smolny had not neglected the peasants. After the Land +decree, one of the first actions of the new _Tsay-ee-kah_ had been +to call a Congress of Peasants, over the head of the Executive +Committee of the Peasants' Soviets. A few days later was issued +detailed Regulations for the _Volost_ (Township) Land Committees, +followed by Lenin's "Instruction to Peasants," (See App. XII, Sect. +1) which explained the Bolshevik revolution and the new Government +in simple terms; and on November 16th, Lenin and Miliutin published +the "Instructions to Provincial Emissaries," of whom thousands were +sent by the Soviet Government into the villages. + +1. Upon his arrival in the province to which he is accredited, the +emissary should call a joint meeting of the Central Executive +Committees of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' +Deputies, to whom he should make a report on the agrarian laws, and +then demand that a joint plenary session of the Soviets be summoned.... + +2. He must study the aspects of the agrarian problem in the province. + +a. Has the land-owners' property been taken over, and if so, in what +districts? + +b. Who administers the confiscated land--the former proprietor, or +the Land Committees? + +c. What has been done with the agricultural machinery and with the +farm-animals? + +3. Has the ground cultivated by the peasants been augmented? + +4. How much and in what respect does the amount of land now under +cultivation differ from the amount fixed by the Government as an +average minimum? + +5. The emissary must insist that, after the peasants have received +the land, it is imperative that they increase the amount of +cultivated land as quickly as possible, and that they hasten the +sending of grain to the cities, as the only means of avoiding famine. + +6. What are the measures projected or put into effect for the +transfer of land from the land-owners to the Land Committees and +similar bodies appointed by the Soviets? + +7. It is desirable that agricultural properties well appointed and +well organised should be administered by Soviets composed of the +regular employees of those properties, under the direction of +competent agricultural scientists. + +All through the villages a ferment of change was going on, caused +not only by the electrifying action of the Land decree, but also by +thousands of revolutionary-minded peasant-soldiers returning from +the front.... These men, especially, welcomed the call to a Congress +of Peasants. + +Like the old _Tsay-ee-kah_ in the matter of the second Congress of +Workers' and Soldiers' Soviets, the Executive Committee tried to +prevent the Peasant Congress summoned by Smolny. And like the old +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ finding its resistance futile, the Executive +Committee sent frantic telegrams ordering the election of +Conservative delegates. Word was even spread among the peasants that +the Congress would meet at Moghilev, and some delegates went there; +but by November 23d about four hundred had gathered in Petrograd, +and the party caucuses had begun.... + +The first session took place in the Alexander Hall of the Duma +building, and the first vote showed that more than half of all the +delegates were Left Socialist Revolutionaries, while the Bolsheviki +controlled a bare fifth, the conservative Socialist Revolutionaries +a quarter, and all the rest were united only in their opposition to +the old Executive Committee, dominated by Avksentiev, Tchaikovsky +and Peshekhonov.... + +The great hall was jammed with people and shaken with continual +clamour; deep, stubborn bitterness divided the delegates into angry +groups. To the right was a sprinkling of officers' epaulettes, and +the patriarchal, bearded faces of the older, more substantial +peasants; in the centre were a few peasants, non-commissioned +officers, and some soldiers; and on the left almost all the +delegates wore the uniforms of common soldiers. These last were the +young generation, who had been serving in the army.... The galleries +were thronged with workers--who, in Russia, still remember their +peasant origin.... + +Unlike the old _Tsay-ee-kah,_ the Executive Committee, in opening +the session, did not recognise the Congress as official; the +official Congress was called for December 13th; amid a hurricane of +applause and angry cries, the speaker declared that this gathering +was merely "Extraordinary Conference"... But the "Extraordinary +Conference" soon showed its attitude toward the Executive Committee +by electing as presiding officer Maria Spiridonova, leader of the +Left Socialist Revolution aries. + +Most of the first day was taken up by a violent debate as to whether +the representatives of _Volost_ Soviets should be seated, or only +delegates from the Provincial bodies; and just as in the Workers' +and Soldiers' Congress, an overwhelming majority declared in favour +of the widest possible representation. Whereupon the old Executive +Committee left the hall.... + +Almost immediately it was evident that most of the delegates were +hostile to the Government of the People's Commissars. Zinoviev, +attempting to speak for the Bolsheviki, was hooted down, and as he +left the platform, amid laughter, there were cries, "There's how a +People's Commissar sits in a mudpuddle!" + +"We Left Socialist Revolutionaries refuse," cried Nazariev, a +delegate from the Provinces, "to recognise this so-called Workers' +and Peasants' Government until the peasants are represented in it. +At present it is nothing but a dictatorship of the workers.... We +insist upon the formation of a new Government which will represent +the entire democracy!" + +The reactionary delegates shrewdly fostered this feeling, declaring, +in the face of protests from the Bolshevik benches, that the Council +of People's Commissars intended either to control the Congress or +dissolve it by force of arms--an announcement which was received by +the peasants with bursts of fury.... + +On the third day Lenin suddenly mounted the tribune; for ten minutes +the room went mad. "Down with him!" they shrieked. "We will not +listen to any of your People's Commissars! We don't recognise your +Government!" + +Lenin stood there quite calmly, gripping the desk with both hands, +his little eyes thoughtfully surveying the tumult beneath. Finally, +except for the right side of the hall, the demonstration wore itself +out somewhat. + +"I do not come here as a member of the Council of People's +Commissars," said Lenin, and waited again for the noise to subside, +"but as a member of the Bolshevik faction, duly elected to this +Congress." And he held his credentials up to that all might see them. + +"However," he went on, in an unmoved voice, "nobody will deny that +the present Government of Russia has been formed by the Bolshevik +party--" he had to wait a moment, "so that for all purposes it is the +same thing...." Here the right benches broke into deafening clamour, +but the centre and left were curious, and compelled silence. + +Lenin's argument was simple. "Tell me frankly, you peasants, to whom +we have given the lands of the _pomieshtchiki;_ do you want now to +prevent the workers from getting control of industry? This is class +war. The _pomieshtchiki_ of course oppose the peasants, and the +manufactures oppose the workers. Are you going to allow the ranks of +the proletariat to be divided? Which side will you be on? + +"We, the Bolsheviki, are the party of the proletariat--of the peasant +proletariat as well as the industrial proletariat. We, the +Bolsheviki, are the protectors of the Soviets--of the Peasants' +Soviets as well as those of the Workers and Soldiers. The present +Government is a Government of Soviets; we have not only invited the +Peasants' Soviets to join that Government, but we have also invited +representatives of the Left Socialist Revolutionaries to enter the +Council of People's Commissars.... + +"The Soviets are the most perfect representatives of the people--of +the workers in the factories and mines, of the workers in the +fields. Anybody who attempts to destroy the Soviets is guilty of an +anti-democratic and counter-revolutionary act. And I serve notice +here on you, comrades _Right_ Socialist Revolutionaries--and on you, +Messrs. Cadets--that if the Constituent Assembly attempts to destroy +the Soviets, we shall not permit the Constituent Assembly to do this +thing!" + +On the afternoon of November 25th Tchernov arrived in hot haste from +Moghilev, summoned by the Executive Committee. Only two months +before considered an extreme revolutionist, and very popular with +the peasants, he was now called to check the dangerous drift of the +Congress toward the Left. Upon his arrival Tchernov was arrested and +taken to Smolny, where, after a short conversation, he was released. + +His first act was to bitterly rebuke the Executive Committee for +leaving the Congress. They agreed to return, and Tchernov entered +the hall, welcomed with great applause by the majority, and the +hoots and jeers of the Bolsheviki. + +"Comrades! I have been away. I participated in the Conference of the +Twelfth Army on the question of calling a Congress of all the +Peasant delegates of the armies of the Western Front, and I know +very little about the insurrection which occurred here--" + +Zinoviev rose in his seat, and shouted, "Yes, you were away--for a +few minutes!" Fearful tumult. Cries, "Down with the Bolsheviki!" + +Tchernov continued. "The accusation that I helped lead an army on +Petrograd has no foundation, and is entirely false. Where does such +an accusation come from? Show me the source!" + +Zinoviev: "_Izviestia_ and _Dielo Naroda_--your own paper--that's +where it comes from!" + +Tchernov's wide face, with the small eyes, waving hair and greyish +beard, became red with wrath, but he controlled himself and went on. +"I repeat, I know practically nothing about what has happened here, +and I did not lead any army except this army, (he pointed to the +peasant delegates), which I am largely responsible for bringing +here!" Laughter, and shouts of "Bravo!" + +"Upon my return I visited Smolny. No such accusation was made +against me there.... After a brief conversation I left--and that's all! +Let any one present make such an accusation!" + +An uproar followed, in which the Bolsheviki and some of the Left +Socialist Revolutionaries were on their feet all at once, shaking +their fists and yelling, and the rest of the assembly tried to yell +them down. + +"This is an outrage, not a session!" cried Tchernov, and he left the +hall; the meeting was adjourned because of the noise and disorder.... + +Meanwhile, the question of the status of the Executive Committee was +agitating all minds. By declaring the assembly "Extraordinary +Conference," it had been planned to block the reelection of the +Executive Committee. But this worked both ways; the Left Socialist +Revolutionists decided that if the Congress had no power over the +Executive Committee, then the Executive Committee had no power over +the Congress. On November 25th the assembly resolved that the powers +of the Executive Committee be assumed by the Extraordinary +Conference, in which only members of the Executive who had been +elected as delegates might vote.... + +The next day, in spite of the bitter opposition of the Bolsheviki, +the resolution was amended to give all the members of the Executive +Committee, whether elected as delegates or not, voice and vote in +the assembly. + +On the 27th occurred the debate on the Land question, which revealed +the differences between the agrarian programme of the Bolsheviki and +the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. + +Kolchinsky, for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, outlined the +history of the Land question during the Revolution. The first +Congress of Peasants' Soviets, he said, had voted a precise and +formal resolution in favour of putting the landed estates +immediately into the hands of the Land Committees. But the directors +of the Revolution, and the bourgeois in the Government, had insisted +that the question could not be solved until the Constituent Assembly +met.... The second period of the Revolution, the period of +"compromise," was signalled by the entrance of Tchernov into the +Cabinet. The peasants were convinced that now the practical solution +of the Land question would begin; but in spite of the imperative +decision of the first Peasant Congress, the reactionaries and +conciliators in the Executive Committee had prevented any action. +This policy provoked a series of agrarian disorders, which appeared +as the natural expression of impatience and thwarted energy on the +part of the peasants. The peasants understood the exact meaning of +the Revolution--they tried to turn words into action.... + +"The recent events," said the orator, "do not indicate a simple +riot, or a 'Bolshevik adventure,' but on the contrary, a real +popular rising, which has been greeted with sympathy by the whole +country.... + +"The Bolsheviki in general took the correct attitude toward the Land +question; but in recommending that the peasants seize the land by +force, they committed a profound error.... From the first days, the +Bolsheviki declared that the peasants should take over the land 'by +revolutionary mass action.' This is nothing but anarchy; the land can +be taken over in an organised manner.... For the Bolsheviki it was +important that the problems of the Revolution should be solved in +the quickest possible manner--but the Bolsheviki were not interested +in _how_ these problems were to be solved.... + +"The Land decree of the Congress of Soviets is identical in its +fundamentals with the decisions of the first Peasants' Congress. Why +then did not the new Government follow the tactics outlined by that +Congress? Because the Council of People's Commissars wanted to +hasten the settlement of the Land question, so that the Constituent +Assembly would have nothing to do.... + +"But also the Government saw that it was necessary to adopt +practical measures, so without further reflection, it adopted the +Regulations for Land Committees, thus creating a strange situation; +for the Council of People's Commissars abolished private property in +land, but the Regulations drawn up by the Land Committees are based +on private property.... However, no harm has been done by that; +for the Land Committees are paying no attention to the Soviet +decrees, but are putting into operation their own practical +decisions--decisions based on the will of the vast majority of the +peasants.... + +"These Land Committees are not attempting the legislative solution +of the Land question, which belongs to the Constituent Assembly +alone.... But will the Constituent Assembly desire to do the will of +the Russian peasants? Of that we cannot be sure.... All we can be sure +of is that the revolutionary determination of the peasants is now +aroused, and that the Constituent will be _forced_ to settle the +Land question the way the peasants want it settled.... The Constituent +Assembly will not dare to break with the will of the people...." + +Followed him Lenin, listened to now with absorbing intensity. "At +this moment we are not only trying to solve the Land question, but +the question of Social Revolution--not only here in Russia, but all +over the world. The Land question cannot be solved independently of +the other problems of the Social Revolution.... For example, the +confiscation of the landed estates will provoke the resistance not +only of Russian land-owners, but also of foreign capital--with whom +the great landed properties are connected through the intermediary +of the banks.... + +"The ownership of the land in Russia is the basis for immense +oppression, and the confiscation of the land by the peasants is the +most important step of our Revolution. But it cannot be separated +from the other steps, as is clearly manifested by the stages through +which the Revolution has had to pass. The first stage was the +crushing of autocracy and the crushing of the power of the +industrial capitalists and land-owners, whose interests are closely +related. The second stage was the strengthening of the Soviets and +the political compromise with the bourgeoisie. The mistake of the +Left Socialist Revolutionaries lies in the fact that at that time +they did not oppose the policy of compromise, because they held the +theory that the consciousness of the masses was not yet fully +developed.... + +"_If Socialism can only be realised when the intellectual +development of all the people permits it, then we shall not see +Socialism for at least five hundred years_.... The Socialist political +party--this is the vanguard of the working-class; it must not allow +itself to be halted by the lack of education of the mass average, +but it must lead the masses, using the Soviets as organs of +revolutionary initiative.... But in order to lead the wavering, the +comrades Left Socialist Revolutionaries themselves must stop +hesitating.... + +"In July last a series of open breaks began between the popular +masses and the 'compromisers'; but now, in November, the Left +Socialist Revolutionaries are still holding out their hand to +Avksentiev, who is pulling the people with his little finger.... If +Compromise continues, the Revolution disappears. No compromise with +the bourgeoisie is possible; its power must be absolutely crushed.... + +"We Bolsheviki have not changed our Land programme; we have not +given up the abolition of private property in the land, and we do +not intend to do so. We adopted the Regulations for Land +Committees,--which are _not_ based on private property at all--because +we want to accomplish the popular will in the way the people have +themselves decided to do it, so as to draw closer the coalition of +all the elements who are fighting for the Social Revolution. + +"We invite the Left Socialist Revolutionaries to enter that +coalition, insisting, however, that they cease looking backward, and +that they break with the 'conciliators' of their party.... + +"As far as the Constituent Assembly is concerned, it is true, as the +preceding speaker has said, that the work of the Constituent will +depend on the revolutionary determination of the masses. I say, +'Count on that revolutionary determination, but don't forget your +gun!'" + +Lenin then read the Bolshevik resolution: + +The Peasants' Congress, fully supporting the Land decree of November +8th... approves of the Provisional Workers' and Peasants' Government +of the Russian Republic, established by the second All-Russian +Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. + +The Peasants' Congress... invites all peasants unanimously to sustain +that law, and to apply it immediately themselves; and at the same +time invites the peasants to appoint to posts and positions of +responsibility only persons who have proved, not by words but by +acts, their entire devotion to the interests of the exploited +peasant-workers, their desire and their ability to defend these +interests against all resistance on the part of the great +land-owners, the capitalists, their partisans and accomplices.... + +The Peasants' Congress, at the same time, expresses its conviction +that the complete realisation of all the measures which make up the +Land decree can only be successful through the triumph of the +Workers' Social Revolution, which began November 7th, 1917; for only +the Social Revolution can accomplish the definite transfer, without +possibility of return, of the land to the peasant-workers, the +confiscation of model farms and their surrender to the peasant +communes, the confiscation of agricultural machinery belonging to +the great land-owners, the safe-guarding of the interests of the +agricultural workers by the complete abolition of wage-slavery, the +regular and methodical distribution among all regions of Russia of +the products of agriculture and industry, and the seizure of the +banks (without which the possession of land by the whole people +would be impossible, after the abolition of private property), and +all sorts of assistance by the State to the workers.... + +For these reasons the Peasants' Congress sustains entirely the +Revolution of November 7th... as a social revolution, and expresses +its unalterable will to put into operation, with whatever +modifications are necessary, but without any hesitation, the social +transformation of the Russian Republic. + +The indispensable conditions of the victory of the Social +Revolution, which alone will secure the lasting success and the +complete realisation of the Land decree, is the close union of the +peasant-workers with the industrial working-class, with the +proletariat of all advanced countries. From now on, in the Russian +Republic, all the organisation and administration of the State, from +top to bottom, must rest on that union. That union, crushing all +attempts, direct or indirect, open or dissimulated, to return to the +policy of conciliation with the bourgeoisie--conciliation, damned by +experience, with the chiefs of bourgeois politics--can alone insure +the victory of Socialism throughout the world.... + +The reactionaries of the Executive Committee no longer dared openly +to appear. Tchernov, however, spoke several times, with a modest and +winning impartiality. He was invited to sit on the platform.... On the +second night of the Congress an anonymous note was handed up to the +chairman, requesting that Tchernov be made honorary President. +Ustinov read the note aloud, and immediately Zinoviev was on his +feet, screaming that this was a trick of the old Executive Committee +to capture the convention; in a moment the hall was one bellowing +mass of waving arms and angry faces, on both sides.... Nevertheless, +Tchernov remained very popular. + +In the stormy debates on the Land question and the Lenin resolution, +the Bolsheviki were twice on the point of quitting the assembly, +both times restrained by their leaders.... It seemed to me as if the +Congress were hopelessly deadlocked. + +But none of us knew that a series of secret conferences were already +going on between the Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the +Bolsheviki at Smolny. At first the Left Socialist Revolutionaries +had demanded that there be a Government composed of all the +Socialist parties in and out of the Soviets, to be responsible to a +People's Council, composed of an equal number of delegates from the +Workers' and Soldiers' organisation, and that of the Peasants, and +completed by representatives of the City Dumas and the Zemstvos; +Lenin and Trotzky were to be eliminated, and the Military +Revolutionary Committee and other repressive organs dissolved. + +Wednesday morning, November 28th, after a terrible all-night +struggle, an agreement was reached. The _Tsay-ee-kah,_composed of +108 members, was to be augumented by 108 members elected +proportionally from the Peasants' Congress; by 100 delegates elected +directly from the Army and the Fleet; and by 50 representatives of +the Trade Unions (35 from the general Unions, 10 Railway Workers, +and 5 from the Post and Telegraph Workers). The Dumas and Zemstvos +were dropped. Lenin and Trotzky remained in the Government, and the +Military Revolutionary Committee continued to function. + +The sessions of the Congress had now been removed to the Imperial +Law School building, Fontanka 6, headquarters of the Peasants' +Soviets. There in the great meeting-hall the delegates gathered on +Wednesday afternoon. The old Executive Committee had withdrawn, and +was holding a rump convention of its own in another room of the same +building, made up of bolting delegates and representatives of the +Army Committees. + +Tchernov went from one meeting to the other, keeping a watchful eye +on the proceedings. He knew that an agreement with the Bolsheviki +was being discussed, but he did not know that it had been concluded. + +He spoke to the rump convention. "At present, when everybody is in +favour of forming an all-Socialist Government, many people forget +the first Ministry, which was _not_ a coalition Government, and in +which there was only one Socialist--Kerensky; a Government which, in +its time, was very popular. Now people accuse Kerensky; they forget +that he was raised to power, not only by the Soviets, but also by +the popular masses.... + +"Why did public opinion change toward Kerensky? The savages set up +gods to which they pray, and which they punish if one of their +prayers is not answered.... That is what is happening at this moment.... +Yesterday Kerensky; to-day Lenin and Trotzky; another to-morrow.... + +"We have proposed to both Kerensky and the Bolsheviki to retire from +the power. Kerensky has accepted--to-day he announced from his +hiding-place that he has resigned as Premier; but the Bolsheviki +wish to retain the power, and they do not know how to use it.... + +"If the Bolsheviki succeed, or if they fail, the fate of Russia will +not be changed. The Russian villages understand perfectly what they +want, and they are now carrying out their own measures.... The +villages will save us in the end...." + +In the meanwhile, in the great hall Ustinov had announced the +agreement between the Peasants' Congress and Smolny, received by the +delegates with the wildest joy. Suddenly Tchernov appeared, and +demanded the floor. + +"I understand," he began, "that an agreement is being concluded +between the Peasants' Congress and Smolny. Such an agreement would +be illegal, seeing that the true Congress of Peasants' Soviets does +not meet until next week.... + +"Moreover, I want to warn you now that the Bolsheviki will never +accept your demands...." + +He was interrupted by a great burst of laughter; and realising the +situation, he left the platform and the room, taking his popularity +with him.... + +Late in the afternoon of Thursday, November 16th, the Congress met +in extraordinary session. There was a holiday feeling in the air; on +every face was a smile.... The remainder of the business before +the assembly was hurried through, and then old Nathanson, the +white-bearded dean of the left wing of the Socialist Revolutionaries, +his voice trembling and tears in his eyes, read the report of the +"wedding" of the Peasants' Soviets with the Workers' and Soldiers' +Soviets. At every mention of the word "union" there was ecstatic +applause.... At the end Ustinov announced the arrival rival +of a delegation from Smolny, accompanied by representatives of +the Red Army, greeted with a rising ovation. One after another a +workman, a soldier and a sailor took the floor, hailing them. + +Then Boris Reinstein, delegate of the American Socialist Labor +Party: "The day of the union of the Congress of Peasants and the +Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies is one of the great days +of the Revolution. The sound of it will ring with resounding echoes +throughout the whole world--in Paris, in London, and across the +ocean--in New York. This union will fill with happiness the hearts of +all toilers. + +"A great idea has triumphed. The West, and America, expected from +Russia, from the Russian proletariat, something tremendous.... The +proletariat of the world is waiting for the Russian Revolution, +waiting for the great things that it is accomplishing...." + +Sverdlov, president of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ greeted them. And with the +shout, "Long live the end of civil war! Long live the United +Democracy!" the peasants poured out of the building. + +It was already dark, and on the ice--covered snow glittered the pale +light of moon and star. Along the bank of the canal were drawn up in +full marching order the soldiers of the Pavlovsky Regiment, with +their band, which broke into the _Marseillaise._ Amid the crashing +full-throated shouts of the soldiers, the peasants formed in line, +unfurling the great red banner of the Executive Committee of the +All-Russian Peasants' Soviets, embroidered newly in gold, "Long live +the union of the revolutionary and toiling masses!" Following were +other banners; of the District Soviets--of Putilov Factory, which +read, "We bow to this flag in order to create the brotherhood of all +people!" + +From somewhere torches appeared, blazing orange in the night, a +thousand times reflected in the facets of the ice, streaming out +smokily over the throng as it moved down the bank of the Fontanka +singing, between crowds that stood in astonished silence. + +"Long live the Revolutionary Army! Long live the Red Guard! Long +live the Peasants!" + +So the great procession wound through the city, growing and +unfurling ever new red banners lettered in gold. Two old peasants, +bowed with toil, were walking hand in hand, their faces illumined +with child-like bliss. + +"Well," said one, "I'd like to see them take away our land again, +_now!