The membership of the Provisional Government is still a conundrum. Born of a popular revolution, it is now made up of people who are as far away from the spirit of revolution and as close to the spirit of a coup d’etat as it as it is possible to imagine. The Minister of War in the Provisional Government, Guchkov, is the former alter ago of Stolypin the “hangman”. The Foreign Minister, Milyukov, is an imperialist who supports continuing the war “to a victorious end”. It is impossible to place one’s trust in any of the generals. See more
The commandant came. He understands all my reasons for wanting to leave and approves the letter to Kerensky but he is very anxious for me not to take this step. He thinks that Kerensky will refuse. At such a critical and dangerous moment, the fact of my leaving will be exploited, misinterpreted, and will result in more unrest. See more
At war, one can have wonderful dreams which, on awakening, make one feel sorry that they cannot continue.
I was suddenly awoken at 5:30 in the morning by a knock at the door. In the terror of the twilight, I made out a man who loudly declared that he had been sent on behalf of the government to search the house. Despite my firm protestations, they pulled back the canopy, and the lieutenant said that I had to get out of bed. See more
The Government took a step in the right direction by announcing that the right to dispose of the troops was vested exclusively in the military governor of the town. On the same day the Foreign Office handed the Russian charge d'affaires in London our reply to Miliukoff's famous note that had been the cause of the recent crisis. We welcomed that note as showing that Russia would not relax her glorious efforts to defend, with her alhes, the cause of justice and humanity. See more
Our son Misha came for a visit. He told me a lot of interesting news. The lack of discipline among the troops is bad. All in all, everything is bad.
To the Editor of The New York Times:
Recent editorial utterances of The New York Times and other usually well-informed newspapers indicate that the American public has formed an utterly false opinion about the attitude of Socialists in Russia and the United Stated towards the revolutionary Government of Russia and on the question of a separate peace between Russia and the Central Powers. See more
Luckily, Martov, the leader of the moderate faction (the Mensheviks) is coming with me to Russia. A dedicated internationalist, endowed with all the qualities necessary in an outstanding statesman. He lacks the gift of oratory possessed by Lenin and Trotsky, but surpasses them in spirit and judgement.