15 May 1917. Alfred Knox

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Alfred Knox

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Tereshchenko told the Ambassador yesterday that he would probably be Minister of Foreign

Affairs in the new Government, and that Kerenski would be Minister of War. The

Government is angry with Guchkov, whose resignation has placed it in an awkward situation

! In my opinion, he should have resigned a month ago.

The Executive Committee of the Sovyet decided yesterday by forty-four votes to nineteen to

join a Coalition Government. The composition of the Executive Committee is said to be at

present as follows :

Bolsheviks 21

(a) Maximalists 5

(b) Others .... 7 12

Social Democrats :

(a) Mensheviks 17

(b) Oborontsi 13

Total 68

Yesterday’s evening papers contain proclamations from the Sovyet. First to “ the Socialists of

all Countries ”

<…>

The second proclamation is addressed to the Russian army, and is an appeal to cease

parleying with the enemy. This was passed, the Bolshevists abstaining from voting.

Balaban has a high opinion of Kerenski. He says that he refused to accept the portfolio of

Minister of War unless a Coalition Government was first formed. His objection was that, as

Minister of War, he would at once become the object of general attack, and the Government

as a whole would then lose the advantage of his personal influence, which is now so

valuable.

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Marina Tsvetaeva

Foundling hospital, Moscow, Russian Empire

Whenever I learn that someone’s fond of me, I’m surprised; so too when I learn that someone dislikes me; but what surprises me more than anything is to learn of someone’s indifference.

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Kira Allendorf

Moscow, Russian Empire

We went on an “excursion”. This “excursion” was for Years 2 and 3. It was really, really enjoyable. We were in the vicinity of Sparrow Hills. We took breakfast with us and breakfasted al fresco.

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Pavel Milyukov

Left the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs

Elizaveta Naryshkina

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

What awful reversals! All the generals have turned and fled, and none can command the demoralised and unreined army. While the government sits throughout the night, the soldiers run away and desert. Kerensky, with much bitterness, has pronounced: “I only regret that I did not die two months ago, when I could have shaken off my mortal coil with the illusion that my country was free. Who do you wish to be - free citizens, or a nation of brigands?”

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Vasily Rozanov

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Lenin was always considered a creature of the gutter, and a thinker of the most phillistine ignorance. He is outdoing even this reputation.

Lenin rejects Russia. Not only does he reject the Russian Republic, but he rejects Russia. As for the people, he does not recognise them. Recognising only classes and estates, he calls on all Russians to think only on their narrow class interests and advantages. He does not, and does not want to, see a unified people.

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Vladimir Lenin

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Some say: Leave things as they are, put still greater trust in the Provisional Government. The threat to resign may be a trick calculated to make the Soviet say: We trust you still more. Others propose a coalition cabinet. We propose a third way: A complete change of the Soviets’ policy, no confidence in the capitalists, and the transfer of all power to the Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. A change of personalities will give nothing; the whole policy must be changed.

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