_" + +Near Smolny the Red Guard was lined up on both sides of the street, +wild with delight. The other old peasant spoke to his comrade, "I am +not tired," he said. "I walked on air all the way!" + +On the steps of Smolny about a hundred Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies were massed, with their banner, dark against the blaze of +light streaming out between the arches. Like a wave they rushed +down, clasping the peasants in their arms and kissing them; and the +procession poured in through the great door and up the stairs, with +a noise like thunder.... + +In the immense white meeting-room the _Tsay-ee-kah_ was waiting, +with the whole Petrograd Soviet and a thousand spectators beside, +with that solemnity which attends great conscious moments in history. + +Zinoviev announced the agreement with the Peasants' Congress, to a +shaking roar which rose and burst into storm as the sound of music +blared down the corridor, and the head of the procession came in. On +the platform the presidium rose and made place for the Peasants' +presidium, the two embracing; behind them the two banners were +intertwined against the white wall, over the empty frame from which +the Tsar's picture had been torn.... + +Then opened the "triumphal session." After a few words of welcome +from Sverdlov, Maria Spiridonova, slight, pale, with spectacles and +hair drawn flatly down, and the air of a New England school-teacher, +took the tribune--the most loved and the most powerful woman in all +Russia. + +"... Before the workers of Russia open now horizons which history has +never known.... All workers' movements in the past have been defeated. +But the present movement is international, and that is why it is +invincible. There is no force in the world which can put out the +fire of the Revolution! The old world crumbles down, the new world +begins...." + +Then Trotzky, full of fire: "I wish you welcome, comrades peasants! +You come here not as guests, but as masters of this house, which +holds the heart of the Russian Revolution. The will of millions of +workers is now concentrated in this hall.... There is now only one +master of the Russian land: the union of the workers, soldiers and +peasants...." + +With biting sarcasm he went on to speak of the Allied diplomats, +till then contemptuous of Russia's invitation to an armistice, which +had been accepted by the Central Powers. + +"A new humanity will be born of this war.... In this hall we swear to +workers of all lands to remain at our revolutionary post. If we are +broken, then it will be in defending our flag...." + +Krylenko followed him, explaining the situation at the front, where +Dukhonin was preparing to resist the Council of People's Commissars. +"Let Dukhonin and those with him understand well that we shall not +deal gently with those who bar the road to peace!" + +Dybenko saluted the assembly in the name of the Fleet, and +Krushinsky, member of the _Vikzhel,_ said, "From this moment, when +the union of all true Socialists is realised, the whole army of +railway workers places itself absolutely at the disposition of the +revolutionary democracy!" And Lunatcharsky, almost weeping, and +Proshian, for the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, and finally +Saharashvili, for the United Social Democrats Internationalists, +composed of members of the Martov's and of Gorky's groups, who +declared: + +"We left the _Tsay-ee-kah_ because of the uncompromising policy of +the Bolsheviki, and to force them to make concessions in order to +realise the union of all the revolutionary democracy. Now that that +union is brought about, we consider it a sacred duty to take our +places once more in the _Tsay-ee-kah_.... We declare that all those +who have withdrawn from the _Tsay-ee-kah_ should now return." + +Stachkov, a dignified old peasant of the presidium of the Peasants' +Congress, bowed to the four corners of the room. "I greet you with +the christening of a new Russian life and freedom!" + +Gronsky, in the name of the Polish Social Democracy; Skripnik, for +the Factory-Shop Committees; Tifonov, for the Russian soldiers at +Salonika; and others, interminably, speaking out of full hearts, +with the happy eloquence of hopes fulfilled.... + +It was late in the night when the following resolution was put and +passed unanimously: + +"The _Tsay-ee-kah,_ united in extraordinary session with the +Petrograd Soviet and the Peasants' Congress, confirms the Land and +Peace decrees adopted by the second Congress of Soviets of Workers' +and Soldiers' Deputies, and also the decree on Workers' Control +adopted by the _Tsay-ee-kah._ + +"The joint session of the _Tsay-ee-kah_ and the Peasants' Congress +expresses its firm conviction that the union of workers, soldiers +and peasants, this fraternal union of all the workers and all +exploited, will consolidate the power conquered by them, that it +will take all revolutionary measures to hasten the passing of the +power into the hands of the working-class in other countries, and +that it will assure in this manner the lasting accomplishment of a +just peace and the victory of Socialism." (See App. XI, Sect. 2) + + + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER I + +1. + +_Oborontsi_--"Defenders." All the "moderate" Socialist groups adopted +or were given this name, because they consented to the continuation +of the war under Allied leadership, on the ground that it was a war +of National Defence. The Bolsheviki, the Left Socialist +Revolutionaries, the Mensheviki Internationalists (Martov's faction), +and the Social Democrats Internationalists (Gorky's group) were in +favour of forcing the Allies to declare democratic war-aims, and to +offer peace to Germany on those terms.... + +2. + +WAGES AND COST OF LIVING BEFORE AND DURING THE REVOLUTION + +The following tables of wages and costs were compiled, in October, +1917, by a joint Committee from the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and +the Moscow section of the Ministry of Labour, and published in +_Novaya Zhizn,_ October 26th, 1917: + + _Wages Per Day_--(_Rubles and kopeks_) + + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | _Trade_ | _July_ 1914 | _July_ 1916 | _August_ 1917 | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Carpenter, | 1.60--2. | 4. --6. | 8.50 | + | Cabinet-maker | | | | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Terrassier | 1.30--1.50 | 3. --3.50 | | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Mason, plasterer | 1.70--2.35 | 4. --6. | 8. | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Painter, upholsterer | 1.80--2.20 | 3. --5.50 | 8. | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Blacksmith | 1. --2.25 | 4. --5. | 8.50 | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Chimney-sweep | 1.50--2. | 4. --5.50 | 7.50 | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Locksmith | .90--2. | 3.50--6. | 9. | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + | Helper | 1. --1.50 | 2.50--4.50 | 8. | + +------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------+ + +In spite of numerous stories of gigantic advances in wages +immediately following the Revolution of March, 1917, these figures, +which were published by the Ministry of Labour as characteristic of +conditions all over Russia, show that wages did not rise immediately +after the Revolution, but little by little. On an average, wages +increased slightly more than 500 per cent.... + +But at the same time the value of the ruble fell to less than +one-third its former purchasing power, and the cost of the +necessities of life increased enormously. + +The following table was compiled by the Municipal Duma of Moscow, +where food was cheaper and more plentiful than in Petrograd: + +_Cost of Food--(Rubles and Kopeks)_ + + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | | _August_ 1914 | _August_ 1917 | _% Increase_ | | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Black bread | _(Fund)_ | .02 1/2 | .12 | 330 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | White bread | _(Fund)_ | .05 | .20 | 300 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Beef | _(Fund)_ | .22 | 1.10 | 400 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Veal | _(Fund)_ | .26 | 2.15 | 727 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Pork | _(Fund)_ | .23 | 2. | 770 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Herring | _(Fund)_ | .06 | .52 | 767 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Cheese | _(Fund)_ | .40 | 3.50 | 754 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Butter | _(Fund)_ | .48 | 3.20 | 557 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Eggs | (Doz.) | .30 | 1.60 | 443 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + | Milk | _(Krushka)_ | .07 | .40 | 471 | + +-------------+---------------+---------------+--------------+-----+ + +On an average, food increased in price 556 per cent, or 51 per cent +more than wages. + +As for the other necessities, the price of these increased +tremendously. + +The following table was compiled by the Economic section of the +Moscow Soviet of Workers' Deputies, and accepted as correct by the +Ministry of Supplies of the Provisional Government. + + _Cost of Other Necessities_--(_Rubles and Kopeks_) + + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | | _August_ 1914 | _August_ | _% | | + | | | 1917 | Increase_ | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Calico | _(Arshin)_ | .11 | 1.40 | 1173 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Cotton | _(Arshin)_ | .15 | 2. | 1233 | + | cloth | | | | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Dress Goods | _(Arshin)_ | 2. | 40. | 1900 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Castor | _(Arshin)_ | 6. | 80. | 1233 | + | Cloth | | | | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Men's Shoes | (Pair) | 12. | 144. | 1097 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Sole | | 20. | 400. | 1900 | + | Leather | | | | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Rubbers | (Pair) | 2.50 | 15. | 500 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Men's | (Suit) | 40. | 400.-455. | 900-1109 | + | Clothing | | | | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Tea | _(Fund)_ | 4.50 | 18. | 300 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Matches | (Carton) | .10 | .50 | 400 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Soap | _(Pood)_ | 4.50 | 40. | 780 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Gasoline | _(Vedro)_ | 1.70 | 11. | 547 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Candles | _(Pood)_ | 8.50 | 100. | 1076 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Caramel | _(Fund)_ | .30 | 4.50 | 1400 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Fire Wood | (Load) | 10. | 120. | 1100 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Charcoal | | .80 | 13. | 1525 | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + | Sundry | | 1. | 20. | 1900 | + | Metal Ware | | | | | + +-------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+----------+ + +On an average, the above categories of necessities increased about +1,109 per cent in price, more than twice the increase of salaries. +The difference, of course, went into the pockets of speculators and +merchants. + +In September, 1917, when I arrived in Petrograd, the average daily +wage of a skilled industrial worker--for example, a steel-worker in +the Putilov Factory--was about 8 rubles. At the same time, profits +were enormous.... I was told by one of the owners of the Thornton +Woollen Mills, an English concern on the outskirts of Petrograd, that +while wages had increased about 300 per cent in his factory, his +profits had gone up _900 per cent._ + +3. + +THE SOCIALIST MINISTERS + +The history of the efforts of the Socialists in the Provisional +Government of July to realise their programme in coalition with the +bourgeois Ministers, is an illuminating example of class struggle in +politics. Says Lenin, in explanation of this phenomenon: + +"The capitalists, ... seeing that the position of the Government was +untenable, resorted to a method which since 1848 has been for decades +practised by the capitalists in order to befog, divide, and finally +overpower the working-class. This method is the so-called 'Coalition +Ministry,' composed of bourgeois and of renegades from the Socialist +camp. + +"In those countries where political freedom and democracy have +existed side by side with the revolutionary movement of the +workers--for example in England and France--the capitalists make use of +this subterfuge, and very successfully too. The 'Socialist' leaders, +upon entering the Ministries, invariably prove mere figure-heads, +puppets, simply a shield for the capitalists, a tool with which to +defraud the workers. The 'democratic' and 'republican' capitalists in +Russia set in motion this very same scheme. The Socialist +Revolutionaries and Mensheviki fell victim to it, and on June 1st a +'Coalition' Ministry, with the participation of Tchernov, Tseretelli, +Skobeliev, Avksentiev, Savinkov, Zarudny and Nikitin became an +accomplished fact...."--_Problems of the Revolution._ + +4. + +SEPTEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MOSCOW + +In the first week of October, 1917, _Novaya Zhizn_ published the +following comparative table of election results, pointing out that +this meant the bankruptcy of the policy of Coalition with the +propertied classes. "If civil war can yet be avoided, it can only be +done by a united front of all the revolutionary democracy...." + +_Elections for the Moscow Central and Ward Dumas._ + + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + | _June_ 1917_September_ 1917 | | | + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + | Socialist Revolutionaries | 58 Members | 14 Members | + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + | Cadets | 17 Members | 30 Members | + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + | Mensheviki | 12 Members | 4 Members | + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + | Bolsheviki | 11 Members | 47 Members | + +-----------------------------+------------+------------+ + +5. + +GROWING ARROGANCE OF THE REACTIONARIES + +September 18th. The Cadet Shulgin, writing in a Kiev newspaper, said +that the Provisional Government's declaration that Russia was a +Republic constituted a gross abuse of its powers. "We cannot admit +either a Republic, or the present Republican Government.... And we are +not sure that we want a Republic in Russia...." + +October 23d. At a meeting of the Cadet party held at Riazan, M. +Dukhonin declared, "On March 1st we must establish a Constitutional +Monarchy. We must not reject the legitimate heir to the throne, +Mikhail Alexandrovitch...." + +October 27th. Resolution passed by the Conference of Business Men at +Moscow: + +"The Conference... insists that the Provisional Government take the +following immediate measures in the Army: + +"1. Forbidding of all political propaganda; the Army must be out of +politics. + +"2. Propaganda of antinational and international ideas and theories +deny the necessity for armies, and hurt discipline; it should be +forbidden, and all propagandists punished.... + +"3. The function of the Army Committees must be limited to economic +questions exclusively. All their decisions should be confirmed by +their superior officers, who have the right to dissolve the +Committees at any time.... + +"4. The salute to be reestablished, and made obligatory. Full +reestablishment of disciplinary power in the hands of officers, with +right of review of sentence.... + +"5. Expulsion from the Corps of Officers of those who dishonour it by +participating in the movement of the soldier-masses, which teaches +them disobedience.... Reestablishment for this purpose of the Courts of +Honor.... + +"6. The Provisional Government should take the necessary measures to +make possible the return to the army of Generals and other officers +unjustly discharged under the influence of Committees, and other +irresponsible organisations...." + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER II + +1. + +The Kornilov revolt is treated in detail in my forthcoming volume, +"Kornilov to Brest-Litovsk." The responsibility of Kerensky for the +situation which gave rise to Kornilov's attempt is now pretty clearly +established. Many apologists for Kerensky say that he knew of +Kornilov's plans, and by a trick drew him out prematurely, and then +crushed him. Even Mr. A. J. Sack, in his book, "The Birth of the +Russian Democracy," says: + +"Several things... are almost certain. The first is that Kerensky knew +about the movement of several detachments from the Front toward +Petrograd, and it is possible that as Prime Minister and Minister of +War, realising the growing Bolshevist danger, he called for them...." + +The only flaw in that argument is that there was no "Bolshevist +danger" at that time, the Bolsheviki still being a powerless minority +in the Soviets, and their leaders in jail or hiding. + +2. + +DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE + +When the Democratic Conference was first proposed to Kerensky, he +suggested an assembly of all the elements in the nation--"the live +forces," as he called them--including bankers, manufacturers, +land-owners, and representatives of the Cadet party. The Soviet +refused, and drew up the following table of representation, which +Kerensky agreed to: + + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 100 delegates | All-Russian Soviets Workers' and Soldiers' | + | | Deputies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 100 delegates | All-Russian Soviets Peasants' Deputies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 50 delegates | Provincial Soviets Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 50 delegates | Peasants' District Land Committees | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 100 delegates | Trade Unions | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 84 delegates | Army Committees at the Front | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 150 delegates | Workers' and Peasants' Cooperative Societies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 20 delegates | Railway Workers' Union | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 10 delegates | Post and Telegraph Workers' Union | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 20 delegates | Commercial Clerks | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 15 delegates | Liberal Professions--Doctors, Lawyers, | + | | Journalists, etc. | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 50 delegates | Provincial Zemstvos | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 59 delegates | Nationalist Organisations--Poles, Ukraineans, etc. | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + +This proportion was altered twice or three times. The final +disposition of delegates was: + + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 300 delegates | All-Russian Soviets Workers', Soldiers' & | + | | Peasants' Deputies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 300 delegates | Cooperative Societies | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 300 delegates | Municipalities | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 150 delegates | Army Committees at the Front | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 150 delegates | Provincial Zemstvos | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 200 delegates | Trade Unions | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 100 delegates | Nationalist Organisations | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + | 200 delegates | Several small groups | + +---------------+----------------------------------------------------+ + +3. + +THE FUNCTION OF THE SOVIETS IS ENDED + +On September 28th, 1917, _Izviestia,_ organ of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ +published an article which said, speaking of the last Provisional +Ministry: + +"At last a truly democratic government, born of the will of all +classes of the Russian people, the first rough form of the future +liberal parliamentary regime, has been formed. Ahead of us is the +Constituent Assembly, which will solve all questions of fundamental +law, and whose composition will be essentially democratic. The +function of the Soviets is at an end, and the time is approaching +when they must retire, with the rest of the revolutionary machinery, +from the stage of a free and victorious people, whose weapons shall +hereafter be the peaceful ones of political action." + +The leading article of _Izviestia_ for October 23d was called, "The +Crisis in the Soviet Organisations." It began by saying that +travellers reported a lessening activity of local Soviets everywhere. +"This is natural," said the writer. "For the people are becoming +interested in the more permanent legislative organs--the Municipal +Dumas and the Zemstvs.... + +"In the important centres of Petrograd and Moscow, where the Soviets +were best organised, they did not take in all the democratic +elements.... The majority of the intellectuals did not participate, and +many workers also; some of the workers because they were politically +backward, others because the centre of gravity for them was in their +Unns.... We cannot deny that these organisations are firmly united with +the masses, whose everyday needs are better served by them.... + +"That the local democratic administrations are being energetically +organised is highly important. The City Dumas are elected by +universal suffrage, and in purely local matters have more authority +than the Soviets. Not a single democrat will see anything wrong in +this.... + +"... Elections to the Municipalities are being conduct in a better and +more democratic way than the elections to the Soviets... All classes +are represented in the Municipalities.... And as soon as the local +Self-Governments begin to organise life in the Municipalities, the +role of the local Soviets naturally ends.... + +"... There are two factors in the falling off of interest in the +Soviets. The first we may attribute to the lowering of political +interest in the masses; the second, to the growing effort of +provincial and local governing bodies to organise the building of new +Russia.... The more the tendency lies in this latter direction, the +sooner disappears the significance of the Soviets.... + +"We ourselves are being called the 'undertakers' of our own +organisation. In reality, we ourselves are the hardest workers in +constructing the new Russia.... + +"When autocracy and the whole bureaucratic regime fell, we set up the +Soviets as a barracks in which all the democracy cod find temporary +shelter. Now, instead of barracks, we are building the permanent +edifice of a new system, and naturally the people will gradually +leave the barracks for more comfortable quarters." + +4. + +TROTZKY'S SPEECH AT THE COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC + +"The purpose of the Democratic Conference, which was called by the +_Tsay-ee-kah,_ was to do away with the irresponsible personal +government which produced Kornilov, and to establish a responsible +government which would be capable of finishing the war, and ensure +the calling of the Constituent Assembly at the given time. In the +meanwhile behind the back of the Democratic Conference, by trickery, +by deals between Citizen Kerensky, the Cadets, and the leaders of the +Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary parties, we received the +opposite result from the officially announced purpose. A power was +created around which and in which we have open and secret Kornilovs +playing leading parts. The irresponsibility of the Government is +offically proclaimed, when it is announced that the Council of the +Russian Republic is to be a _consultative_ and not _legislative_ +body. In the eighth month of the Revolution, the irresponsible +Government creates a cover for itself in this new edition of +Bieligen's Duma. + +"The propertied classes have entered this Provision Council in a +proportion which clearly shows, from elections all over the country, +that many of them have no right here whatever. In spite of that the +Cadet party, which until yesterday wanted the Provisional Government +to be responsible to the State Duma--this same Cadet party secured the +independence Assembly the propertied classes will no doubt have as +favourable position than they have in this Council, and they will not +be able to be irresponsible to the Constituent Assembly. + +"If the propertied classes were really getting ready for the +Constituent Assembly six weeks from now, there could be no reason for +establishing the irresponsibility of the Government at this time. The +whole truth is that the bourgeoisie, which directs the policies of +the Provisional Government, has for its aim to break the Constituent +Assembly. At present this is the main purpose of the propertied +classes, which control our entire national policy--external and +internal. In the industrial, agrarian and supply departments the +politics of the propertied classes, acting with the Government, +increases the natural disorganisation caused by the war. The +propertied classes, which are provoking a peasants' revolt! The +propertied classes, which are provoking civil war, and openly hold +their course on the bony hand of hunger, with which they intend to +overthrow the Revolution and finish with the Constituent Assembly! + +"No less criminal also is the international policy of the bourgeoisie +and its Government. After forty months of war, the capital is +threatened with mortal danger. In reply to this arises a plan to move +the Government to Moscow. The idea of abandoning the capital does not +stir the indignation of the bourgeoisie. Just the opposite. It is +accepted as a natural part of the general policy designed to promote +counter-revolutionary conspiracy. ... Instead of recognising that the +salvation of the country lies in concluding peace, instead of +throwing openly the idea of immediate peace to all the worn-out +peoples, over the heads of diplomats and imperialists, and making the +continuation of the war impossible,--the Provisional Government, by +order of the Cadets, the Counter-Revolutionists and the Allied +Imperialists, without sense, without purpose and without a plan, +continues to drag on the murderous war, sentencing to useless death +new hundreds of thousands of soldiers and sailors, and preparing to +give up Petrograd, and to wreck the Revolution. At a time when +Bolshevik soldiers and sailors are dying with other soldiers and +sailors as a result of the mistakes and crimes of others, the +so-called Supreme Commander (Kerensky) continues to suppress the +Bolshevik press. The leading parties of the Council are acting as a +voluntary cover for these policies. + +"We, the faction of Social Democrats Bolsheviki, announce that with +this Government of Treason to the People we have nothing in common. +We have nothing in common with the work of these Murderers of the +People which goes on behind official curtains. We