20 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

The Ambassador found Tereshchenko very optimistic yesterday morning, apparently because of his unbounded faith in Kerenski. He said that he hoped soon to bring 20,000 men to demonstrate before the British Embassy ! He pointed to an order issued by Kerenski last night as a sign of his strength of character. In this order; Kerenski said that he would not allow any senior commander to retire, and that all deserters who did not return by May 28th would be severely punished. Such deserters, says T., will be punished by penal servitude. We will wait and see ! After all, both Kerenski and Tereshchenko are only boys, and naturally full of boyish enthusiasm!

Apparently, on the 17th, the Commanders-in-Chief of the Fronts asked for the abolition of committees in the army, and Kerenski refused. The Gommanders-in-Chief then expressed a wish to resign, and Kerenski told them that if they did they would have to serve as soldiers. Balaban is enthusiastic over this evidence of " Kerenski’s strong will,” but it is much easier to take up a strong attitude towards these unfortunate men than towards the mutinous soldiery.

Balaban told me that Kornilov was offered the 5th Army vice Abram Dragomirov, who has been promoted to command the Northern Front,but he asked for “something further from Petrograd,” so poor Kaledin is to be removed from the 8th Army to the 5th to make room for Kornilov at Gzernowitz.

Polovtsev was summoned from the army on the night of the 17th to be Commander-in-Ghief of the Petrograd Military District.

Kerenski is to start going round units—the same old game as poor Kornilov played. His speeches will be more frothy and the effect will last an hour or two longer.

Engelhardt and Pares lunched. Engelhardt says that Kerenski has no fixed plan. He is going to work by propaganda. E. had seen him yesterday and the day before on the subject.

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