refuse either +directly or indirectly to cover up one day of this work. While +Wilhelm's troops are threatening Petrograd, the Government of +Kerensky and Kornilov is preparing to run away from Petrograd and +turn Moscow into a base of counter-revolution! + +"We warn the Moscow workers and soldiers to be on their guard. +Leaving this Council, we appeal to the manhood and wisdom of the +workers, peasants and soldiers of all Russia. Petrograd is in danger! +The Revolution is in danger! The Government has increased the +danger--the ruling classes intensify it. Only the people themselves +can save themselves and the country. + +"We appeal to the people. Long live immediate, honest, democratic +peace! All power to the Soviets! All land to the people! Long live +the Constituent Assembly!" + +5. + +THE "NAKAZ" TO SKOBELIEV + +_Resume_ + +(Passed by the _Tsay-ee-kah_ and given to Skobeliev as an instruction +for the representative of the Russian Revolutionary democracy at the +Paris Conference.) + +The peace treaty must be based on the principle, "No annexations, no +indemnities, the right of self-determination of peoples." + +_Territorial Problems_ + +(1) Evacuation of German troops from invaded Russia. Full right of +self-determination to Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. + +(2) For Turkish Armenia autonomy, and later complete +self-determination, as soon as local Governments are established. + +(3) The question of Alsace-Lorraine to be solved by a plebiscite, +after the withdrawal of all foreign troops. + +(4) Belgium to be restored. Compensation for damages from an +international fund. + +(5) Serbia and Montenegro to be restored, and aided by an +international relief fund. Serbia to have an outlet on the Adriatic. +Bosnia and Herzegovina to be autonomous. + +(6) The disputed provinces in the Balkans to have provisional +autonomy, followed by a plebiscite. + +(7) Rumania to be restored, but forced to give complete +self-determination to the Dobrudja.... Rumania must be forced to +execute the clauses of the Berlin Treaty concerning the Jews, and +recognise them as Rumanian citizens. + +(8) In Italia Irridenta a provisional autonomy, followed by a +plebiscite to determine state dependence. + +(9) The German colonies to be returned. + +(10) Greece and Persia to be restored. + +_Freedom of the Seas_ + +All straits opening into inland seas, as well as the Suez and Panama +Canals, are to be neutralised. Commercial shipping to be free. The +right of privateering to be abolished. The torpedoing of commercial +ships to be forbidden. + +_Indemnities_ + +All combatants to renounce demands for any indemnities, either direct +or indirect--as, for instance, charges for the maintenance of +prisoners. Indemnities and contributions collected during the war +must be refunded. + +_Economic Terms_ + +Commercial treaties are not to be a part of the peace terms. Every +country must be independent in its commercial relations, and must not +be obliged to, or prevented from, concluding an economic treaty, by +the Treaty of Peace. Nevertheless, all nations should bind +themselves, by the Peace Treaty, not to practise an economic blockade +after the war, nor to form separate tariff agreements. The right of +most favoured nation must be given to all countries without +distinction. + +_Guarantees of Peace_ + +Peace is to be concluded at the Peace Conference by delegates elected +by the national representative institutions of each country. The +peace terms are to be confirmed by these parliaments. + +Secret diplomacy is to be abolished; all parties are to bind +themselves not to conclude any secret treaties. Such treaties are +declared in contradiction to international law, and void. All +treaties, until confirmed by the parliaments of the different +nations, are to be considered void. + +Gradual disarmament both on land and sea, and the establishment of a +militia system. The "League of Nations" advanced by President Wilson +may become a valuable aid to international law, provided that (a), +all nations are to be obliged to participate in it with equal rights, +and (b), international politics are to be democratised. + +_Ways to Peace_ + +The Allies are to announce immediately that they are willing to open +peace negotiations as soon as the enemy powers declare their consent +to the renunciation of all forcible annexations. + +The Allies must bind themselves not to begin any peace negotiations, +nor to conclude peace, except in a general Peace Conference with the +participation of delegates from all the neutral countries. + +All obstacles to the Stockholm Socialist Conference are to be +removed, and passports are to be given immediately to all delegates +of parties and organisations who wish to participate. + +(The Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviets also issued a +_nakaz,_ which differs little from the above.) + +6. + +PEACE AT RUSSIA'S EXPENSE + +The Ribot revelations of Austria's peace-offer to France; the +so-called "Peace Conference" at Berne, Switzerland, during the summer +of 1917, in which delegates participated from all belligerent +countries, representing large financial interests in all these +countries; and the attempted negotiations of an English agent with a +Bulgarian church dignitary; all pointed to the fact that there were +strong currents, on both sides, favourable to patching up a peace at +the expense of Russia. In my next book, "Kornilov to Brest-Litovsk," +I intend to treat this matter at some length, publishing several +secret documents discovered in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +Petrograd. + +7. + +RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN FRANCE + +_Official Report of the Provisional Government._ + +"From the time the news of the Russian Revolution reached Paris, +Russian newspapers of extreme tendencies immediately began to appear; +and these newspapers, as well as individuals, freely circulated among +the soldier masses and began a Bolshevik propaganda, often spreading +false news which appeared in the French journals. In the absence of +all official news, and of precise details, this campaign provoked +discontent among the soldiers. The result was a desire to return to +Russia, and a hatred toward the officers. + +"Finally it all turned into rebellion. In one of their meetings, the +soldiers issued an appeal to refuse to drill, since they had decided +to fight no more. It was decided to isolate the rebels, and General +Zankievitch ordered all soldiers loyal to the Provisional Government +to leave the camp of Courtine, and to carry with them all ammunition. +On June 25th the order was executed; there remained at the camp only +the soldiers who said they would submit 'conditionally' to the +Provisional Government. The soldiers at the camp of Courtine received +several times the visit of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian +Armies abroad, of Rapp, the Commissar of the Ministry of War, and of +several distinguished former exiles who wished to influence them, but +these attempts were unsuccessful, and finally Commissar Rapp insisted +that the rebels lay down their arms, and, in sign of submission, +march in good order to a place called Clairvaux. The order was only +partially obeyed; first 500 men went out, of whom 22 were arrested; +24 hours later about 6,000 followed.... About 2,000 remained.... + +"It was decided to increase the pressure; their rations were +diminished, their pay was cut off, and the roads toward the village +of Courtine were guarded by French soldiers. General Zankievitch, +having discovered that a Russian artillery brigade was passing +through France, decided to form a mixed detachment of infantry and +artillery to reduce the rebels. A deputation was sent to the rebels; +the deputation returned several hours later, convinced of the +futility of the negotiations. On September 1st General Zankievitch +sent an ultimatum to the rebels demanding that they lay down their +arms, and menacing in case of refusal to open fire with artillery if +the order was not obeyed by September 3d at 10 o'clock. + +"The order not being executed, a light fire of artillery was opened +on the place at the hour agreed upon. Eighteen shells were fired, and +the rebels were warned that the bombardment would become more +intense. In the night of September 3d 160 men surrendered. September +4th the artillery bombardment recommenced, and at 11 o'clock, after +36 shells had been fired, the rebels raised two white flags and began +to leave the camp without arms. By evening 8,300 men had surrendered. +150 soldiers who remained in the camp opened fire with machine-guns +that night. The 5th of September, to make an end of the affair, a +heavy barrage was laid on the camp, and our soldiers occupied it +little by little. The rebels kept up a heavy fire with their +machine-guns. September 6th, at 9 o'clock, the camp was entirely +occupied.... After the disarmament of the rebels, 81 arrests were +made...." + +Thus the report. From secret documents discovered in the Ministry of +Foreign Affairs, however, we know that the account is not strictly +accurate. The first trouble arose when the soldiers tried to form +Committees, as their comrades in Russia were doing. They demanded to +be sent back to Russia, which was refused; and then, being considered +a dangerous influence in France, they were ordered to Salonika. They +refused to go, and the battle followed.... It was discovered that they +had been left in camp without officers for about two months, and +badly treated, before they became rebellious. All attempts to find +out the name of the "Russian artillery brigade" which had fired on +them were futile; the telegrams discovered in the Ministry left it to +be inferred that French artillery was used.... + +After their surrender, more than two hundred of the mutineers were +shot in cold blood. + +8. + +TERESTCHENKO'S SPEECH_ (Resume_) + +"... The questions of foreign policy are closely related to those of +national defence.... And so, if in questions of national defence you +think it is necessary to hold session in secret, also in our foreign +policy we are sometimes forced to observe the same secrecy.... + +"German diplomacy attempts to influence public opinion.... Therefore +the declarations of directors of great democratic organisations who +talk loudly of a revolutionary Congress, and the impossibility of +another winter campaign, are dangerous.... All these declarations cost +human lives.... + +"I wish to speak merely of governmental logic, without touching the +questions of the honour and dignity of the State. From the point of +view of logic, the foreign policy of Russia ought to be based on a +real comprehension of the _interests_ of Russia.... These interests +mean that it is impossible that our country remain alone, and that +the present alignment of forces with us, (the Allies), is +satisfactory.... All humanity longs for peace, but in Russia no one +will permit a humiliating peace which would violate the State +interests of our fatherland!" + +The orator pointed out that such a peace would for long years, if not +for centuries, retard the triumph of democratic principles in the +world, and would inevitably cause new wars. + +"All remember the days of May, when the fraternisation on our Front +threatened to end the war by a simple cessation of military +operations, and lead the country to a shameful separate peace... and +what efforts it was necessary to use to make the soldier masses at +the front understand that it was not by this method that the Russian +State must end the war and guarantee its interest...." + +He spoke of the miraculous effect of the July offensive, what +strength it gave to the words of Russian ambassadors abroad, and the +despair in Germany caused by the Russian victories. And also, the +disillusionment in Allied countries which followed the Russian +defeat.... + +"As to the Russian Government, it adhered strictly to the formula of +May, 'No annexations and no punitive indemnities.' We consider it +essential not only to proclaim the self-determination of peoples, but +also to renounce imperialist aims...." + +Germany is continually trying to make peace. The only talk in Germany +is of peace; she knows she cannot win. + +"I reject the reproaches aimed at the Government which allege that +Russian foreign policy does not speak clearly enough about the aims +of the war.... + +"If the question arises as to what ends the Allies are pursuing, it +is indispensable first to demand what aims the Central Powers have +agreed upon.... + +"The desire is often heard that we publish the details of the +treaties which bind the Allies; but people forget that, up to now, we +do not know the treaties which bind the Central Powers...." + +Germany, he said, evidently wants to separate Russia from the West by +a series of weak buffer-states. + +"This tendency to strike at the vital interests of Russia must be +checked.... + +"And will the Russian democracy, which has inscribed on its banner +the rights of nations to dispose of themselves, allow calmly the +continuation of oppression upon the most civilised peoples (in +Austria-Hungary)? + +"Those who fear that the Allies will try to profit by our difficult +situation, to make us support more than our share of the burden of +war, and to solve the questions of peace at our expense, are entirely +mistaken.... Our enemy looks upon Russia as a market for its products. +The end of the war will leave us in a feeble condition, and with our +frontier open the flood of German products can easily hold back for +years our industrial development. Measures must be taken to guard +against this.... + +"I say openly and frankly: the combination of forces which unites us +to the Allies is _favourable to the interests of Russia...._ It is +therefore important that our views on the questions of war and peace +shall be in accord with the views of the Allies as clearly and +precisely as possible.... To avoid all misunderstanding, I must say +frankly that Russia must present at the Paris Conference _one point +of view...._" + +He did not want to comment on the _nakaz_ to Skobeliev, but he +referred to the Manifesto of the Dutch-Scandinavian Committee, just +published in Stockholm. This Manifesto declared for the autonomy of +Lithuania and Livonia; "but that is clearly impossible," said +Terestchenko, "for Russia must have free ports on the Baltic all the +year round.... + +"In this question the problems of foreign policy are also closely +related to interior politics, for if there existed a strong sentiment +of unity of all great Russia, one would not witness the repeated +manifestations, everywhere, of a desire of peoples to separate from +the Central Government.... Such separations are contrary to the +interests of Russia, and the Russian delegates cannot raise the +issue...." + +9. + +THE BRITISH FLEET (_etc._) + +At the time of the naval battle of the Gulf of Riga, not only the +Bolsheviki, but also the Ministers of the Provisional Government, +considered that the British Fleet had deliberately abandoned the +Baltic, as one indication of the attitude so often expressed publicly +by the British press, and semi-publicly by British representatives in +Russia, "Russia's finished! No use bothering about Russia!" + +See interview with Kerensky (Appendix 13). + +GENERAL GURKO was a former Chief of Staff of the Russian armies under +the Tsar. He was a prominent figure in the corrupt Imperial Court. +After the Revolution, he was one of the very few persons exiled for +his political and personal record. The Russian naval defeat in the +Gulf of Riga coincided with the public reception, by King George in +London, of General Gurko, a man whom the Russian Provisional +Government considered dangerously pro-German as well as reactionary! + +10. + +APPEALS AGAINST INSURRECTION + +_To Workers and Soldiers_ + +"Comrades! The Dark Forces are increasingly trying to call forth in +Petrograd and other towns DISORDERS AND _Pogroms._ Disorder is +necessary to the Dark Forces, for disorder will give them an +opportunity for crushing the revolutionary movement in blood. Under +the pretext of establishing order, and of protecting the inhabitants, +they hope to establish the domination of Kornilov, which the +revolutionary people succeeded in suppressing not long ago. +Woe to the people if these hopes are realised! The triumphant +counter-revolution will destroy the Soviets and the Army Committees, +will disperse the Constituent Assembly, will stop the transfer of the +land to the Land Committees, will put an end to all the hopes of the +people for a speedy peace, and will fill all the prisons with +revolutionary soldiers and workers. + +"In their calculations, the counter-revolutionists and Black Hundred +leaders are counting on the serious discontent of the unenlightened +part of the people with the disorganisation of the food-supply, the +continuation of the war, and the general difficulties of life. They +hope to transform every demonstration of soldiers and workers into a +_pogrom,_ which will frighten the peaceful population and throw it +into the arms of the Restorers of Law and Order. + +"Under such conditions every attempt to organise a demonstration in +these days, although for the most laudable object, would be a crime. +All conscious workers and soldiers who are displeased with the policy +of the Government will only bring injury to themselves and to the +Revolution if they indulge in demonstrations. + +"THEREFORE THE _Tsay-ee-kah_ ASKS ALL WORKERS NOT TO OBEY ANY CALLS +TO DEMONSTRATE. + +"WORKERS AND SOLDIERS! DO NOT YIELD TO PROVOCATION! REMEMBER YOUR +DUTY TO YOUR COUNTRY AND TO THE REVOLUTION! DO NOT BREAK THE UNITY OF +THE REVOLUTIONARY FRONT BY DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH ARE BOUND TO BE +UNSUCCESSFUL!" + +_The Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers' and +Soldiers' Deputies (Tsay-ee-kah)_ + +_Russian Social Democratic Labour Party_ +THE DANGER IS NEAR! +To All Workers and Soldiers +(_Read and Hand to Others_) + +_Comrades Workers and Soldiers!_ + +"Our country is in danger. On account of this danger our freedom and +our Revolution are passing through difficult days. The enemy is at +the gates of Petrograd. The disorganisation is growing with every +hours. It becomes more and more difficult to obtain bread for +Petrograd. All, of from the smallest to the greatest, must redouble +their efforts, must endeavour to arrange things properly.... We must +save our country, save freedom.... More arms and provisions for the +Army! Bread--for the great cities. Order and organisation in the +country.... + +"And in these terrible critical days rumours creep about that +SOMEWHERE a demonstration is being prepared, that SOME ONE is calling +on the soldiers and workers to destroy revolutionary peace and +order.... _Rabotchi Put,_ the newspaper of the Bolsheviki, is pouring +oil on the flames: it flattering, trying to please the unenlightened +people, tempting the worker and soldiers, urging them on against the +Government, promising them mountains of good things.... The confiding, +ignorant men believe, they do not reason.... And from the other side +come also rumours--rumours that the Dark Forces, the friends of the +Tsar, the German spies, are rubbing their hands with glee. They are +ready to join the Bolsheviki, and with them fan the disorders into +civil war. + +"The Bolsheviki and the ignorant soldiers and workers seduced by them +cry senselessly: 'Down with the Government! All power to the +Soviets!' And the Dark servants of the Tsar and the spies of Wilhelm +will egg the on; 'Beat the Jews, beat the shopkeepers, rob the +markets, devastate the shops, pillage the wine stores! Slay, burn, +rob!' + +"And then will begin a terrible confusion, a war between one part of +the people and the other. All will become still more disorganised, +and perhaps once more blood will be shed on the streets of the +capital. And then what then? + +"Then, the road to Petrograd will be open to Wilhelm. Then, no bread +will come to Petrograd, the children will die of hunger. Then, the +Army as the front will remain without support, our brothers in the +trenches will be delivered to the fire of the enemy. Then, Russia +will lose all prestige in other countries, our money will lose its +value; everything will be so dear as to make life impossible. Then, +the long awaited Constituent Assembly will be postponed--it will be +impossible to convene it in time. And then--Death to the Revolution, +Death to our Liberty.... + +"Is it this that you want, workers and soldiers? No! If you do not +then go, go to the ignorant people seduced by the betrayers, and tell +them the whole truth, which we have told you! + +"Let all know that EVERY MAN WHO IN THESE TERRIBLE DAYS CALLS ON YOU +TO COME OUT IN THE STREETS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, IS EITHER A SECRET +SERVANT OF THE TSAR, A PROVOCATOR, OR AN UNWISE ASSISTANT OF THE +ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE, OR A PAID SPY OF WILHELM! + +"Every conscious worker revolutionist, every conscious peasant, every +revolutionary soldier, all who understand what harm a demonstration +or a revolt against the Government might cause to the people, must +join together and not allow the enemies of the people to destroy our +freedom." + +_The Petrograd Electoral Committee of the Mensheviki-oborontzi._ + +11. + +LENIN's "LETTER TO THE COMRADES" + +This series of articles appeared in _Rabotchi Put_ several days +running, at the end of October and beginning of November, 1917. I +give here only extracts from two instalments: + +1. Kameniev and Riazanov say that we have not a majority among the +people, and that without a majority insurrection is hopeless. + +"Answer: People capable of speaking such things are falsifiers, +pedants, or simply don't want to look the real situation in the face. +In the last elections we received in all the country more than fifty +per cent of all thevotes.... + +"The most important thing in Russia to-day is the peasants' +revolution. In Tambov Government there has been a real agrarian +uprising with wonderful political results.... Even _Dielo Naroda_ has +been scared into yelling that the land must be turned over to the +peasants, and not only the Socialist Revolutionaries in the Council +of the Republic, but also the Government itself, has been similarly +affected. Another valuable result was the bringing of bread which had +been hoarded by the _pomieshtchiki_ to the railroad stations in that +province. The _Russkaya Volia_ had to admit that the stations were +filled with bread after the peasants' rising.... + +"2. We are not sufficiently strong to take over the Government, and +the bourgeoisie is not sufficiently strong to prevent the Constituent +Assembly. + +"Answer: This is nothing but timidity, expressed by pessimism as +regards workers and soldiers, and optimism as regards the failure of +the bourgeoisie. If _yunkers_ and Cossacks say they will fight, you +believe them; if workmen and soldiers say so, you doubt it. What is +the distinction between such doubts and siding politically with the +bourgeoisie? + +"Kornilov proved that the Soviets were really a power. To believe +Kerensky and the Council of the Republic, if the bourgeoisie is not +strong enough to break the Soviets, it is not strong enough to break +the Constituent. But that is wrong. The bourgeoisie will break the +Constituent by sabotage, by lock-outs, by giving up Petrograd, by +opening the front to the Germans. This has already been done in the +case of Riga.... + +"3. The Soviets must remain a revolver at the head of the Government +to force the calling of the Constituent Assembly, and to suppress any +further Kornilov attempts. + +"Answer: Refusal of insurrection is refusal of 'All Power to the +Soviets.' Since September the Bolshevik party has been discussing the +question of insurrection. Refusing to rise means to trust our hopes +in the faith of the good bourgeoisie, who have 'promised' to call the +Constituent Assembly. When the Soviets have all the power, the +calling of the Constituent is guaranteed, and its success assured. + +"Refusal of insurrection means surrender to the 'Lieber-Dans.' Either +we must drop 'All Power to the Soviets' or make an insurrection; +there is no middle course." + +"4. The bourgeoisie cannot give up Petrograd, although the Rodziankos +want it, because it is not the bourgeoisie who are fighting, but our +heroic soldiers and sailors. + +"Answer: This did not prevent two admirals from running away at the +Moonsund battle. The Staff has not changed; it is composed of +Kornilovtsi. If the Staff, with Kerensky at its head, wants to give +up Petrograd, it can do it doubly or trebly. It can make arrangements +with the Germans or the British; open the fronts. It can sabotage the +Army's food supply. At all these doors has it knocked. + +"We have no right to wait until the bourgeoisie chokes the +Revolution. Rodzianko is a man of action, who has faithfully and +truthfully served the bourgeoisie for years.... Half the Lieber-Dans +are cowardly compromisers; half of them simple fatalists...." + +"5. We're getting stronger every day. We shall be able to enter the +Constituent Assembly as a strong opposition. Then why should we play +everything on one card?" + +"Answer: This is the argument of a sophomore with no practical +experience, who reads that the Constituent Assembly is being called +and trustfully accepts the legal and constitutional way. Even the +voting of the Constituent Assembly will not do away with hunger, or +beat Wilhelm.... The issue of hunger and of surrendering Petrograd +cannot be decided by waiting for the Constituent Assembly. Hunger is +not waiting. The peasants' Revolution is not waiting. The Admirals +who ran away did not wait. + +"Blind people are surprised that hungry people, betrayed by admirals +and generals, do not take an interest in voting. + +"6. If the Kornilovtsi make an attempt, we would show them our +strength. But why should we risk everything by making an attempt +ourselves? + +"Answer: History doesn't repeat. 'Perhaps Kornilov will some day make +an attempt!' What a serious base for proletarian action! But suppose +Kornilov waits for starvation, for the opening of the fronts, what +then? This attitude means to build the tactics of a revolutionary +party on one of the bourgeoisie's former mistakes. + +"Let us forget everything except that there is no way out but by the +dictatorship of the proletariat--either that or the dictatorship of +Kornilov. + +"Let us wait, comrades, for--a miracle!" + +12. + +MILIUKOV's SPEECH (_Resume_) + +"Every one admits, it seems, that the defence of the country is our +principal task, and that, to assure it, we must have discipline in +the Army and order in the rear. To achieve this, there must be a +power capable of daring, not only by persuasion, but also by force.... +The germ of all our evils comes from the point of view, original, +truly Russian, concerning foreign policy, which passes for the +Internationalist point of view. + +"The noble Lenin only imitates the noble Keroyevsky when he holds +that from Russia will come the New World which shall resuscitate the +aged West, and which will replace the old banner of doctrinary +Socialism by the new direct action of starving masses--and that will +push humanity forward and force it to break in the doors of the +social paradise...." + +These men sincerely believed that the decomposition of Russia would +bring about the decomposition of the whole capitalist regime. +Starting from that point of view, they were able to commit the +unconscious treason, in wartime, of calmly telling the soldiers to +abandon the trenches, and instead of fighting the external enemy, +creating internal civil war and attacking the proprietors and +capitalists.... + +Here Miliukov was interrupted by furious cries from the Left, +demanding what Socialist had ever advised such action.... + +"Martov says that only the revolutionary pressure of the proletariat +can condemn and conquer the evil will of imperialist cliques and +break down the dictatorship of these cliques.... Not by an accord +between Governments for a limitation of armaments, but by the +disarming of these Governments and the radical democratisation of the +military system...." + +He attacked Martov viciously, and then turned on the Mensheviki and +Socialist Revolutionaries, whom he accused of entering the Government +as Ministers with the avowed purpose of carrying on the class +struggle! + +"The Socialists of Germany and of the Allied countries contemplated +these gentlemen with ill-concealed contempt, but they decided that it +was for Russia, and sent us some apostles of the Universal +Conflagration.... + +"The formula of our democracy is very simple; no foreign policy, no +art of diplomacy, an immediate democratic peace, a declaration to the +Allies, 'We want nothing, we haven't anything to fight with!' And +then our adversaries will make the same declaration, and the +brotherhood of peoples will be accomplished!" + +Miliukov took a fling at the Zimmerwald Manifesto, and declared that +even Kerensky has not been able to escape the influence of "that +unhappy document which will forever be your indictment." He then +attacked Skobeliev, whose position in foreign assemblies, where he +would appear as a Russian delegate, yet opposed to the foreign policy +of his Government, would be so strange that people would say, "What's +that gentleman carrying, and what shall we talk to him about?" As for +the _nakaz,_ Miliukov said that he himself was a pacifist; that he +believed in the creation of an International Arbitration Board, and +the necessity for a limitation of armaments, and parliamentary +control over secret diplomacy, which did not mean the abolition of +secret diplomacy. + +As for the Socialist ideas in the _nakaz,_ which he called "Stockholm +ideas"--peace without victory, the right of self-determination of +peoples, and renunciation of the economic war-- + +"The German successes are directly proportionate to the successes of +those who call themselves the revolutionary democracy. I do not wish +to say, 'to the successes of the Revolution,' because I believe that +the defeats of the revolutionary democracy are victories for the +Revolution.... + +"The influence of the Soviet leaders abroad is not unimportant. One +had only to listen to the speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs +to be convinced that, in this hall, the influence of the +revolutionary democracy on foreign policy is so strong, that the +Minister does not dare to speak face to face with it about the honour +and dignity of Russia! + +"We can see, in the _nakaz_ of the Soviets, that the ideas of the +Stockholm Manifesto have been elaborated in two direction--that of +Utopianism, and that of German interests...." + +Interrupted by the angry cries of the Left, and rebuked by the +President, Miliukov insisted that the proposition of peace concluded +by popular assemblies, not by diplomats, and the proposal to +undertake peace negotiations as soon as the enemy had renounced +annexations, were pro-German. Recently Kuhlman said that a personal +declaration bound only him who made it.... "Anyway, we will imitate the +Germans before we will imitate the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies...." + +The sections treating of the independence of Lithuania and Livonia +were symptoms of nationalist agitation in different parts of Russia, +supported, said Miliukov, by German money.... Amid bedlam from the +Left, he contrasted the clauses of the _nakaz_ concerning +Alsace-Lorraine, Rumania, and Serbia, with those treating of the +nationalities in Germany and Austria. The _nakaz_ embraced the German +and Austrian point of view, said Miliukov. + +Passing to Terestchenko's speech, he contemptuously accused him of +being afraid to speak the thought in his mind, and even afraid to +think in terms of the greatness of Russia. The Dardanelles must +belong to Russia.... + +"You are continually saying that the soldier does not know why he is +fighting, and that when he does know, he'll fight.... It is true that +the soldier doesn't know why he is fighting, but now you have told +him that there is no reason for him to fight, that we have no +national interests, and that we are fighting for alien ends...." + +Paying tribute to the Allies, who, he said, with the assistance of +America, "will yet save the cause of humanity," he ended: + +"Long live the light of humanity, the advanced democracies of the +West, who for a long time have been travelling the way we now only +begin to enter, with ill-assured and hesitating steps! Long live our +brave Allies!" + +13. + +INTERVIEW WITH KERENSKY + +The Associated Press man tried his hand. "Mr. Kerensky," he began, +"in England and France people are disappointed with the Revolution----" + +"Yes, I know," interrupted Kerensky, quizzically. "Abroad the +Revolution is no longer fashionable!" + +"What is your explanation of why the Russians have stopped fighting?" + +"That is a foolish question to ask." Kerensky was annoyed. "Russia +entered the war first of all the Allies, and for a long time she bore +the whole brunt of it. Her losses have been inconceivably greater +than those of all the other nations put together. Russia has now the +right to demand of the Allies that they bring greater force of arms +to bear." He stopped for a moment and stared at his interlocutor. +"You are asking why the Russians have stopped fighting, and the +Russians are asking where is the British fleet--with German +battle-ships in the Gulf of Riga?" Again he ceased suddenly, and as +suddenly burst out. "The Russian Revolution hasn't failed and the +revolutionary Army hasn't failed. It is not the Revolution which +caused disorganisation in the army--that disorganisation was +accomplished years ago, by the old regime. Why aren't the Russians +fighting? I will tell you. Because the masses of the people are +economically exhausted,--and because they are disillusioned with the +Allies!" + +The interview of which this is an excerpt was cabled to the United +States, and in a few days sent back by the American State Department, +with a demand that it be "altered." This Kerensky refused to do; but +it was done by his secretary, Dr. David Soskice--and, thus purged of +all offensive references to the Allies, was given to the press of the +world.... + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER III + +1. + +RESOLUTION OF THE FACTORY-SHOP COMMITTEES + +_Workers' Control_ + +1. (See page 43) + +2. The organisation of Workers' Control is a manifestation of the +same healthy activity in the sphere of industrial production, as are +party organisations in the sphere of politics, trade unions in +employment, Cooperatives in the domain of consumption, and literary +clubs in the sphere of culture. + +3. The working-class has much more interest in the proper and +uninterrupted operation of factories... than the capitalist class. +Workers' Control is a better security in this respect for the +interests of modern society, of the whole people, than the arbitrary +will of the owners, who are guided only by their selfish desire for +material profits or political privileges. Therefore Workers' Control +is demanded by the proletariat not only in their own interest, but in +the interest of the whole country, and should be supported by the +revolutionary peasantry as well as the revolutionary Army. + +4. Considering the hostile attitude of the majority of the capitalist +class toward the Revolution, experience shows that proper +distribution of raw materials and fuel, as well as the most efficient +management of factories, is impossible without Workers' Control. + +5. Only Workers' Control over capitalist enterprises, cultivating the +workers' conscious attitude toward work, and making clear its social +meaning, can create conditions favourable to the development of a +firm self-discipline in labour, and the development of all labour's +possible productivity. + +6. The impending transformation of industry from a war to a peace +basis, and the redistribution of labour all over the country, as well +as among the different factories, can be accomplished without great +disturbances only by means of the democratic self-government of the +workers themselves.... Therefore the realisation of Workers' Control is +an indispensable preliminary to the demobilisation of industry. + +7. In accordance with the slogan proclaimed by the Russian Social +Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviki), Workers' Control on a national +scale, in order to bring results, must extend to all capitalist +concerns, and not be organised accidentally, without system; it must +be well-planned, and not separated from the industrial life of the +country as a whole. + +8. The economic life of the country--agriculture, industry, commerce +and transport--must be subjected to one unified plan, constructed so +as to satisfy the individual and social requirements of the wide +masses of the people; it must be approved by their elected +representatives, and carried out under the direction of these +representatives by means of national and local organisations. + +9. That part of the plan which deals with land-labour must be carried +out under supervision of the peasants' and land-workers' +organisations; that relating to industry, trade and transport +operated by wage-earners, by means of Workers' Control; the natural +organs of Workers' Control inside the industrial plant will be the +Factory-Shop and similar Committees; and in the labour market, the +Trade Unions. + +10. The collective wage agreements arranged by the Trade Unions for +the majority of workers in any branch of labour, must be binding on +all the owners of plants employing this kind of labour in the given +district. + +11. Employment bureaus must be placed under the control and +management of the Trade Unions, as class organisations acting within +the limits of the whole industrial plan, and in accordance with it. + +12. Trade Unions must have the right, upon their own initiative, to +begin legal action against all employers who violate labour contracts +or labour legislation, and also in behalf of any individual worker in +any branch of labour. + +13. On all questions relating to Workers' Control over production, +distribution and employment, the Trade Unions must confer with the +workers of individual establishments through their Factory-Shop +Committees. + +14. Matters of employment and discharge, vacations, wage scales, +refusal of work, degree of productivity and skill, reasons for +abrogating agreements, disputes with the administration, and similar +problems of the internal life of the factory, must be settled +exclusively according to the findings of the Factory-Shop Committee, +which has the right to exclude from participation in the discussion +any members of the factory administration. + +15. The Factory-Shop Committee forms a commission to control the +supplying of the factory with raw materials, fuel, orders, labour +power and technical staff (including equipment), and all other +supplies and arrangements, and also to assure the factory's adherence +to the general industrial plan. The factory administration is obliged +to surrender to the organs of Workers' Control, for their aid and +information, all data concerning the business; to make it possible to +verify this data, and to produce the books of the company upon demand +of the Factory-Shop Committee. + +16. Any illegal acts on the part of the administration discovered by +the Factory-Shop Committees, or any suspicion of such illegal acts, +which cannot be investigated or remedied by the workers alone, shall +be referred to the district central organisation of Factory-Shop +Committees charged with the particular branch of labour involved, +which shall discuss the matter with the institutions charged with the +execution of the general industrial plan, and find means to deal with +the matter, even to the extent of confiscating the factory. + +17. The union of the Factory-Shop Committees of different concerns +must be accomplished on the basis of the different trades, in order +to facilitate control over the whole branch of industry, so as to +come within the general industrial plan; and so as to create an +effective plan of distribution among the different factories of +orders, raw materials, fuel, technical and labour power; and also to +facilitate cooperation with the Trade Unions, which are organised by +trades. + +18. The central city councils of Trade Unions and Factory-Shop +Committees represent the proletariat in the corresponding provincial +and local institutions formed to elaborate and carry out the general +industrial plan, and to organise economic relations between the towns +and the villages (workers and peasants). They also possess final +authority for the management of Factory-Shop Committees and Trade +Unions, so far as Workers' Control in their district is concerned, +and they shall issue obligatory regulations concerning workers' +discipline in the routine of production--which regulations, however, +must be approved by vote of the workers themselves. + +2. + +THE BOURGEOIS PRESS ON THE BOLSHEVIKI + +_Russkaya Volia,_ October 28. "The decisive moment approaches.... It is +decisive for the Bolsheviki. Either they will give us... a second +edition of the events of July 16-18, or they will have to admit that +with their plans and intentions, with their impertinent policy of +wishing to separate themselves from everything consciously national, +they have been definitely defeated.... + +"What are the chances of Bolshevik success? + +"It is difficult to answer that question, for their principal support +is the... ignorance of the popular masses. They speculate on it, they +work upon it by a demagogy which nothing can stop.... + +"The Government must play its part in this affair. Supporting itself +morally by the Council of the Republic, the Government must take a +clearly-defined attitude toward the Bolsheviki.... + +"And if the Bolsheviki provoke an insurrection against the legal +power, and thus facilitate the German invasion, they must be treated +as mutineers and traitors...." + +_Birzhevya Viedomosti,_ October 28. "Now that the Bolsheviki have +separated themselves from the rest of the democracy, the struggle +against them is very much simpler--and it is not reasonable, in order +to fight against Bolshevism, to wait until they make a manifestation. +The Government should not even allow the manifestation.... + +"The appeals of the Bolsheviki to insurrection and anarchy are acts +punishable by the criminal courts, and in the freest countries, their +authors would receive severe sentences. For what the Bolsheviki are +carrying on is not a political struggle against the Government, or +even for the power; it is propaganda for anarchy, massacres, and +civil war. This propaganda must be extirpated at its roots; it would +be strange to wait, in order to begin action against an agitation for +_pogroms,_ until the _pogroms_ actually occurred...." + +_Novoye Vremya,_ November 1. "... Why is the Government excited +only about November 2d (date of calling of the Congress of Soviets), +and not about September 12th, or October 3d? + +"This is not the first time that Russia burns and falls in ruins, and +that the smoke of the terrible conflagration makes the eyes of our +Allies smart.... + +"Since it came to power, has there been a single order issued by the +Government for the purpose of halting anarchy, or has any one +attempted to put out the Russian conflagration? + +"There were other things to do.... + +"The Government turned its attention to a more immediate problem. It +crushed an insurrection (the Kornilov attempt) concerning which every +one is now asking, 'Did it ever exist?" + +3. + +MODERATE SOCIALIST PRESS ON THE BOLSHEVIKI + +_Dielo Naroda,_ October 28 (Socialist Revolutionary). "The most +frightful crime of the Bolsheviki against the Revolution is that they +impute exclusively to the bad intentions of the revolutionary +Government all the calamities which the masses are so cruelly +suffering; when as a matter of fact these calamities spring from +objective causes. + +"They make golden promises to the masses, knowing in advance that +they can fulfil none of them; they lead the masses on a false trail, +deceiving them as to the source of all their troubles.... + +"The Bolsheviki are the most dangerous enemies of the Revolution...." + +_Dien,_ October 30 (Menshevik). "Is this really 'the freedom of the +press'? Every day _Novaya Rus_ and _Rabotchi Put_ openly incite to +insurrection. Every day these two papers commit in their columns +actual crimes. Every day they urge _pogroms_.... Is that 'the freedom +of the press'?... + +"The Government ought to defend itself and defend us. We have the +right to insist that the Government machinery does not remain passive +while the threat of bloody riots endangers the lives of its +citizens...." + +4. + +"YEDINSTVO" + +Plekhanov's paper, _Yedinstvo,_ suspended publication a few weeks +after the Bolsheviki seized the power. Contrary to popular report, +_Yedinstvo_ was not suppressed by the Soviet Government; an +announcement in the last number admitted that it was unable to +continue _because there were too few subscribers_.... + +5. + +WERE THE BOLSHEVIKI CONSPIRATORS? + +The French newspaper _Entente_ of Petrograd, on November 15th, +published an article of which the following is a part: + +"The Government of Kerensky discusses and hesitates. The Government +of Lenin and Trotzky attacks and acts. + +"This last is called a Government of Conspirators, but that is wrong. +Government of usurpers, yes, like all revolutionary Governments which +triumph over their adversaries. Conspirators--no! + +"No! They did not conspire. On the contrary, openly, audaciously, +without mincing words, without dissimulating their intentions, they +multiplied their agitation, intensified their propaganda in the +factories, the barracks, at the Front, in the country, everywhere, +even fixing in advance the date of their taking up arms, the date of +their seizure of the power.... + +"_They_--conspirators? Never...." + +6. + +APPEAL AGAINST INSURRECTION + +_From the Central Army Committee_ + +"... Above everything we insist upon the inflexible execution of the +organised will of the majority of the people, expressed by the +Provisional Government in accord with the Council of the Republic and +the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ as organ of the popular power.... + +"Any demonstration to depose this power by violence, at a moment when +a Government crisis will infallibly create disorganisation, the ruin +of the country, and civil war, will be considered by the Army as a +counter-revolutionary act, and repressed by force of arms.... + +"The interests of private groups and classes should be submitted to a +single interest--that of augmenting industrial production, and +distributing the necessities of life with fairness.... + +"All who are capable of sabotage, disorganisation, or disorder, all +deserters, all slackers, all looters, should be forced to do +auxiliary service in the rear of the Army.... + +"We invite the Provisional Government to form, out of these violators +of the people's will, these enemies of the Revolution, labour +detachments to work in the rear, on the Front, in the trenches under +enemy fire...." + +7. + +EVENTS OF THE NIGHT, NOVEMBER 6TH + +Toward evening bands of Red Guards began to occupy the printing shops +of the bourgeois press, where they printed _Rabotchi Put, Soldat,_ +and various proclamations by the hundred thousand. The City Militia +was ordered to clear these places, but found the offices barricaded, +and armed men defending them. Soldiers who were ordered to attack the +print-shops refused. + +About midnight a Colonel with a company of _yunkers_ arrived at the +club "Free Mind," with a warrant to arrest the editor of _Rabotchi +Put._ Immediately an enormous mob gathered in the street outside and +threatened to lynch the _yunkers._ The Colonel thereupon begged that +he and the _yunkers_ be arrested and taken to Peter-Paul prison for +safety. This request was granted. + +At 1 A. M. a detachment of soldiers and sailors from Smolny occupied +the Telegraph Agency. At 1.35 the Post Office was occupied. Toward +morning the Military Hotel was taken, and at 5 o'clock the Telephone +Exchange. At dawn the State Bank was surrounded. And at 10 A. M. a +cordon of troops was drawn about the Winter Palace. + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IV + +1. + +EVENTS OF NOVEMBER 7TH + +From 4 A. M. until dawn Kerensky remained at the Petrograd Staff +Headquarters, sending orders to the Cossacks and to the _yunkers_ in +the Officers' Schools in and around Petrograd--all of whom answered +that they were unable to move. + +Colonel Polkovnikov, Commandant of the City, hurried between the +Staff and the Winter Palace, evidently without any plan. Kerensky +gave an order to open the bridges; three hours passed without any +action, and then an officer and five men went out on their own +initiative, and putting to flight a picket of Red Guards, opened the +Nicolai Bridge. Immediately after they left, however, some sailors +closed it again. + +Kerensky ordered the print-shop of _Rabotchi Put_ to be occupied. The +officer detailed to the work was promised a squad of soldiers; two +hours later he was promised some _yunkers;_ then the order was +forgotten. + +An attempt was made to recapture the Post Office and the Telegraph +Agency; a few shots were fired, and the Government troops announced +that they would no longer oppose the Soviets. + +To a delegation of _yunkers_ Kerensky said, "As chief of the +Provisional Government and as Supreme Commander I know nothing, I +cannot advise you; but as a veteran revolutionist, I appeal to you, +young revolutionists, to remain at your posts and defend the +conquests of the Revolution." + +Orders of Kishkin, November 7th: + +"By decree of the Provisional Government.... I am invested with +extraordinary powers for the reestablishment of order in Petrograd, +in complete command of all civil and military authorities...." + +"In accordance with the powers conferred upon me by the Provisional +Government, I herewith relieve from his functions as Commandant of +the Petrograd Military District Colonel George Polkovnikov...." + + * * * * * + +_Appeal to the Population_ signed by Vice-Premier Konovalov, November +7th: + +"Citizens! Save the fatherland, the republic and your freedom. +Maniacs have raised a revolt against the only governmental power +chosen by the people, the Provisional Government.... + +"The members of the Provisional Government fulfil their duty, remain +at their post, and continue to work for the good of the fatherland, +the reestablishment of order, and the convocation of the Constituent +Assembly, future sovereign of Russia and of all the Russian peoples.... + +"Citizens, you must support the Provisional Government. You must +strengthen its authority. You must oppose these maniacs, with whom +are joined all enemies of liberty and order, and the followers of the +Tsarist regime, in order to wreck the Constituent Assembly, destroy +the conquests of the Revolution, and the future of our dear +fatherland.... + +"Citizens! Organise around the Provisional Government for the defence +of its temporary authority, in the name of order and the happiness of +all peoples...." + + * * * * * + +_Proclamation of the Provisional Government._ + +"The Petrograd Soviet.... has declared the Provisional Government +overthrown, and has demanded that the Governmental power be turned +over to it, under threat of bombarding the Winter Palace with the +cannon of Peter-Paul Fortress, and of the cruiser _Avrora,_ anchored +in the Neva. + +"The Government can surrender its authority only to the Consituent +Assembly; for that reason it has decided not to submit, and to demand +aid from the population and the Army. A telegram has been sent to the +_Stavka;_ and an answer received says that a strong detachment of +troops is being sent.... + +"Let the Army and the People reject the irresponsible attempts of the +Bolsheviki to create a revolt in the rear...." + +About 9 A. M. Kerensky left for the Front.... + +Toward evening two soldiers on bicycles presented themselves at the +Staff Headquarters, as delegates of the garrison of Peter-Paul +Fortress. Entering the meeting-room of the Staff, where Kishkin, +Rutenburg, Paltchinski, General Bagratouni, Colonel Paradielov and +Count Tolstoy were gathered, they demanded the immediate surrender of +the Staff; threatening, in case of refusal, to bombard headquarters.... +After two panicky conferences the Staff retreated to the Winter +Palace, and the headquarters were occupied by Red Guards.... + +Late in the afternoon several Bolshevik armoured cars cruised around +the Palace Square, and Soviet soldiers tried unsuccessfully to parley +with the _yunkers_.... + +Firing on the Palace began about 7 o'clock in the evening.... + +At 10 P. M. began an artillery bombardment from three sides, in which +most of the shells were blanks, only three small shrapnels striking +the facade of the Palace.... + +2. + +KERENSKY IN FLIGHT + +Leaving Petrograd in the morning of November 7th, Kerensky arrived by +automobile at Gatchina, where he demanded a special train. Toward +evening he was in Ostrov, Province of Pskov. The next morning, +extraordinary session of the local Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' +Depulies, with participation of Cossack delegates--there being 6,000 +Cossacks at Ostrov. + +Kerensky spoke to the assembly, appealing for aid against the +Bolsheviki, and addressed himself almost exclusively to the Cossacks. +The soldier delegates protested. + +"Why did you come here?" shouted voices. Kerensky answered, "To ask +the Cossacks' assistance in crushing the Bolshevik insurrection!" At +this there were violent protestations, which increased when he +continued, "I broke the Kornilov attempt, and I will break the +Bolsheviki!" The noise became so great that he had to leave the +platform.... + +The soldier deputies and the Ussuri Cossacks decided to arrest +Kerensky, but the Don Cossacks prevented them, and got him away by +train.... A Military Revolutionary Committee, set up during the day, +tried to inform the garrison of Pskov; but the telephone and +telegraph lines were cut.... + +Kerensky did not arrive at Pskov. Revolutionary soldiers had cut the +railway line, to prevent troops being sent against the capital. On +the night of November 8th he arrived by automobile at Luga, where he +was well received by the Death Battalions stationed there. + +Next day he took train for the South-West Front, and visited the Army +Committee at headquarters. The Fifth Army, however, was wild with +enthusiasm over the news of the Bolshevik success, and the Army +Committee was unable to promise Kerensky any support. + +From there he went to the _Stavka,_ at Moghilev, where he ordered ten +regiments from different parts of the Front to move against +Petrograd. The soldiers almost unanimously refused; and those +regiments which did start halted on the way. About five thousand +Cossacks finally followed him.... + +3. + +LOOTING OF THE WINTER PALACE + +I do not mean to maintain that there was no looting, in the Winter +Palace. Both after and _before_ the Winter Palace fell, there was +considerable pilfering. The statement of the Socialist Revolutionary +paper _Narod,_ and of members of the City Duma, to the effect that +precious objects to the value of 500,000,000 rubles had been stolen, +was, however, a gross exaggeration. + +The most important art treasures of the Palace--paintings, statues, +tapestries, rare porcelains and armorie,--had been transferred to +Moscow during the month of September; and they were still in good +order in the basement of the Imperial Palace there ten days after the +capture of the Kremlin by Bolshevik troops. I can personally testify +to this.... + +Individuals, however, especially the general public, which was +allowed to circulate freely through the Winter Palace for several +days after its capture, made away with table silver, clocks, bedding, +mirrors and some odd vases of valuable porcelain and semi-precious +stone, to the value of about $50,000. + +The Soviet Government immediately created a special commission, +composed of artists and archaeologists, to recover the stolen objects. +On November 1st two proclamations were issued: + +"CITIZENS OF PETROGRAD! + +"We urgently ask all citizens to exert every effort to find whatever +possible of the objects stolen from the Winter Palace in the night of +November 7-8, and to forward them to the Commandant of the Winter +Palace. + +"Receivers of stolen goods, antiquarians, and all who are proved to +be hiding such objects will be held legally responsible and punished +with all severity. + +"_Commissars for the Protection of Museums and Artistic Collections,_ + "G. YATMANOV, B. MANDELBAUM." + + * * * * * + +"TO REGIMENTAL AND FLEET COMMITTEES + +"In the night of November 7-8, in the Winter Palace, which is the +inalienable property of the Russian people, valuable objects of art +were stolen. + +"We urgently appeal to all to exert every effort, so that the stolen +objects are returned to the Winter Palace. + +"_Commissars_.... + "G. YATMANOV, B. MANDELBAUM." + +About half the loot was recovered, some of it in the baggage of +foreigners leaving Russia. + +A conference of artists and archaeologists, held at the suggestion of +Smolny, appointed a commission of make an inventory of the Winter +Palace treasures, which was given complete charge of the Palace and +of all artistic collections and State museums in Petrograd. On +November 16th the Winter Palace was closed to the public while the +inventory was being made.... + +During the last week in November a decree was issued by the Council +of People's Commissars, changing the name of the Winter Palace to +"People's Museum," entrusting it to the complete charge of the +artistic-archaeological commission, and declaring that henceforth all +Governmental activities within its wall were prohibited.... + +4. + +RAPE OF THE WOMEN'S BATTALION + +Immediately following the taking of the Winter Palace all sorts of +sensational stories were published in the anti-Bolshevik press, and +told in the City Duma, about the fate of the Women's Battalion +defending the Palace. It was said that some of the girl-soldiers had +been thrown from the windows into the street, most of the rest had +been violated, and many had committed suicide as a result of the +horrors they had gone through. + +The City Duma appointed a commission to investigate the matter. On +November 16th the commission returned from Levashovo, headquarters of +the Women's Battalion. Madame Tyrkova reported that the girls had +been at first taken to the barracks of the Pavlovsky Regiment, and +that there some of them had been badly treated; but that at present +most of them were at Levashovo, and the rest scattered about the city +in private houses. Dr. Mandelbaum, another of the commission, +testified drily that _none_ of the women had been thrown out of the +windows of the Winter Palace, that _none_ were wounded, that three +had been violated, and that one had committed suicide, leaving a note +which said that she had been "disappointed in her ideals." + +On November 21st the Military Revolutionary Committee officially +dissolved the Women's Battalion, at the request of the girls +themselves, who returned to civilian clothes. + +In Louise Bryant's book, "Six Red Months in Russia," there is an +interesting description of the girl-soldiers during this time. + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER V + +1. + +APPEALS AND PROCLAMATIONS + +_From the Military Revolutionary Committee,_ November 8: + +"To All Army Committees and All Soviets of Soldiers' Deputies. + +"The Petrograd garrison has overturned the Government of Kerensky, +which had risen against the Revolution and the People.... In sending +this news to the Front and the country, the Military Revolutionary +Committee requests all soldiers to keep vigilant watch on the conduct +of officers. Officers who do not frankly and openly declare for the +Revolution should be immediately arrested as enemies. + +"The Petrograd Soviet interprets the programme of the new Government +as: immediate proposals of a general democratic peace, the immediate +transfer of great landed estates to the peasants, and the honest +convocation of the Constituent Assembly. The people's revolutionary +Army must not permit troops of doubtful morale to be sent to +Petrograd. Act by means of arguments, by means of moral suasion--but +if that fails, halt the movement of troops by implacable force. + +"The present order must be immediately read to all military units of +every branch of the service. Whoever keeps the knowledge of this +order from the soldier-masses.... commits a serious crime against the +Revolution, and will be punished with all the rigour of revolutionary +law. + +"Soldiers! For peace, bread, land, and popular government!" + + * * * * * + +"To All Front and Rear Army, Corps, Divisional, Regimental and +Company Committees, and All Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and +Peasants' Deputies. + +"Soldiers and Revolutionary Officers! + +"The Military Revolutionary Committee, by agreement with the majority +of the workers, soldiers, and peasants, has decreed that General +Kornilov and all the accomplices of his conspiracy shall be brought +immediately to Petrograd, for incarceration in Peter-Paul Fortress +and arraignment before a military revolutionary court-martial.... + +"All who resist the execution of this decree are declared by the +Committee to be traitors to the Revolution, and their orders are +herewith declared null and void." + + _The Military Revolutionary Committee Attached to the Petrograd + Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies._ + + * * * * * + +"To all Provincial and District Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and +Peasants' Deputies. + +"By resolution of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, all arrested +members of Land Committees are immediately set free. The Commissars +who arrested them are to be arrested. + +"From this moment all power belongs to the Soviets. The Commissars of +the Provisional Government are removed. The presidents of the various +local Soviets are invited to enter into direct relations with the +revolutionary Government." + + _Military Revolutionary Committee._ + +2. + +PROTEST OF THE MUNICIPAL DUMA + +"The Central City Duma, elected on the most democratic principles, +has undertaken the burden of managing Municipal affairs and food +supplies at the time of the greatest disorganisation. At the present +moment the Bolshevik party, three weeks before the elections to the +Constituent Assembly, and in spite of the menace of the external +enemy, having removed by armed force the only legal revolutionary +authority, is making an attempt against the rights and independence +of the Municipal Self-Government, demanding submission to its +Commissars and its illegal authority. + +"In this terrible and tragic moment the Petrograd City Duma, in the +face of its constituents, and of all Russia, declares loudly that it +will not submit to any encroachments on its rights and its +independence, and will remain at the post of responsibility to which +it has been called by the will of the population of the capital. + +"The Central City Duma of Petrograd appeals to all Dumas and Zemstvos +of the Russian Republic to rally to the defence of one of the +greatest conquests of the Russian Revolution--the independence and +inviolability of popular self-government." + +3. + +LAND DECREE--PEASANTS' "NAKAZ" + +The Land question can only be permanently settled by the general +Constituent Assembly. + +The most equitable solution of the Land question should be as follows: + +1. The right of private ownership of land is abolished forever; land +cannot be sold, nor leased, nor mortgaged, nor alienated in any way. +All dominical lands, lands attached to titles, lands belonging to the +Emperor's cabinet, to monasteries, churches, possession lands, +entailed lands, private estates, communal lands, peasant free-holds, +and others, are confiscated without compensation, and become national +property, and are placed at the disposition of the workers who +cultivate them. + +Those who are damaged because of this social transformation of the +rights of property are entitled to public aid during the time +necessary for them to adapt themselves to the new conditions of +existence. + +2. All the riches beneath the earth--ores, oil, coal, salt, etc.--as +well as forests and waters having a national importance, become the +exclusive property of the State. All minor streams, lakes and forests +are placed in the hands of the communities, on condition of being +managed by the local organs of government. + +3. All plots of land scientifically cultivated--gardens, plantations, +nurseries, seed-plots, green-houses, and others--shall not be divided, +but transformed into model farms, and pass into the hands of the +State or of the community, according to their size and importance. + +Buildings, communal lands and villages with their private gardens and +their orchards remain in the hands of their present owners; the +dimensions of these plots and the rate of taxes for their use shall +be fixed by law. + +4. All studs, governmental and private cattle-breeding and +bird-breeding establishments, and others, are confiscated and become +national property, and are transferred either to the State or to the +community, according to their size and importance. + +All questions of compensation for the above are within the competence +of the Constituent Assembly. + +5. All inventoried agricultural property of the confiscated lands, +machinery and live-stock, are transferred without compensation to +the State or the community, according to their quantity and +importance. + +The confiscation of such machinery or live-stock shall not apply to +the small properties of peasants. + +6. The right to use the land is granted to all citizens, without +distinction of sex, who wish to work the land themselves, with the +help of their families, or in partnership, and only so long as they +are able to work. No hired labour is permitted. + +In the event of the incapacity for work of a member of the commune +for a period of two years, the commune shall be bound to render him +assistance during this time by working his land in common. + +Farmers who through old age or sickness have permanently lost the +capacity to work the land themselves, shall surrender their land and +receive instead a Government pension. + +7. The use of the land should be equalised--that is to say, the land +shall be divided among the workers according to local conditions, the +unit of labour and the needs of the individual. + +The way in which land is to be used may be individually determined +upon: as homesteads, as farms, by communes, by partnerships, as will +be decided by the villages and settlements. + +8. All land upon its confiscation is pooled in the general People's +Land Fund. Its distribution among the workers is carried out by the +local and central organs of administration, beginning with the +village democratic organisations and ending with the central +provincial institutions--with the exception of urban and rural +cooperative societies. + +The Land Fund is subject to periodical redistribution according to +the increase of population and the development of productivity and +rural economy. + +In case of modification of the boundaries of allotments, the original +centre of the allotment remains intact. + +The lands of persons retiring from the community return to the Land +Fund; providing that near relatives of the persons retiring, or +friends designated by them, shall have preference in the +redistribution of these lands. + +When lands are returned to the Land Fund, the money expended for +manuring or improving the land, which has not been exhausted, shall +be reimbursed. + +If in some localities the Land Fund is insufficient to satisfy the +local population, the surplus population should emigrate. + +The organisation of the emigration, also the costs thereof, and the +providing of emigrants with the necessary machinery and live-stock, +shall be the business of the State. + +The emigration shall be carried out in the following order: first, +the peasants without land who express their wish to emigrate; then +the undesirable members of the community, deserters, etc., and +finally, by drawing lots on agreement. + +All which is contained in this _nakaz,_ being the expression of the +indisputable will of the great majority of conscious peasants of +Russia, is declared to be a temporary law, and until the convocation +of the Constituent Assembly, becomes effective immediately so far as +is possible, and in some parts of it gradually, as will be determined +by the District Soviets of Peasants' Deputies. + +4. + +THE LAND AND DESERTERS + +The Government was not forced to make any decision concerning the +rights of deserters to the land. The end of the war and the +demobilisation of the army automatically removed the deserter +problem.... + +5. + +THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS + +The Council of People's Commissars was at first composed entirely of +Bolsheviki. This was not entirely the fault of the Bolsheviki, +however. On November 8th they offered portfolios to members of the +Left Socialist Revolutionaries, who declined. See page 273. {of original +volume} + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VI + +1. + +APPEALS AND DENUNCIATIONS + +Appeal to all Citizens and to the Military Organisations of the +Socialist Revolutionary Party. + +"The senseless attempt of the Bolsheviki is on the eve of complete +failure. The garrison is disaffected.... The Ministries are idle, bread +is lacking. All factions except a handful of Bolsheviki have left the +Congress of Soviets. The Bolsheviki are alone! Abuses of all sorts, +acts of vandalism and pillage, the bombardment of the Winter Palace, +arbitrary arrests--all these crimes committed by the Bolsheviki have +aroused against them the resentment of the majority of the sailors +and soldiers. The _Tsentroflot_ refuses to submit to the orders of +the Bolsheviki.... + +"We call upon all sane elements to gather around the Committee for +Salvation of Country and Revolution; to take serious measures to be +ready, at the first call of the Central Committee of the Party, to +act against the counter-revolutionists, who will doubtless attempt to +profit by these troubles provoked by the Bolshevik adventure, and to +watch closely the external enemy, who also would like to take +advantage of this opportune moment when the Front is weakened...." + + _The Military Section of the Central Committee of + the Socialist Revolutionary Party._ + + * * * * * + +From _Pravda:_ + +"What is Kerensky? + +"A usurper, whose place is in Peter-Paul prison, with Kornilov and +Kishkin. + +"A criminal and a traitor to the workers, soldiers and peasants, who +believed in him. + +"Kerensky? A murderer of soldiers! + +"Kerensky? A public executioner of peasants! + +"Kerensky? A strangler of workers! + +"Such is the second Kornilov who now wants to butcher Liberty!" + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VII + +1. + +TWO DECREES + +_On the Press_ + +In the serious decisive hour of the Revolution and the days immediately +following it, the Provisional Revolutionary Committee is compelled to +adopt a series of measures against the counter-revolutionary press of +all shades. + +Immediately on all sides there are cries that the new Socialist +authority is in this violating the essential principles of its own +programme by an attempt against the freedom of the press. + +The Workers' and Peasants' Government calls the attention of the +population to the fact that in our country, behind this liberal +shield, is hidden the opportunity for the wealthier classes to seize +the lion's share of the whole press, and by this means to poison the +popular mind and bring confusion into the consciousness of the masses. + +Every one knows that the bourgeois press is one of the most powerful +weapons of the bourgeoisie. Especially in this critical moment, when +the new authority of the workers and peasants is in process of +consolidation, it is impossible to leave it in the hands of the +enemy, at a time when it is not less dangerous than bombs and +machine-guns. This is why temporary and extraordinary measures have +been adopted for the purpose of stopping the flow of filth and +calumny in which the yellow and green press would be glad to drown +the young victory of the people. + +As soon as the new order is consolidated, all administrative measures +against the press will be suspended; full liberty will be given it +within the limits of responsibility before the law, in accordance +with the broadest and most progressive regulations.... + +Bearing in mind, however, the fact that any restrictions of the +freedom of the press, even in critical moments, are admissible only +within the bounds of necessity, the Council of People's Commissars +decrees as follows: + +1. The following classes of newspapers shall be subject to closure: +(a) Those inciting to open resistance or disobedience to the Workers' +and Peasants' Government; (b) Those creating confusion by obviously +and deliberately perverting the news; (c) Those inciting to acts of a +criminal character punishable by the laws. + +2. The temporary or permanent closing of any organ of the press shall +be carried out only by virtue of a resolution of the Council of +People's Commissars. + +3. The present decree is of a temporary nature, and will be revoked +by a special _ukaz_ when normal conditions of public life are +re-established. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + + VLADIMIR ULIANOV (LENIN). + + * * * * * + +_On Workers' Militia_ + +1. All Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies shall form a +Workers' Militia. + +2. This Workers' Militia shall be entirely at the orders of the +Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. + +3. Military and civil authorities must render every assistance in +arming the workers and in supplying them with technical equipment, +even to the extent of requisitioning arms belonging to the War +Department of the Government. + +4. This decree shall be promulgated by telegraph. Petrograd, November +10, 1917. + + _People's Commissar of the Interior_ + + A. I. RYKOV. + +This decree encouraged the formation of companies of Red Guards all +over Russia, which became the most valuable arm of the Soviet +Government in the ensuing civil war. + +2. + +THE STRIKE FUND + +The fund for the striking Government employees and bank clerks was +subscribed by banks and business houses of Petrograd and other +cities, and also by foreign corporations doing business in Russia. +All who consented to strike against the Bolsheviki were paid full +wages, and in some cases their pay was increased. It was the +realisation of the strike fund contributors that the Bolsheviki were +firmly in power, followed by their refusal to pay strike benefits, +which finally broke the strike. + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII + +1. + +KERENSKY'S ADVANCE + +On November 9th Kerensky and his Cossacks arrived at Gatchina, where +the garrison, hopelessly split into two factions, immediately +surrendered. The members of the Gatchina Soviet were arrested, and at +first threatened with death; later they were released on good +behaviour. + +The Cossack advance-guards, practically unopposed, occupied Pavlovsk, +Alexandrovsk and other stations, and reached the outskirts of +Tsarskoye Selo next morning--November 10th. At once the garrison +divided into three groups--the officers, loyal to Kerenskly; part of +the soldiers and non-commissioned officers, who declared themselves +"neutral"; and most of the rank and file, who were for the +Bolsheviki. The Bolshevik soldiers, who were without leaders or +organisation, fell back toward the capital. The local Soviet also +withdrew to the village of Pulkovo. + +From Pulkovo six members of the Tsarskoye Selo Soviet went with an +automobile-load of proclamations to Gatchina, to propagandise the +Cossacks. They spent most of the day going around Gatchina from one +Cossack barracks to another, pleading, arguing and explaining. Toward +evening some officers discovered their presence and they were +arrested and brought before General Krasnov, who said, "You fought +against Kornilov; now you are opposing Kerensky. I'll have you all +shot!" + +After reading aloud to them the order appointing him +commander-in-chief of the Petrograd District, Krasnov asked if they +were Bolsheviki. They replied in the affirmative--upon which Krasnov +went away; a short time later an officer came and set them free, +saying that it was by order of General Krasnov.... + +In the meanwhile delegations continued to arrive from Petrograd; from +the Duma, the Committee for Salvation, and, last of all, from the +_Vikzhel._ The Union of Railway Workers insisted that some agreement +be reached to halt the civil war, and demanded that Kerensky treat +with the Bolsheviki, and that he stop the advance on Petrograd. In +case of refusal, the _Vikzhel_ threatened a general strike at +midnight of November 11th. + +Kerensky asked to be allowed to discuss the matter with the Socialist +Ministers and with the Committee for Salvation. He was plainly +undecided. + +On the 11th Cossack outposts reached Krasnoye Selo, from which the +local Soviet and the heterogeneous forces of the Military +Revolutionary Committee precipitately retired, some of them +surrendering.... That night they also touched Pulkovo, where the first +real resistance was encountered.... + +Cossacks deserters began to dribble into Petrograd, declaring that +Kerensky had lied to them, that he had spread broadcast over the +front proclamations which said that Petrograd was burning, that the +Bolsheviki had invited the Germans to come in, and that they were +murdering women and children and looting indiscriminately.... + +The Military Revolutionary Committee immediately sent out some dozens +of "agitators," with thousands of printed appeals, to inform the +Cossacks of the real situation.... + +2. + +PROCLAMATIONS OF THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE + +"To All Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. + +"The All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and +Peasants' Deputies charges the local Soviets immediately to take the +most energetic measures to oppose all counter-revolutionary +anti-Semitic disturbances, and all _pogroms_ of whatever nature. The +honour of the workers', peasants' and soldiers' Revolution cannot +tolerate any disorders.... + +"The Red Guard of Petrograd, the revolutionary garrison and the +sailors have maintained complete order in the capital. + +"Workers, soldiers, and peasants, everywhere you should follow the +example of the workers and soldiers of Petrograd. + +"Comrades soldiers and Cossacks, on us falls the duty of keeping real +revolutionary order. + +"All revolutionary Russia and the whole world have their eyes on +you...." + +"The All-Russian Congress of Soviets decrees: + +"To abolish capital punishment at the Front, which was reintroduced +by Kerensky. + +"Complete freedom of propaganda is to be re-established in the +country. All soldiers and revolutionary officers now under arrest for +so-called political 'crimes' are at once to be set free." + +"The ex-Premier Kerensky, overthrown by the people, refuses to submit +to the Congress of Soviets and attempts to struggle against the legal +Government elected by the All-Russian Congress--the Council of +People's Commissars. The Front has refused to aid Kerensky. Moscow +has rallied to the new Government. In many cities (Minsk, Moghilev, +Kharkov) the power is in the hands of the Soviets. No infantry +detachment consents to march against the Workers' and Peasants' +Government, which, in accord with the firm will of the Army and the +people, has begun peace negotiations and has given the land to the +peasants.... + +"We give public warning that if the Cossacks do not halt Kerensky, +who has deceived them and is leading them against Petrograd, the +revolutionary forces will rise with all their might for the defence +of the precious conquests of the Revolution--Peace and Land. + +"Citizens of Petrograd! Kerensky fled from the city, abandoning the +authority to Kishkin, who wanted to surrender the capital to the +Germans; Rutenburg, of the Black Band, who sabotaged the Municipal +Food Supply; and Paltchinsky, hated by the whole democracy. Kerensky +has fled, abandoning you to the Germans, to famine, to bloody +massacres. The revolting people have arrested Kerensky's Ministers, +and you have seen how the order and supplying of Petrograd at once +improved. Kerensky, at the demand of the aristocrat proprietors, the +capitalists, speculators, marches against you for the purpose of +giving back the land to the land-owners, and continuing the hated and +ruinous war. + +"Citizens of Petrograd! We know that the great majority of you are in +favour of the people's revolutionary authority, against the +Kornilovtsi led by Kerensky. Do not be deceived by the lying +declarations of the impotent bourgeois conspirators, who will be +pitilessly crushed. + +"Workers, soldiers, peasants! We call upon you for revolutionary +devotion and discipline. + +"Millions of peasants and soldiers are with us. + +"The victory of the people's Revolution is assured!" + +3. + +ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE's COMMISSARS + +In this book I am giving only such decrees as are in my opinion +pertinent to the Bolshevik conquest of power. The rest belong to a +detailed account of the Structure of the Soviet State, for which I +have no place in this work. This will be dealt with very fully in the +second volume, now in preparation, "Kornilov to Brest-Litovsk." + +_Concerning Dwelling-Places_ + +1. The independent Municipal Self-Governments have the right to +sequestrate all unoccupied or uninhabited dwelling-places. + +2. The Municipalities may, according to laws and arrangements +established by them, install in all available lodgings citizens who +have no place to live, or who live in congested or unhealthy lodgings. + +3. The Municipalities may establish a service of inspection of +dwelling-places, organise it and define its powers. + +4. The Municipalities may issue orders on the institution of House +Committees, define their organisation, their powers and give them +juridical authority. + +5. The Municipalities may create Housing Tribunals, define their +powers and their authority. + +6. This decree is promulgated by telegraph. + + _People's Commissar of the Interior,_ + + A. I. RYKOV. + + * * * * * + +_On Social Insurance_ + +The Russian proletariat has inscribed on its banners the promise of +complete Social Insurance of wage-workers, as well as of the town and +village poor. The Government of the Tsar, the proprietors and the +capitalists, as well as the Government of coalition and conciliation, +failed to realise the desires of the workers with regard to Social +Insurance. + +The Workers' and Peasants' Government, relying upon the support of +the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, announces +to the working-class of Russia and to the town and village poor, that +it will immediately prepare laws on Social Insurance based on the +formulas proposed by the Labour organisations: + +1. Insurance for all wage-workers without exception, as well as for +all urban and rural poor. + +2. Insurance to cover all categories of loss of working capacity, +such as illness, infirmities, old age, childbirth, widowhood, +orphanage, and unemployment. + +3. All the costs of insurance to be charged to employers. + +4. Compensation of at least full wages in all loss of working +capacity and unemployment. + +5. Complete workers' self-government of all Insurance institutions. + +In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic, + _The People's Commissar of Labour,_ + ALEXANDER SHLIAPNIKOV. + + * * * * * + +_On Popular Education_ + +Citizens of Russia! + +With the insurrection of November 7th the working masses have won for +the first time the real power. + +The All-Russian Congress of Soviets has temporarily transferred this +power both to its Executive Committee and to the Council of People's +Commissars. + +By the will of the revolutionary people, I have been appointed +People's Commissar of Education. + +The work of guiding in general the people's education, inasmuch as it +remains with the central government, is, until the Constituent +Assembly meets, entrusted to a Commission on the People's Education, +whose chairman and executive is the People's Commissar. + +Upon what fundamental propositions will rest this State Commission? +How is its sphere of competence determined? + +_The General Line of Educational Activity:_ Every genuinely +democratic power must, in the domain of education, in a country where +illiteracy and ignorance reign supreme, make its first aim the +struggle against this darkness. It must acquire in the shortest time +_universal literacy,_ by organising a network of schools answering to +the demands of modern pedagogics; it must introduce universal, +obligatory and free tuition for all, and establish at the same time a +series of such teachers' institutes and seminaries as will in the +shortest time furnish a powerful army of people's teachers so +necessary for the universal instruction of the population of our +boundless Russia. + +_Decentralisation:_ The State Commission on People's Education is by +no means a central power governing the institutions of instruction +and education. On the contrary, the entire school work ought to be +transferred to the organs of local self-government. The independent +work of the workers, soldiers and peasants, establishing on their own +initiative cultural educational organisations, must be given full +autonomy, both by the State centre and the Municipal centres. + +The work of the State Commission serves as a link and helpmate to +organise resources of material and moral support to the Municipal and +private institutions, particularly to those with a class-character +established by the workers. + +_The State Committee on People's Education:_ A whole series of +invaluable law projects was elaborated from the beginning of the +Revolution by the State Committee for People's Education, a tolerably +democratic body as to its composition, and rich in experts. The State +Commission sincerely desires the collaboration of this Committee. + +It has addressed itself to the bureau of the Committee, with the +request at once to convoke an extraordinary session of the Committee +for the fulfilment of the following programme: + +1. The revision of rules of representation in the Committee, in the +sense of greater democratisation. + +2. The revision of the Committee's rights in the sense of widening +them, and of converting the Committee into a fundamental State +institute for the elaboration of law projects calculated to +reorganise public instruction and education in Russia upon democratic +principles. + +3. The revision, jointly with the new State Commission, of the laws +already created by the Committee, a revision required by the fact +that in editing them the Committee had to take into account the +bourgeois spirit of previous Ministries, which obstructed it even in +this its narrowed form. + +After this revision these laws will be put into effect without any +bureaucratic red tape, in the revolutionary order. + +_The Pedagogues and the Societists:_ The State Commission welcomes +the pedagogues to the bright and honourable work of educating the +people--the masters of the country. + +No one measure in the domain of the people's education ought to be +adopted by any power without the attentive deliberation of those who +represent the pedagogues. + +On the other hand, a decision cannot by any means be reached +exclusively through the cooperation of specialists. This refers as +well to reforms of the institutes of general education. + +The cooperation of the pedagogues with the social forces--this is how +the Commission will work both in its own constitution, in the State +Committee, and in all its activities. + +As its first task the Commission considers the improvement of the +teachers' status, and first of all of those very poor though almost +most important contributors to the work of culture--the elementary +school teachers. Their just demands ought to be satisfied at once and +at any cost. The proletariat of the schools has in vain demanded an +increase of salary to one hundred rubles per month. It would be a +disgrace any longer to keep in poverty the teachers of the +overwhelming majority of the Russian people. + +But a real democracy cannot stop at mere literacy, at universal +elementary instruction. It must endeavour to organise a uniform +secular school of several grades. The ideal is, equal and if possible +higher education for all the citizens. So long as this idea has not +been realised for all, the natural transition through all the +schooling grades up to the university--a transition to a higher +stage--must depend entirely upon the pupil's aptitude, and not upon +the resources of his family. + +The problem of a genuinely democratic organisation of instruction is +particularly difficult in a country impoverished by a long, criminal, +imperialistic war; but the workers who have taken the power must +remember that education will serve them as the greatest instrument in +their struggle for a better lot and for a spiritual growth. However +needful it may be to curtail other articles of the people's budget, +the expenses on education must stand high. A large educational budget +is the pride and glory of a nation. The free and enfranchised peoples +of Russia will not forget this. + +The fight against illiteracy and ignorance cannot be confined to a +thorough establishment of school education for children and youths. +Adults, too, will be anxious to save themselves from the debasing +position of a man who cannot read and write. The school for adults +must occupy a conspicuous place in the general plan of popular +instruction. + +_Instruction and Education:_ One must emphasise the difference +between instruction and education. + +Instruction is the transmission of ready knowledge by the teacher to +his pupil. Education is a creative process. The personality of the +individual is being "educated" throughout life, is being formed, +grows richer in content, stronger and more perfect. + +The toiling masses of the people--the workmen, the peasants, the +soldiers--are thirsting for elementary and advanced instruction. But +they are also thirsting for education. Neither the government nor the +intellectuals nor any other power outside of themselves can give it +to them. The school, the book, the theatre, the museum, etc., may +here by only aids. They have their own ideas, formed by their social +position, so different from the position of those ruling classes and +intellectuals who have hitherto created culture. They have their own +ideas, their own emotions, their own ways of approaching the problems +of personality and society. The city labourer, according to his own +fashion, the rural toiler according to his, will each build his clear +world-conception permeated with the class-idea of the workers. There +is no more superb or beautiful phenomenon than the one of which our +nearest descendants will be both witnesses and participants: The +building by collective Labour of its own general, rich and free soul. + +Instruction will surely be an important but not a decisive element. +What is more important here is the criticism, the creativeness of the +masses themselves; for science and art have only in some of their +parts a general human importance. They suffer radical changes with +every far-reaching class upheaval. + +Throughout Russia, particularly among the city labourers, but also +among the peasants, a powerful wave of cultural educational movement +has arisen; workers' and soldiers' organisations of this kind are +multiplying rapidly. To meet them, to lend them support, to clear the +road before them is the first task of a revolutionary and popular +government in the domain of democratic education. + +_The Constituent Assembly_ will doubtless soon begin its work. It +alone can permanently establish the order of national and social life +in our country, and at the same time the general character of the +organisation of popular education. + +Now, however, with the passage of power to the Soviets, the really +democratic character of the Constituent Assembly is assured. The line +which the State Commission, relying upon the State Committee, will +follow, will hardly suffer any modification under the influence of +the Constituent Assembly. Without pre-determining it, the new +People's Government considers itself within its rights in enacting in +this domain a series of measures which aim at enriching and +enlightening as soon as possible the spiritual life of the country. + +_The Ministry:_ The present work must in the interim proceed through +the Ministry of the People's Education. Of all the necessary +alterations in its composition and construction the State Commission +will have charge, elected by the Executive Committee of the Soviets +and the State Committee. Of course the order of State authority in +the domain of the people's education will be established by the +Constituent Assembly. Until then, the Ministry must play the part of +the executive apparatus for both the State Committee and the State +Commission for People's Education. + +The pledge of the country's safety lies in the cooperation of all its +vital and genuinely democratic forces. + +We believe that the energetic effort of the working people and of the +honest enlightened intellectuals will lead the country out of its +painful crisis, and through complete democracy to the reign of +Socialism and the brotherhood of nations. + + _People's Commissar on Education,_ + + A. V. LUNACHARSKY. + + * * * * * + +_On the Order in Which the Laws Are to be Ratified and Published._ + +1. Until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, the enacting +and publishing of laws shall be carried out in the order decreed by +the present Provisional Workmen's and Peasants' Government, elected +by the All-Russian Congress of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' +Deputies. + +2. Every bill is presented for consideration of the Government by the +respective Ministry, signed by the duly authorised People's +Commissar; or it is presented by the legislative section attached to +the Government, signed by the chief of the section. + +3. After its ratification by the Government, the decree in its final +edition, in the name of the Russian Republic, is signed by the +president of the Council of People's Commissars, or for him by the +People's Commissar who presented it for the consideration of the +Government, and is then published. + +4. The date of publishing it in the official "Gazette of the +Provisional Workmen's and Peasants' Government," is the date of its +becoming law. + +5. In the decree there may be appointed a date, other than the date +of publication, on which it shall become law, or it may be +promulgated by telegraph; in which case it is to be regarded in every +locality as becoming law upon the publication of the telegram. + +6. The promulgation of legislative acts of the government by the +State Senate is abolished. The Legislative Section attached to the +Council of People's Commissars issues periodically a collection of +regulations and orders of the government which possess the force of +law. + +7. The Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers', +Peasants', and Soldiers' Deputies _(Tsay-ee-kah)_ has at all times +the right to cancel, alter or annul any of the Government decrees. + +_In the name of the Russian Republic, the President of the Council of +People's Commissars,_ + + V. ULIANOV-LENIN. + +4. + +THE LIQUOR PROBLEM + +_Order Issued by the Military Revolutonary Committee_ + +1. Until further order the production of alcohol and alcoholic drinks +is prohibited. + +2. It is ordered to all producers of alcohol and alcoholic drinks to +inform not later than on the 27th inst. of the exact site of their +stores. + +3. All culprits against this order will be tried by a Military +Revolutionary Court. + +THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE. + +5. + +ORDER NO. 2 + +_From the Committee of the Finland Guard Reserve Regiment to all +House Committees and to the citizens of Vasili Ostrov._ + +The bourgeoisie has chosen a very sinister method of fighting against +the proletariat; it has established in various parts of the city huge +wine depots, and distributes liquor among the soldiers, in this +manner attempting to sow dissatisfaction in the ranks of the +Revolutionary army. + +It is herewith ordered to all house committees, that at 3 o'clock, +the time set for posting this order, they shall in person and +secretly notify the President of the Committee of the Finland Guard +Regiment, concerning the amount of wine in their premises. + +Those who violate this order will be arrested and given trial before +a merciless court, and their property will be confiscated, and the +stock of wine discovered will be + + BLOWN UP WITH DYNAMITE + + 2 hours after this warning, + +because more lenient measures, as experience has shown, do not bring +the desired results. + +REMEMBER, THERE WILL BE NO OTHER WARNING BEFORE THE EXPLOSIONS. + + _Regimental Committee of the Finland Guard Regiment._ + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IX + +1. + +MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE. BULLETIN NO. 2 + +November 12th, in the evening, Kerensky sent a proposition to the +revolutionary troops--"to lay down their arms." Kerensky's men opened +artillery fire. Our artillery answered and compelled the enemy to be +silent. The Cossacks assumed the offensive. The deadly fire of the +sailors, the Red Guards and the soldiers forced the Cossacks to +retreat. Our armoured cars rushed in among the ranks of the enemy. +The enemy is fleeing. Our troops are in pursuit. The order has been +given to arrest Kerensky. Tsarskoye Selo has been taken by the +revolutionary troops. + +_The Lettish Riflemen:_ The Military Revolutionary Committee has +received precise information that the valiant Lettish Riflemen have +arrived from the Front and taken up a position in the rear of +Kerensky's bands. + +_From the Staff of the Military Revolutionary Committee_ + +The seizure of Gatchina and Tsarskoye Selo by Kerensky's detachments +is to be explained by the complete absence of artillery and +machine-guns in these places, whereas Kerensky's cavalry was provided +with artillery from the beginning. The last two days were days of +enforced work for our Staff, to provide the necessary quantity of +guns, machine-guns, field telephones, etc., for the revolutionary +troops. When this work--with the energetic assistance of the District +Soviets and the factories (the Putilov Works, Obukhov and others)--was +accomplished, the issue of the expected encounter left no place for +doubt: on the side of the revolutionary troops there was not only a +surplus in quantity and such a powerful material base as Petrograd, +but also an enormous moral advantage. All the Petrograd regiments +moved out to the positions with tremendous enthusiasm. The Garrison +Conference elected a Control Commission of five soldiers, thus +securing a complete unity between the commander in chief and the +garrison. At the Garrison Conference it was unanimously decided to +begin decisive action. + +The artillery fire on the 12th of November developed with +extraordinary force by 3 P.M. The Cossacks were completely +demoralised. A parliamentarian came from them to the staff of the +detachment at Krasnoye Selo, and proposed to stop the firing, +threatening otherwise to take "decisive" measures. He was answered +that the firing would cease when Kerensky laid down his arms. + +In the developing encounter all sections of the troops--the sailors, +soldiers and the Red Guards--showed unlimited courage. The sailors +continued to advance until they had fired all their cartridges. The +number of casualties has not been established yet, but it is larger +on the part of the counter-revolutionary troops, who experienced +great losses through one of our armoured cars. + +Kerensky's staff, fearing that they would be surrounded, gave the +order to retreat, which retreat speedily assumed a disorderly +character. By 11-12 P.M., Tsarkoye Selo, including the wireless +station, was entirely occupied by the troops of the Soviets. The +Cossacks retreated towards Gatchina and Colpinno. + +The morale of the troops is beyond all praise. The order has been +given to pursue the retreating Cossacks. From the Tsarskoye Selo +station a radio-telegram was sent immediately to the Front and to all +local Soviets throughout Russia. Further details will be +communicated.... + +2. + +EVENTS OF THE 13TH IN PETROGRAD + +Three regiments of the Petrograd garrison to take any part in the +battle against Kerensky. On the morning of the 13th they summoned to +a joint conference sixty delegates from the Front, in order to find +some way to stop the civil war. This conference appointed a committee +to go and persuade Kerensky's troops to lay down their arms. They +proposed to ask the Government soldiers the following questions: (1) +Will the soldiers and Cossacks of Kerensky recognise the +_Tsay-ee-kah_ as the repository of Governmental power, responsible to +the Congress of Soviets? (2) Will the soldiers and Cossacks accept +the decrees of the second Congress of Soviets? (3) Will they accept +the Land and Peace decrees? (4) Will they agree to cease hostilities +and return to their units? (5) Will they consent to the arrest of +Kerensky, Krasnov and Savinkov? + +At the meeting of the Petrograd Soviet, Zinoviev said, "It would be +foolish to think that this committee could finish affair. The enemy +can only be broken by force. However, it would be a crime for us not +to try every peaceful means to bring the Cossacks over to us.... What +we need is a military victory.... The news of an armistice is +premature. Our Staff will be ready to conclude an armistice when the +enemy can no longer do any harm.... + +"At present, the influence of our victory is creating new political +conditions.... To-day the Socialist Revolutionaries are inclined +to admit the Bolsheviki into the new Government.... A decisive +victory is indispensable, so that those who hesitate will have no +further hesitation...." + +At the City Duma all attention was concentrated on the formation of +the new Government. In many factories and barracks already +Revolutionary Tribunals were operating, and the Bolsheviki were +threatening to set up more of these, and try Gotz and Avksentiev +before them. Dan proposed that an ultimatum be sent demanding the +abolition of these Revolutionary Tribunals, or the other members of +the Conference would immediately break off all negotiations with the +Bolsheviki. + +Shingariov, Cadet, declared that the Municipality ought not to take +part in any agreement with the Bolsheviki.... "Any agreement with the +maniacs is impossible until they lay down their arms and recognise +the authority of independent courts of law...." + +Yartsev, for the _Yedinstvo_ group, declared that any agreement with +the Bolsheviki would be equivalent to a Bolshevik victory.... + +Mayor Schreider, for the Socialist Revolutionaries, stated that he +was opposed to all agreement with the Bolsheviki.... "As for a +Government, that ought to spring from the popular will; and since the +popular will has been expressed in the municipal elections, the +popular will which can create a Government is actually concentrated +in the Duma...." + +After other speakers, of which only the representative of the +Mensheviki Internationalists was in favour of considering the +admission of the Bolsheviki into the new Government, the Duma voted +to continue its representatives in the _Vikzhel's_ conference, but to +insist upon the restoration of the Provisional Government before +everything, and to exclude the Bolsheviki from the new power.... + +3. + +TRUCE. KRASNOV's ANSWER TO THE COMMITTEE FOR SALVATION + +"In answer to your telegram proposing an immediate armistice, the +Supreme Commander, not wishing further futile bloodshed, consents to +enter into negotiations and to establish relations between the armies +of the Government and the insurrectionists. He proposes to the +General Staff of the insurrectionists to recall its regiments to +Petrograd, to declare the line Ligovo-Pulkovo-Colpinno neutral, and +to allow the advance-guards of the Government cavalry to enter +Tsarskoye Selo, for the purpose of establishing order. The answer to +this proposal must be placed in the hands of our envoys before eight +o'clock to-morrow morning. + +KRASNOV." + +4. + +EVENTS AT TSARSKOYE SELO + +On the evening that Kerensky's troops retreated from Tsarskoye Selo, +some priests organised a religious procession through the streets of +the town, making speeches to the citizens in which they asked the +people to support the rightful authority, the Provisional Government. +When the Cossacks had retreated, and the first Red Guards entered the +town, witnesses reported that the priests had incited the people +against the Soviets, and had said prayers at the grave of Rasputin, +which lies behind the Imperial Palace. One of the priests, Father +Ivan Kutchurov, was arrested and shot by the infuriated Red Guards.... + +Just as the Red Guards entered the town the electric lights were shut +off, plunging the streets in complete darkness. The director of the +electric light plant, Lubovitch, was arrested by the Soviet troops +and asked why he had shut off the lights. He was found some time +later in the room where he had been imprisoned with a revolver in his +hand and a bullet hole in his temple. + +The Petrograd anti-Bolshevik papers came out next day with headlines, +"Plekhanov's temperature 39 degrees!" Plekhanov lived at Tsarskoye +Selo, where he was lying ill in bed. Red Guards arrived at the house +and searched it for arms, questioning the old man. + +"What class of society do you belong to?" they asked him. + +"I am a revolutionist," answered Plekhanov, "who for forty years has +devoted his life to the struggle for liberty!" + +"Anyway," said a workman, "you have now sold yourself to the +bourgeoisie!" + +The workers no longer knew Plekhanov, pioneer of the Russian Social +Democracy! + +5. + +APPEAL OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT + +"The detachments at Gatchina, deceived by Kerensky, have laid down +their arms and decided to arrest Kerensky. That chief of the +counter-revolutionary campaign has fled. The Army, by an enormous +majority, has pronounced in favour of the second All-Russian Congress +of Soviets, and of the Government which it has created. Scores of +delegates from the Front have hastened to Petrograd to assure the +Soviet Government of the Army's fidelity. No twisting of the facts, +no calumny against the revolutionary workers, soldiers, and peasants, +has been able to defeat the People. The Workers' and Soldiers' +Revolution is victorious.... + +"The _Tsay-ee-kah_ appeals to the troops which march under the flag +of the counter-revolution, and invites them immediately to lay down +their arms--to shed no longer the blood of their brothers in the +interests of a handful of land-owners and capitalists. The Workers', +Soldiers' and Peasants' Revolution curses those who remain even for a +moment under the flag of the People's enemies.... + +"Cossacks! Come over to the rank of the victorious People! +Railwaymen, postmen, telegraphers--all, all support the new Government +of the People!" + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER X + +1. + +DAMAGE TO THE KREMLIN + +I myself verified the damage to the Kremlin, which I visited +immediately after the bombardment. The Little Nicolai Palace, a +building of no particular importance, which was occupied occasionally +by receptions of one of the Grand Duchesses, had served as barracks +for the _yunkers._ It was not only bombarded, but pretty well sacked; +fortunately there was nothing in it of particular historical value. + +Usspensky Cathedral had a shell-hole in one of the cupolas, but +except for a few feet of mosaic in the ceiling, was undamaged. The +frescoes on the porch of Blagovestchensky Cathedral were badly +damaged by a shell. Another shell hit the corner of Ivan Veliki. +Tchudovsky Monastery was hit about thirty times, but only one shell +went through a window into the interior, the others breaking the +brick window-moulding and the roof cornices. + +The clock over the Spasskaya Gate was smashed. Troitsky Gate was +battered, but easily reparable. One of the lower towers had lost its +brick spire. + +The church of St. Basil was untouched, as was the great Imperial +Palace, with all the treasures of Moscow and Petrograd in its cellar, +and the crown jewels in the Treasury. These places were not even +entered. + +2. + +LUNATCHARSKY's DECLARATION + +"Comrades! You are the young masters of the country, and although now +you have much to do and think about, you must know how to defend your +artistic and scientific treasures. + +"Comrades! That which is happening at Moscow is a horrible, +irreparable misfortune.... The People in its struggle for the power has +mutilated our glorious capital. + +"It is particularly terrible in these days of violent struggle, of +destructive warfare, to be Commissar of Public Education. Only the +hope of the victory of Socialism, the source of a new and superior +culture, brings me comfort. On me weighs the responsibility of +protecting the artistic wealth of the people.... Not being able to +remain at my post, where I had no influence, I resigned. My comrades, +the other Commissars, considered this resignation inadmissible. I +shall therefore remain at my post.... And moreover, I understand that +the damage done to the Kremlin is not as serious as has been +reported.... + +"But I beg you, comrades, to give me your support.... Preserve for +yourselves and your descendants the beauty of our land; be the +guardians of the property of the People. + +"Soon, very soon, even the most ignorant, who have been held in +ignorance so long, will awake and understand what a source of joy, +strength and wisdom is art...." + + + +3. + +QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE BOURGEOISIE + +[Graphic, page 354] + +4. + +REVOLUTIONARY FINANCIAL MEASURE + +_Order_ + +In virtue of the powers vested in me by the Military Revolutionary +Committee attached to the Moscow Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' +Deputies, I decree: + +1. All banks with branches, the Central State Savings Bank with +branches, and the savings banks at the Post and Telegraph offices are +to be opened beginning November 22nd, from 11 A. M. to 1 P. M. until +further order. + +2. On current accounts and on the books of the savings banks, +payments will be made by the above mentioned institutions, of not +more than 150 rubles for each depositor during the course of the next +week. + +3. Payments of amounts exceeding 150 rubles a week on current +accounts and savings banks books, also payments on other accounts of +all kinds will be allowed during the next three days--November 22nd, +23d, and 24th, only in the following cases: + +(a) On the accounts of military organisations for the satisfaction of +their needs; + +(b) For the payment of salaries of employees and the earnings of +workers according to the tables and lists certified by the Factory +Committees or Soviets of Employees, and attested by the signatures of +the Commissars, or the representatives of the Military Revolutionary +Committee, and the district Military Revolutionary Committees. + +4. Not more than 150 rubles are to be paid against drafts; the +remaining sums are to be entered on current account, payments on +which are to be made in the order established by the present decree. + +5. All other banking operations are prohibited during these three +days. + +6. The receipt of money on all accounts is allowed for any amount. + +7. The representatives of the Finance Council for the certification +of the authorisations indicated in clause 3 will hold their office in +the building of the Stock Exchange, Ilyinka Street, from 10 A. M. to +2 P. M. + +8. The Banks and Savings Banks shall send the totals of daily cash +operations by 5 P. M. to the headquarters of the Soviet, Skobeliev +Square, to the Military Revolutionary Committee, for the Finance +Council. + +9. All employees and managers of credit institutions of all kinds who +refuse to comply with this decree shall be responsible as enemies of +the Revolution and of the mass of the population, before the +Revolutionary Tribunals. Their names shall be published for general +information. + +10. For the control of the operations of Branches of the Savings +Banks and Banks within the limits of this decree, the district +Military Revolutionary Committees shall elect three representatives +and appoint their place of business. + +_Fully-authorised Commissar of the Military Revolutionary Committee,_ + + S. SHEVERDIN-MAKSIMENKO. + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XI + +1. + +LIMITATIONS OF THIS CHAPTER + +This chapter extends over a period of two months, more or less. It +covers the time of negotiations with the Allies, the negotiations and +armistice with the Germans, and the beginning of the Peace +negotiations at Brest-Litovsk, as well as the period in which were +laid the foundations of the Soviet State. + +However, it is no part of my purpose in this book to describe and +interpret these very important historical events, which require more +space. They are therefore reserved for another volume, "Kornilov to +Brest-Litovsk." + +In this chapter, then, I have confined myself to the Soviet +Government's attempts to consolidate its political power at home, and +sketched its successive conquests of hostile domestic elements--which +process was temporarily interrupted by the disastrous Peace of +Brest-Litovsk. + +2. + +PREAMBLE--DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLES OF RUSSIA + +The October Revolution of the workers and peasants began under the +common banner of Emancipation. + +The peasants are being emancipated from the power of the landowners, +for there is no longer the landowner's property right in the land--it +has been abolished. The soldiers and sailors are being emancipated +from the power of autocratic generals, for generals will henceforth +be elective and subject to recall. The workingmen are being +emancipated from the whims and arbitrary will of the capitalists, for +henceforth there will be established the control of the workers over +mills and factories. Everything living and capable of life is being +emancipated from the hateful shackles. + +There remain only the peoples of Russia, who have suffered and are +suffering oppression and arbitrariness, and whose emancipation must +immediately be begun, whose liberation must be effected resolutely +and definitely. + +During the period of Tsarism the peoples of Russia were +systematically incited against one another. The result of such a +policy are known: massacres and _pogroms_ on the one hand, slavery of +peoples on the other. + +There can be and there must be no return to this disgraceful policy. +Henceforth the policy of a voluntary and honest union of the peoples +of Russia must be substituted. + +In the period of imperialism, after the March revolution, when the +power was transferred into the hands of the Cadet bourgeoisie, the +naked policy of provocation gave way to one of cowardly distrust of +the peoples of Russia, to a policy of fault-finding, of meaningless +"freedom" and "equality" of peoples. The results of such a policy are +known: the growth of national enmity, the impairment of mutual +confidence. + +An end must be put to this unworthy policy of falsehood and distrust, +of fault-finding and provocation. Henceforth it must be replaced by +an open and honest policy leading to the complete mutual confidence +of the peoples of Russia. Only as the result of such a trust can +there be formed an honest and lasting union of the peoples of Russia. +Only as the result of such a union can the workers and peasants of +the peoples of Russia be cemented into one revolutionary force able +to resist all attempts on the part of the imperialist-annexationist +bourgeoisie. + +3. + +DECREES + +_On the Nationalisation of the Banks_ + +In the interest of the regular organisation of the national economy, +of the thorough eradication of bank speculation and the complete +emancipation of the workers, peasants, and the whole labouring +population from the exploitation of banking capital, and with a view +to the establishment of a single national bank of the Russian +Republic which shall serve the real interests of the people and the +poorer classes, the Central Executive Committee _(Tsay-ee-kah)_ +resolves: + +1. The banking business is declared a state monopoly. + +2. All existing private joint-stock banks and banking offices are +merged in the State Bank. + +3. The assets and liabilities of the liquidated establishments are +taken over by the State Bank. + +4. The order of the merger of private banks in the State Bank is to +be determined by a special decree. + +5. The temporary administration of the affairs of the private banks +is entrusted to the board of the State Bank. + +6. The interests of the small depositors will be safeguarded. + + * * * * * + +_On the Equality of Rank of All Military Men_ + +In realisation of the will of the revolutionary people regarding the +prompt and decisive abolition of all remnants of former inequality in +the Army, the Council of People's Commissars decrees: + +1. All ranks and grades in the Army, beginning with the rank of +Corporal and ending with the rank of General, are abolished. The Army +of the Russian Republic consists now of free and equal citizens, +bearing the honourable title of Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army. + +2. All privileges connected with the former ranks and grades, also +all outward marks of distinction, are abolished. + +3. All addressing by titles is abolished. + +4. All decorations, orders, and other marks of distinction are +abolished. + +5. With the abolition of the rank of officer, all separate officers' +organisations are abolished. + +Note.--Orderlies are left only for headquarters, chanceries, +Committees and other Army organisations. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + VL. ULIANOV (LENIN). + + _People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs,_ + N. KRYLENKO. + + _People's Commissar for Military Affairs,_ + N. PODVOISKY. + + _Secretary of the Council,_ + N. GORBUNOV. + + * * * * * + +_On the Elective Principle and the Organisation of Authority in the +Army_ + +1. The army serving the will of the toiling people is subject to its +supreme representative--the Council of People's Commissars. + +2. Full authority within the limits of military units and +combinations is vested in the respective Soldiers' Committees and +Soviets. + +3. Those phases of the life and activity of the troops which are +already under the jurisdiction of the Committees are now formally +placed in their direct control. Over such branches of activity which +the Committees cannot assume, the control of the Soldiers' Soviets is +established. + +4. The election of commanding Staff and officers is introduced. All +commanders up to the commanders of regiments, inclusive, are elected +by general suffrage of squads, platoons, companies, squadrons, +batteries, divisions (artillery, 2-3 batteries), and regiments. All +commanders higher than the commander of a regiment, and up to the +Supreme Commander, inclusive, are elected by congresses or +conferences of Committees. + +Note.--By the term "conference" must be understood a meeting of the +respective Committees together with delegates of committees one +degree lower in rank. (Such as a "conference" of Regimental +Committees with delegates from Company Committees.--Author.) + +5. The elected commanders above the rank of commander of regiment +must be confirmed by the nearest Supreme Committee. + +Note. In the event of a refusal by a Supreme Committee to confirm an +elected commander, with a statement of reasons for such refusal, a +commander elected by the lower Committee a second time must be +confirmed. + +6. The commanders of Armies are elected by Army congresses. +Commanders of Fronts are elected by congresses of the respective +Fronts. + +7. To posts of a technical character, demanding special knowledge or +other practical preparation, namely: doctors, engineers, technicians, +telegraph and wireless operators, aviators, automobilists, etc., +only such persons as possess the required special knowledge may be +elected, by the Committees of the units of the respective services. + +8. Chiefs of Staff must be chosen from among persons with special +military training for that post. + +9. All other members of the Staff are appointed by the Chief of +Staff, and confirmed by the respective congresses. + +Note.--All persons with special training must be listed in a special +list. + +10. The right is reserved to retire from the service all commanders +on active service who are not elected by the soldiers to any post, +and who consequently are ranked as privates. + +11. All other functions beside those pertaining to the command, with +the exception of posts in the economic departments, are filled by +appointment of the respective elected commanders. + +12. Detailed instructions regarding the elections of the commanding +Staff will be published separately. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars._ + + VL. ULIANOV (LENIN). + + _People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs,_ + + N. KRYLENKO. + + _People's Commissar for Military Affairs,_ + + N. PODVOISKY. + + _Secretary of the Council,_ + + N. GORBUNOV. + + * * * * * + +_On the Abolition of Classes and Titles_ + +1. All classes and class divisions, all class privileges and +delimitations, all class organisations and institutions and all civil +ranks are abolished. + +2. All classes of society (nobles, merchants, petty bourgeois, +etc.), and all titles (Prince, Count and others), and all +denominations of civil rank (Privy State Councillor, and others), are +abolished, and there is established the general denomination of +Citizen of the Russian Republic. + +3. The property and institutions of the classes of nobility are +transferred to the corresponding autonomous Zemstvos. + +4. The property of merchant and bourgeois organisations is +transferred immediately to the Municipal Self-Governments. + +5. All class institutions of any sort, with their property, their +rules of procedure, and their archives, are transferred to the +administration of the Municipalities and Zemstvos. + +6. All articles of existing laws applying to these matters are +herewith repealed. + +7. The present decree becomes effective on the day it is published +and applied by the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' +Deputies. + +The present decree has been confirmed by the _Tsay-ee-kah_ at the +meeting of November 23d, 1917, and signed by: + + _President of the Tsay-ee-kah,_ + + SVERDLOV. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + + VL. ULIANOV (LENIN). + + _Executive of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + + V. BONCH-BRUEVITCH. + + _Secretary of the Council,_ + + N. GORBUNOV. + + * * * * * + +On December 3d the Council of People's Commissars resolved "to reduce +the salaries of functionaries and employees in all Government +institutions and establishments, general or special, without +exception." + +To begin with, the Council fixed the salary of a People's Commissar +at 500 rubles per month, with 100 rubles additional for each grown +member of the family incapable of work.... + +This was the highest salary paid to any Government official.... + +4. + +Countess Panina was arrested and brought to trial before the first +Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal. The trial is described in the chapter +on "Revolutionary Justice" in my forthcoming volume, "Kornilov to +Brist-Litovsk." The prisoner was sentenced to "return the money, and +then be liberated to the public contempt." In other words, she was +set free! + +5. + +RIDICULE OF THE NEW REGIME + +From _Drug Naroda_ (Menshevik), November 18th: + +"The story of the 'immediate peace' of the Bolsheviki reminds us of a +joyous moving-picture film.... Neratov runs--Trotzky pursues; Neratov +climbs a wall, Trotzky too; Neratov dives into the water--Trotzky +follows; Neratov climbs onto the roof--Trotzky right behind him; +Neratov hides under the bed--and Trotzky has him! He has him! +Naturally, peace is immediately signed.... + +"All is empty and silent at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The +couriers are respectful, but their faces wear a caustic expression.... + +"How about arresting an ambassador and signing an armistice or a +Peace Treaty with him? But they are strange folk, these ambassadors. +They keep silent just as if they had heard nothing. Hola, hola, +England, France, Germany! We have signed an armistice with you! Is it +possible that you know nothing about it? Nevertheless, it has been +published in all the papers and posted on all the walls. On a +Bolshevik's word of honour, Peace has been signed. We're not asking +much of you; you just have to write two words.... + +"The ambassadors remain silent. The Powers remain silent. All is +empty and silent in the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. + +"'Listen,' says Robespierre-Trotzky to his assistant Marat-Uritzky, +'run over to the British Ambassador's, tell him we're proposing +peace!' + +"'Go yourself,' says Marat-Uritzky. 'He's not receiving.' + +"'Telephone him, then.' + +"'I've tried. The receiver's off the hook.' + +"'Send him a telegram.' + +"'I did.' + +"'Well, with what result?' + +"Marat-Uritzky sighs and does not answer. Robespierre-Trotzky spits +furiously into the corner.... + +"'Listen, Marat,' recommences Trotzky, after a moment. 'We must +absolutely show that we're conducting an active foreign policy. How +can we do that?' + +"'Launch another decree about arresting Neratov,' answers Uritzky, +with a profound air. + +"'Marat, you're a blockhead!' cries Trotzky. All of a sudden he +arises, terrible and majestic, looking at this moment like +Robespierre. + +"'Write, Uritzky!' he says with severity. 'Write a letter to the +British ambassador, a registered letter with receipt demanded. Write! +I also will write! The peoples of the world await an immediate peace!' + +"In the enormous and empty Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to be +heard only the sound of two typewriters. With his own hands Trotzky +is conducting an active foreign policy...." + +6. + +ON THE QUESTION OF AN AGREEMENT + +To the Attention of All Workers and All Soldiers. + +November 11th, in the club of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, was held +an extraordinary meeting of representatives of all the units of the +Petrograd garrison. + +The meeting was called upon the initiative of the Preobrazhensky and +Semionovsky Regiments, for the discussion of the question as to which +Socialist parties are for the power of the Soviets, which are +against, which are for the people, which against, and if an agreement +between them is possible. + +The representatives of the _Tsay-ee-kah,_ of the Municipal Duma, of +the Avksentiev Peasants' Soviets, and of all the political parties +from the Bolsheviki to the Populist Socialists, were invited to the +meeting. + +After long deliberation, having heard the declarations of all +parties and organisations, the meeting by a tremendous majority +of votes agreed that only the Bolsheviki and the Left Socialist +Revolutionaries are for the people, and that all the other parties +are only attempting, under cover of seeking an agreement, to deprive +the people of the conquests won in the days of the great Workers' and +Peasants' Revolution of November. + +Here is the text of the resolution carried at this meeting of the +Petrograd garrison, by 61 votes against 11, and 12 not voting: + +"The garrison conference, summoned at the initiative of the +Semionovsky and Preobrazhensky Regiments, on hearing the +representatives of all the Socialist parties and popular +organisations on the question of an agreement between the different +political parties finds that: + +"1. The representatives of the _Tasy-ee-kah,_ the representatives of +the Bolshevik party and the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, declared +definitely that they stand for a Government of the Soviets, for the +decrees on Land, Peace and Workers' Control of Industry, and that +upon this platform they are willing to agree with all the Socialist +parties. + +"2. At the same time the representatives of the other parties +(Mensheviki, Socialist Revolutionaries) either gave no answer at all, +or declared simply that they were opposed to the power of the Soviets +and against the decrees on Land, Peace and Workers' Control. + +"In view of this the meeting resolves: + +"'1. To express severe censure of all parties which, under cover of +an agreement, wish practically to annul the popular conquests of the +Revolution of November. + +"2. To express full confidence in the _Tsay-ee-kah_ and the Council +of People's Commissars, and to promise them complete support.' + +"At the same time the meeting deems it necessary that the comrades +Left Socialist Revolutionaries should enter the People's Government." + +7. + +WINE "POGROMS" + +It was afterward discovered that there was a regular organisation, +maintained by the Cadets, for provoking rioting among the soldiers. +There would be telephone messages to the different barracks, +announcing that wine was being given away at such and such an +address, and when the soldiers arrived at the spot an individual +would point out the location of the cellar.... + +The Council of People's Commissars appointed a Commissar for the +Fight Against Drunkenness, who, besides mercilessly putting down the +wine riots, destroyed hundreds of thousands of bottles of liquor. The +Winter Palace cellars, containing rare vintages valued at more than +five million dollars, were at first flooded, and then the liquor was +removed to Cronstadt and destroyed. + +In this work the Cronstadt sailors, "flower and pride of the +revolutionary forces," as Trotzky called them, acquitted themselves +with iron self-dicipline.... + +8. + +SPECULATORS + +Two orders concerning them: + + _Council of People's Commissars_ + + _To the Military Revolutionary Committee_ + +The disorganisation of the food supply created by the war, and the +lack of system, is becoming to the last degree acute, thanks to the +speculators, marauders and their followers on the railways, in the +steamship offices, forwarding offices, etc. + +Taking advantage of the nation's greatest misfortunes, these criminal +spoliators are playing with the health and life of millions of +soldiers and workers, for their own benefit. + +Such a situation cannot be borne a single day longer. + +The Council of People's Commissars proposes to the Military +Revolutionary Committee to take the most decisive measures towards +the uprooting of speculation, sabotage, hiding of supplies, +fraudulent detention of cargoes, etc. + +All persons guilty of such actions shall be subject, by special +orders of the Military Revolutionary Committee, to immediate arrest +and confinement in the prisons of Cronstadt, pending their +arraignment before the Revolutionary Tribunal. + +All the popular organisations are invited to cooperate in the +struggle against the spoliators of food supplies. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissaries._ + V. ULIANOV (LENIN). + +Accepted for execution, + _Military Revolutionary Committee attached to + the C. E. C. of the Soviets of W. & S. Deputies._ + +Petrograd, Nov. 23d, 1917. + + * * * * * + +_To All Honest Citizens_ + +_The Military Revolutionary Committee Decrees:_ + +Spoliators, marauders, speculators, are declared to be enemies of the +People.... + +The Military Revolutionary Committee proposes to all public +organisations, to all honest citizens: to inform the Military +Revolutionary Committee immediately of all cases of spoliation, +marauding, speculation, which become known to them. + +The struggle against this evil is the business of all honest people. +The Military Revolutionary Committee expects the support of all to +whom the interests of the People are dear. + +The Military Revolutionary Committee will be merciless in pursuit of +speculators and marauders. + + THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE + +Petrograd, Dec. 2d, 1917. + +9. + +PURISHKEVITCH's LETTER TO KALEDIN + +"The situation at Petrograd is desperate. The city is cut off from +the outside world and is entirely in the power of the Bolsheviki.... +People are arrested in the streets, thrown into the Neva, drowned and +imprisoned without any charge. Even Burtzev is shut up in Peter-Paul +fortress, under strict guard. + +"The organisation at whose head I am is working without rest to unite +all the officers and what is left of the _yunker_ schools, and to arm +them. The situation cannot be saved except by creating regiments of +officers and _yunkers._ Attacking with these regiments, and having +gained a first success, we could later gain the aid of the garrison +troops; but without that first success it is impossible to count on a +single soldier, because thousands of them are divided and terrorised +by the scum which exists in every regiment. Most of the Cossacks are +tainted by Bolshevik propaganda, thanks to the strange policy of +General Dutov, who allowed to pass the moment when by decisive action +something could have been obtained. The policy of negotiations and +concessions has borne its fruits; all that is respectable is +persecuted, and it is the _plebe_ and the criminals who dominate--and +nothing can be done except by shooting and hanging them. + +"We are awaiting you here, General, and at the moment of your +arrival, we shall advance with all the forces at our disposal. But +for that we must establish some communication with you, and before +all, clear up the following points: + +"(1) Do you know that in your name all officers who could take part +in the fight are being invited to leave Petrograd on the pretext of +joining you? + +"(2) About when can we count on your arrival at Petrograd? We should +like to know in order to coordinate our actions. + +"In spite of the criminal inaction of the conscious people here, +which allowed the yoke of Bolshevism to be laid upon us--in spite of +the extraordinary pig--headedness of the majority of officers, so +difficult to organise--we believe in spite of all that Truth is on +our side, and that we shall conquer the vicious and criminal forces +who say that they are acting for motives of love of country and in +order to save it. Whatever comes, we shall not permit ourselves to be +struck down, and shall remain firm until the end." + +Purishkevitch, being brought to trial before the Revolutionary +Tribunal, was given a short prison term.... + +10. + +DECREE ON THE MONOPOLY OF ADVERTISEMENTS + +1. The printing of advertisements, in newspapers, books, bill-boards, +kiosks, in offices and other establishments is declared to be a State +monopoly. + +2. Advertisements may only be published in the organs of the +Provisional Workers' and Peasants' Government at Petrograd, and in +the organs of local Soviets. + +3. The proprietors of newspapers and advertising offices, as well as +all employees of such establishments, should remain at their posts +until the transfer of the advertisement business to the Government.... +superintending the uninterrupted continuation of their houses, and +turning over to the Soviets all private advertising and the sums +received therefor, as well as all accounts and copy. + +4. All managers of publications and businesses dealing with paid +advertising, as well as their employees and workers, shall agree to +hold a City Congress, and to join, first the City Trade Unions, and +then the All-Russian Unions, to organise more thoroughly and justly +the advertising business in the Soviet publications, as well as to +prepare better rules for the public utility of advertising. + +5. All persons found guilty of having concealed documents or money, +or having sabotaged the regulations indicated in paragraphs 3 and 4, +will be punished by a sentence of not more than three years' +imprisonment, and all their property will be confiscated. + +6. The paid insertion of advertisements.... in private publications, or +under a masqued form, will also be severely penalised. + +7. Advertising offices are confiscated by the Government, the owners +being entitled to compensation in cases of necessity. Small +proprietors, depositors and stock-holders of the confiscated +establishments will be reimbursed for all moneys held by them in the +concern. + +8. All buildings, officers, counters, and in general every +establishment doing a business in advertising, should immediately +inform the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies of its address, +and proceed to the transfer of its business, under penalty of the +punishment indicated in paragraph 5. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + VL. ULIANOV (LENIN). + + _People's Commissar for Public Instruction,_ + A. V. LUNATCHARSKY. + + _Secretary of the Council,_ + + N. GORBUNOV. + +11. + +OBLIGATORY ORDINANCE + +1. The city of Petrograd is declared to be in a state of siege. + +2. All assemblies, meetings and congregations on the streets and +squares are prohibited. + +3. Attempts to loot wine-cellars, warehouses, factories, stores, +business premises, private dwellings, etc., etc., _will be stopped by +machine-gun fire without warning._ + +4. House Committees, doormen, janitors and Militiamen are charged +with the duty of keeping strict order in all houses, courtyards and +in the streets, and house-doors and carriage-entrances must be locked +at 9 o'clock in the evening, and opened at 7 o'clock in the morning. +After 9 o'clock in the evening only tenants may leave the house, +under strict control of the House Committees. + +5. Those guilty of the distribution, sale or purchase of any kind of +alcoholic liquor, and also those guilty of the violation of sections +2 and 4, will be immediately arrested and subjected to the most +severe punishment. + +Petrograd, 6th of December, 3 o'clock in the night. + + _Committee to Fight Against Pogroms, attached to the Executive + Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies._ + +12. + +TWO PROCLAMATIONS + +Lenin, To _the People of Russia:_ + +"Comrades workers, soldiers, peasants--all toilers! + +"The Workers' and Peasants' Revolution has won at Petrograd, at +Moscow.... From the Front and the villages arrive every day, every +hour, greetings to the new Government.... The victory of the +Revolution.... is assured, seeing that it is sustained by the majority +of the people. + +"It is entirely understandable that the proprietors and the +capitalists, the employees and functionaries closely allied with the +bourgeoisic--in a word, all the rich and all those who join hands with +them--regard the new Revolution with hostility, oppose its success, +threaten to halt the activity of the banks, and sabotage or obstruct +the work of other establishments.... Every conscious worker understands +perfectly that we cannot avoid this hostility, because the high +officials have set themselves against the People and do not wish to +abandon their posts without resistance. But the working classes are +not for one moment afraid of that resistance. The majority of the +people are for us. For us are the majority of the workers and the +oppressed of the whole world. We have justice on our side. Our +ultimate victory is certain. + +"The resistance of the capitalists and high officials will be broken. +No one will be deprived of his property without a special law on the +nationalisation of banks and financial syndicates. This law is in +preparation. Not a worker will lose a single kopek; on the contrary, +he will be assisted. Without at this moment establishing the new +taxes, the new Government considers one of its primary duties to make +a severe accounting and control on the reception of taxes decreed by +the former regime.... + +"Comrades workers! Remember that you yourselves direct the +Government. No one will help you unless you organise yourselves and +take into your own hands the affairs of the State. Your Soviets are +now the organs of governmental power.... Strengthen them, establish a +severe revolutionary control, pitilessly crush the attempts at +anarchy on the part of drunkards, brigands, counter-revolutionary +_yunkers_ and Kornilovists. + +"Establish a strict control over production and the accounting for +products. Arrest and turn over to the Revolutionary Tribunal of the +People every one who injures the property of the People, by sabotage +in production, by concealment of grain-reserves, reserves of other +products, by retarding the shipments of grain, by bringing confusion +into the railroads, the posts and the telegraphs, or in general +opposing the great work of bringing Peace and transferring the Land +to the peasants.... + +"Comrades workers, soldiers, peasants--all toilers! + +"Take immediately all local power into your hands.... Little by little, +with the consent of the majority of peasants, we shall march firmly +and unhesitatingly toward the victory of Socialism, which will +fortify the advance-guards of the working-class of the most civilised +Countries, and give to the peoples an enduring peace, and free them +from every slavery and every exploitation." + +13. + +_"To All Workers of Petrograd!_ + +"Comrades! The Revolution is winning--the revolution has won. All the +power has passed over to our Soviets. The first weeks are the most +difficult ones. The broken reaction must be finally crushed, a full +triumph must be secured to our endeavours. The working-class ought +to--must--show in these days THE GREATEST FIRMNESS AND ENDURANCE, in +order to facilitate the execution of all the aims of the new People's +Government of Soviets. In the next few days decrees on the Labour +question will be issued, and among the very first will be the decree +on Workers' Control over the production and regulation of Industry. + +"STRIKES AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE WORKER MASSES IN PETROGRAD NOW CAN +ONLY DO HARM. + +"We ask you to cease immediately all economic and political strikes, +to take up your work, and do it in perfect order. The work in the +factories and all the industries is necessary for the new Government +of Soviets, because any interruption of this work will only create +new difficulties for us, and we have enough as it is. All to your +places. + +"The best way to support the new Government of Soviets in these +days--is by doing your job. + +"LONG LIVE THE IRON FIRMNESS OF THE PROLETARIAT! LONG LIVE THE +REVOLUTION!" + + _Petrograd Soviet of W. & S. D._ + + _Petrograd Council of Trade Unions._ + + _Petrograd Council of Factory-Shop Committees._ + + +14. + +APPEALS AND COUNTER-APPEALS + +_From the Employees of the State and private Banks To the Population +of Petrograd:_ + +"Comrades workers, soldiers and citizens! + +"The Military Revolutionary Committee in an 'extraordinary notice' is +accusing the workers of the State and private banking and other +institutions of 'impeding the work of the Government, directed +towards the ensuring of the Front with provisions.' + +"Comrades and citizens, do not believe this calumny, brought against +us, who are part of the general army of labour. + +"However difficult it be for us to work under the constant threat of +interference by acts of violence in our hard-working life, however +depressing it be to know that our Country and the Revolution are on +the verge of ruin, we, nevertheless, all of us, from the highest to +the lowest, employees, _artelshtchiki,_ counters, labourers, +couriers, etc., are continuing to fulfil our duties which are +connected with the ensuring of provisions and munitions to the Front +and country. + +"Counting upon your lack of information, comrades workers and +soldiers, in questions of finance and banking, you are being incited +against workers like yourselves, because it is desirable to divert +the responsibility for the starving and dying brother-soldiers at the +Front from the guilty persons to the innocent workers who are +accomplishing their duty under the burden of general poverty and +disorganisation. + +"REMEMBER, WORKERS AND SOLDIERS! THE EMPLOYEES HAVE ALWAYS STOOD UP +FOR AND WILL ALWAYS STAND UP FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE TOILING PEOPLE, +PART OF WHICH THEY ARE THEMSELVES, AND NOT A SINGLE KOPEK NECESSARY +FOR THE FRONT AND THE WORKERS HAS EVER BEEN DETAINED AND WILL NOT BE +DETAINED BY THE EMPLOYEES. + +"From November 6th to November 23d, i.e., during 17 days, 500 million +rubles were dispatched to the Front, and 120 millions to Moscow, +besides the sums sent to other towns. + +"Keeping guard over the wealth of the people, the master of which can +be only the Constituent Assembly, representing the whole nation, the +employees refuse to give out money for purposes which are unknown to +them. + +"DO NOT BELIEVE THE CALUMNIATORS CALLING YOU TO TAKE THE LAW INTO +YOUR OWN HANDS!" + +_Central Board of the All-Russian Union of Employees of the State +Bank._ + +_Central Board of the All-Russian Trade Union of Employees of Credit +Institutions._ + + * * * * * + +_To the Population of Petrograd._ + +"CITIZENS: Do not believe the falsehood which irresponsible people +are trying to suggest to you by spreading terrible calumnies against +the employees of the Ministry of Supplies and the workers in other +Supply organisations who are labouring in these dark days for the +salvation of Russia. Citizens! In posted placards you are called upon +to lynch us, we are accused falsely of sabotage and strikes, we are +blamed for all the woes and misfortunes that the people are +suffering, although we have been striving indefatigably and +uninterruptedly, and are still striving, to save the Russian people +from the horrors of starvation. Notwithstanding all that we are +bearing as citizens of unhappy Russia, we have not for one hour +abandoned our heavy and responsible work of supplying the Army and +population with provisions. + +"The image of the Army, cold and hungry, saving our very existence by +its blood and its tortures, does not leave us for a single moment. + +"Citizens! If we have survived the blackest days in the life and +history of our people, if we have succeeded in preventing famine in +Petrograd, if we have managed to procure to the suffering army bread +and forage by means of enormous, almost superhuman, efforts, it is +because we have honestly continued and are still continuing to do our +work.... + +"To the 'last warning' of the usurpers of the power we reply: It is +not for you who are leading the country to ruin to threaten us who +are doing all we can not to allow the country to perish. We are not +afraid of threats; before us stands the sacred image of tortured +Russia. We will continue our work of supplying the Army and the +people with bread to our last efforts, so long as you will not +prevent us from accomplishing our duty to our country. In the +contrary case the Army and the people will stand before the horrors +of famine, but the responsibility therefor belongs to the +perpetrators of violence. + + _Executive Committee of the Employees of the + Ministry of Supplies._ + + * * * * * + +_To the_ Tchinovniki (_Government Officials_). + +It is notified hereby, that all officials and persons who have +quitted the service in Government and public institutions or have +been dismissed for sabotage or for having failed to report for work +on the day fixed, and who have nevertheless received their salary +paid in advance for the time they have not served, are bound to +return such salary not later than on November 27th, 1917, to those +institutions where they were in service. + +In the event of this not being done, these persons will be rendered +answerable for stealing the Treasury's property and tried by the +Military Revolutionary Court. + + _The Military-Revolutionary Committee._ + +December 7th, 1917. + + * * * * * + +_From the Special Board for the Supplies_ +CITIZENS + +"The conditions of our work for the supplying of Petrograd are +getting more and more difficult every day. + +"The interference with our work--which is so ruinous to our +business--of the Commissars of the Military Revolutionary Committee is +still continuing. + +"THEIR ARBITRARY ACTS, their annulling of our orders, MAY LEAD TO A +CATASTROPHE. + +"Seals have been affixed to one of the cold storages where the meat +and butter destined for the population are kept, and we cannot +regulate the temperature SO THAT THE PRODUCTS WOULD NOT BE SPOILT. + +"One carload of potatoes and one carload of cabbages have been seized +and carried away no one knows where to. + +"Cargoes which are not liable to requisition (_khalva_) are +requisitioned by the Commissars and, as was the case one day, five +boxes of _khalva_ were seized by the Commissar for his own use. + +"WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DISPOSE OF OUR STORAGES, where the +self-appointed Commissars do not allow the cargoes to be taken out, +and terrorise our employees, threatening them with arrest. + +"ALL THAT IS GOING ON IN PETROGRAD IS KNOWN IN THE PROVINCES, AND +FROM THE DON, FROM SIBERIA, FROM VORONEZH AND OTHER PLACES PEOPLE ARE +REFUSING TO SEND FLOUR AND BREAD. + +"THIS CANNOT GO ON MUCH LONGER. + +"The work is simply falling out of our hands. + +"OUR DUTY is to let the population know of this. + +"To the last possibility we will remain on guard of the interests of +the population. + +"WE WILL DO EVERYTHING TO AVOID THE ONCOMING FAMINE, BUT IF UNDER +THESE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS OUR WORK IS COMPELLED TO STOP, LET THE +PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT OUR FAULT...." + +15. + +ELECTIONS TO THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY IN PETROGRAD + +There were nineteen tickets in Petrograd. The results are as follows, +published November 30th: + + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | _Party_ | _Vote_ | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Populist Socialists | 19,109 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Cadets | 245,006 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Christian Democrats | 3,707 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Bolsheviki | 424,027 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Socialist Universalists | 158 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | S. D. and S. R. Ukrainean and Jewish Workers | 4,219 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | League of Women's Rights | 5,310 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Socialist Revolutionaries (_oborontsi_) | 4,696 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Left Socialist Revolutionaries | 152,230 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | League of the People's Development | 385 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Radical Democrats | 413 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Orthodox Parishes | 24,139 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Feminine League for Salvation of Country | 318 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Independent League of Workers, Soldiers, Peasants | 4,942 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Christian Democrats (Catholic) | 14,382 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Unified Social Democrats | 11,740 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | Mensheviki | 17,427 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | _Yedinstvo_ group | 1,823 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + | League of Cossack Troops | 6,712 | + +---------------------------------------------------+---------+ + +16. + +FROM THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE's COMMISSARS TO THE TOILING COSSACKS + +_"Brothers-Cossacks._ + +"You are being deceived. You are being incited against the People. +You are told that the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' +Deputies are your enemies, that they want to take away your Cossack +land, your Cossack 'liberty'. Don't believe it, Cossacks.... Your own +Generals and landowners are deceiving you, in order to keep you in +darkness and slavery. We, the Council of People's Commissars, +address ourselves to you, Cossacks, with these words. Read them +attentively and judge yourselves which is the truth and which is +cruel deceit. The life and service of a Cossack were always bondage +and penal servitude. At the first call of the authorities a Cossack +always had to saddle his horse and ride out on campaign. All his +military equipment a Cossack had to provide with his own hardly +earned means. A Cossack is on service, his farm is going to rack and +ruin. Is such a condition fair? No, it must be altered for ever. THE +COSSACKS MUST BE FREED FROM BONDAGE. The new People's Soviet power is +willing to come to the assistance of the toiling Cossacks. It is only +necessary that the Cossacks themselves should resolve to abolish the +old order, that they should refuse submission to their slave-driver +officers, land-owners, rich men, that they should throw off the +cursed yoke from their necks. Arise, Cossacks! Unite! The Council of +People's Commissars calls upon you to enter a new, fresh, more happy +life. + +"In November and December in Petrograd there were All-Russian +Congresses of Soviets of Soldiers', Workers', and Peasants' Deputies. +These Congresses transferred all the authority in the different +localities into the hands of the Soviets, i.e., into the hands of men +elected by the People. From now on there must be in Russia no rulers +or functionaries who command the People from above and drive them. +The People create the authority themselves. A General has no more +rights than a soldier. All are equal. Consider, Cossacks, is this +wrong or right? We are calling upon you, Cossacks, to join this new +order and to create your own Soviets of Cossacks' Deputies. To such +Soviets all the power must belong in the different localities. Not to +_hetmans_ with the rank of General, but to the elected +representatives of the toiling Cossacks, to your own trustworthy +reliable men. + +"The All-Russian Congresses of Soldiers', Workers', and Peasants' +Deputies have passed a resolution to transfer all landowners' land +into the possession of the toiling people. Is not that fair, +Cossacks? The Kornilovs, Kaledins, Dutovs, Karaulovs, Bardizhes, all +defend with their whole souls the interests of the rich men, and they +are ready to drown Russia in blood if only the lands remain in the +hands of the landowners. But you, the toiling Cossacks, do not you +suffer yourselves from poverty, oppression and lack of land? How many +Cossacks are there who have more than 4-5 _dessiatins_ per head? But +the landowners, who have thousands of _dessiatins_ of their own land, +wish besides to get into their hands the lands of the Cossack Army. +According to the new Soviet laws, the lands of Cossack landowners +must pass without compensation into the hands of the Cossack workers, +the poorer Cossacks. You are being told that the Soviets wish to take +away your lands from you. Who is frightening you? The rich Cossacks, +who know that the Soviet AUTHORITY WISHES TO transfer the landowners' +lands to you. Choose then, Cossacks, for whom will you stand: for the +Kornilovs and Kaledins, for the Generals and rich men, or for the +Soviets of Peasants', Soldiers', Workers' and Cossacks' Deputies. + +"THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE's COMMISSARS elected by the All-Russian +Congress HAS PROPOSED TO ALL NATIONS AN IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE AND AN +HONOURABLE DEMOCRATIC PEACE WITHOUT LOSS OR DETRIMENT TO ANY NATION. +All the capitalists, landowners, Generals-Kornilovists have risen +against the peaceful policy of the Soviets. The war was bringing +them profits, power, distinctions. And to you, Cossack privates? +You were perishing without reason, without purpose, like your +brothers-soldiers and sailors. It will soon be three years and a half +that this accursed war has gone on, a war devised by the capitalists +and landowners of all countries for their own profit, their world +robberies. To the toiling Cossacks the war has only brought ruin and +death. The war has drained all the resources from Cossack farm life. +The only salvation for the whole of our country and for the Cossacks +in particular is a prompt and honest peace. The Council of People's +Commissars has declared to all Governments and peoples: We do not +want other people's property, and we do not wish to give away our +own. Peace without annexations and without indemnities. Every nation +must decide its own fate. There must be no oppressing of one nation +by another. Such is the honest, democratic, People's peace which the +Council of People's Commissars is proposing to all Governments, to +all peoples, allies and enemies. And the results are visible: ON THE +RUSSIAN FRONT AN ARMISTICE HAS BEEN CONCLUDED. + +"The soldier's and the Cossack's blood is not flowing there any more. +Now, Cossacks, decide: do you wish to continue this ruinous, +senseless, criminal slaughter? Then support the Cadets, the enemies +of the people, support Tchernov, Tseretelli, Skobeliev, who drove you +into the offensive of July 1st; support Kornilov, who introduced +capital punishment for soldiers and Cossacks at the front. BUT IF YOU +WISH A PROMPT AND HONEST PEACE, THEN ENTER THE RANKS OF THE SOVIETS +AND SUPPORT THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE's COMMISSARS. + +"Your fate, Cossacks, lies in your own hands. Our common foes, the +landowners, capitalists, officers-Kornilovists, bourgeois newspapers, +are deceiving you and driving you along the road to ruin. In +Orenburg, Dutov has arrested the Soviet and disarmed the garrison. +Kaledin is threatening the Soviets in the province of the Don. He has +declared the province to be in a state of war and is assembling his +troops. Karaulov is shooting the local tribes in the Caucasus. The +Cadet bourgeoisie is supplying them with its millions. Their common +aim is to suppress the People's Soviets, to crush the workers and +peasants, to introduce again the discipline of the whip in the army, +and to eternalise the bondage of the toiling Cossacks. + +"Our revolutionary troops are moving to the Don and the Ural in order +to put an end to this criminal revolt against the people. The +commanders of the revolutionary troops have received orders not to +enter into any negotiations with the mutinous Generals, to act +decisively and mercilessly. + +"Cossacks! On you depends now whether your brothers' blood is to flow +still. We are holding out our hand to you. Join the whole people +against its enemies. Declare Kaledin, Kornilov, Dutov, Karaulov and +all their aiders and abettors to be the enemies of the people, +traitors and betrayers. Arrest them with your own forces and turn +them over into the hands of the Soviet authority, which will judge +them in open and public Revolutionary Tribunal. Cossacks! Form +Soviets of Cossacks' Deputies. Take into your toil-worn hands the +management of all the affairs of the Cossacks. Take away the lands of +your own wealthy landowners. Take over their grain, their inventoried +property and live-stock for the cultivation of the lands of the +toiling Cossacks, who are ruined by the war. + +"Forward, Cossacks, to the fight for the common cause of the people! + +"Long live the toiling Cossacks! + +"Long live the union of the Cossacks, the soldiers, peasants and +workers! + +"Long live the power of the Soviets of Cossacks', Soldiers', Workers' +and Peasants' Deputies. + +"Down with the war! Down with the landowners and the +Kornilovist-Generals! + +"Long live Peace and the Brotherhood of peoples!" + + _Council of People's Commissars._ + +17. + +FROM THE COMMISSION ON PUBLIC EDUCATION ATTACHED TO THE CENTRAL +CITY DUMA + +"Comrades Workingmen and Workingwomen! + +"A few days before the holidays, a strike has been declared by the +teachers of the public schools. The teachers side with the +bourgeoisie against the Workers' and Peasants' Government. + +"Comrades, organise parents' committees and pass resolutions against +the strike of the teachers. Propose to the Ward Soviets of Workers' +and Soldiers' Deputies, the Trade Unions, the Factory-Shop and Party +Committees, to organise protest meetings. Arrange with your own +resources Christmas trees and entertainments for the children, and +demand the opening of the schools, after the holidays, at the date +which will be set by the Duma. + +"Comrades, strengthen your position in matters of public education, +insist on the control of the proletarian organisations over the +schools." + +_Commission on Public Education attached to the Central City Duma._ + +18. + +DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT + +The notes issued by Trotzky to the Allies and to the neutral powers, +as well as the note of the Allied military Attaches to General +Dukhonin, are too voluminous to give here. Moreover they belong to +another phase of the history of the Soviet Republic, with which this +book has nothing to do--the foreign relations of the Soviet +Government. This I treat at length in the next volume, "Kornilov to +Brest-Litovsk." + +19. + +APPEALS TO THE FRONT AGAINST DUKHONIN + +"... The struggle for peace has met with the resistance of the +bourgeoisie and the counter-revolutionary Generals.... From the +accounts in the newspapers, at the _Stavka_ of former Supreme +Commander Dukhonin are gathering the agents and allies of the +bourgeoisie, Verkhovski, Avksentiev, Tchernov, Gotz, Tseretelli, etc. +It seems even that they want to form a new power against the Soviets. + +"Comrades soldiers! All the persons we have mentioned have been +Ministers already. They have acted in accord with Kerensky and the +bourgeoisie. They are responsible for the offensive of July 1st and +for the prolongation of the war. They promised the land to the +peasants and then arrested the Land Committees. They reestablished +capital punishment for soldiers. They obey the orders of French, +English and American financiers.... + +"General Dukhonin, for having refused to obey orders of the Council +of People's Commissars, has been dismissed from his position as +Supreme Commander.... For answer he is circulating among the troops the +note from the Military Attaches of the Allied imperialist Powers, and +attempting to provoke a counter-revolution.... + +"Do not obey Dukhonin! Pay no attention to his provocation! Watch him +and his group of counter-revolutionary Generals carefully...." + +20. + +FROM KRYLENKO + +_Order Number Two_ + +"... The ex-Supreme Commander, General Dukhonin, for having opposed +resistance to the execution of orders, for criminal action +susceptible of provoking a new civil war, is declared enemy of the +People. All persons who support Dukhonin will be arrested, without +respect to their social or political position or their past. Persons +equipped with special authority will operate these arrests. I charge +General Manikhovsky with the execution of the above-mentioned +dispositions...." + + +APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XII + +1. + +INSTRUCTION TO PEASANTS + +In answer to the numerous enquiries coming from peasants, it is +hereby explained that the whole power in the country is from now on +held by the Soviets of the Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' +Deputies. The Workers' Revolution, after having conquered in +Petrograd and in Moscow, is now conquering in all other centres of +Russia. The Workers' and Peasants' Government safeguards the +interests of the masses of peasantry, the poorest of them; it is with +the majority of peasants and workers against the landowners, and +against the capitalists. + +Hence the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies, and before all the District +Soviets, and subsequently those of the Provinces, are from now on and +until the Constituent Assembly meets, full-powered bodies of State +authority in their localities. All landlords' titles to the land are +cancelled by the second All-Russian Congress of Soviets. A decree +regarding the land has already been issued by the present Provisional +Workers' and Peasants' Government. On the basis of the above decree +all lands hitherto belonging to landlords now pass entirely and +wholly into the hands of the Soviets of Peasants' Deputies. The +_Volost_ (a group of several villages forms a _Volost_) Land +Committees are immediately to take over all land from the landlords, +and to keep a strict account over it, watching that order be +maintained, and that the whole estate be well guarded, seeing that +from now on all private estates become public property and must +therefore be protected by the people themselves. + +All orders given by the _Volost_ Land Committees, adopted with the +assent of the District Soviets of Peasants' Deputies, in fulfilment +of the decrees issued by the revolutionary power, are absolutely +legal and are to be forthwith and irrefutably brought into execution. + +The Workers' and Peasants' Government appointed by the second +All-Russian Congress of Soviets has received the name of the Council +of People's Commissars. + +The Council of People's Commissars summons the Peasants to take the +whole power into their hands in every locality. + +The workers will in every way absolutely and entirely support the +peasants, arrange for them all that is required in connection with +machines and tools, and in return they request the peasants to help +with the transport of grain. + + _President of the Council of People's Commissars,_ + V. ULIANOV (LENIN). + +Petrograd, November 18th, 1917. + +2. + +The full-powered Congress of Peasants' Soviets met about a week +later, and continued for several weeks. Its history is merely an +expanded version of the history of the "Extraordinary Conference." At +first the great majority of the delegates were hostile to the Soviet +Government, and supported the reactionary wing. Several days later +the assembly was supporting the moderates with Tchernov. And several +days after that the vast majority of the Congress were voting for the +faction of Maria Spiridonova, and sending their representatives into +the _Tsay-ee-kah_ at Smolny.... The Right Wing then walked out of the +Congress and called a Congress of its own, which went on, dwindling +from day to day, until it finally dissolved.... + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Ten Days That Shook the World, by John Reed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 3076.txt or 3076.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/7/3076/ + +Produced by Norman Wolcott, with corrections by Andrew Sly +and Stefan Malte Schumacher + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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