3 February 1917. The New York Times

The New York Times

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. When President Wilson stepped out on the Speaker's platform at 2 o’clock sharp this afternoon to deliver the message which thrilled the country, he faced probably the most impressive audience that has gathered in the chamber of the House of Representatives in many years.

The news of the President’s step, announced in a hurried extra issued by afternoon newspapers, had spread through Washington, and long before the time set for the speech the Capitol was crowded with people importuning members of Congress and officials for admissions to the galleries. Hundreds of citizens standing about the corridors outside the chamber.

On the floor every member of the House was in his seat many minutes before the time set, thoroughly stirred by the impending announcement. For the first time in the history of joint sessions, so far as could be remembered tonight by the officials in the Capitol. The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court were present, sitting in a body of the front row seats at the left of the Speaker’s desk, the members of the Cabinet were scattered about though the chamber. The rear of the House was filled with clerks of committees and others who have floor privileges. [...]

As the President appeared, those on the floor and in the galleries rose. There was outburst of applause from the Democratic side, emphasized with some cheering. A few Republicans joined in the hand clapping. A feeling of suspense and uncertainty kept it from lasting more than a few moments.

The President was dressed almost youthfully in a smart cutaway instead of the frock coat in which he has appeared in public of late, and while his manner was wholly serious it was untinged with any unusual appearance of being oppressed with overwhelming burdens. His was calm and confident.

As Mr. Wilson began reading, the atmosphere was tense, seeming to relax slightly as he proceeded with the recital of the history of the diplomatic correspondence about the submarine issue. His voice, although entirely audience audible from the first, grew as he went on. As he concluding the reading of the last German note, with the words “All ships met within the zone will be sunk”, the tension seemed to grow, and the suspense increased further as he announced that this Government had no alternative but to take the course it had mapped out for itself.

As he began the sentence, “I have, therefore, directed the Secretary of State to announce to his Excellency the German Ambassador”, many members of Congress leaned forward to make sure of every word, and as he reached “that all diplomatic relations between the United States and the German Empire are severed”, both sides of the chamber, without permitting him to finish the sentence, burst into a long round of applause, with cheers from the Southern Democrats.

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Harry Kessler

Bern, Switzerland

In the evening a concert of Strauss’s music: Till Eulenspiegel, Salome, A Hero’s Life. A full half of those present were Frenchmen, Englishmen and Russians, so that each half of the audience would have been perfectly within their rights to torpedo the other half.

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Elizaveta Naryshkina

Petrograd, Russian Empire

A rush of blood to the head. Sad thoughts: the Empress is abhorred. I believe danger will come from an unexpected source: Mikhail. His wifeNatalia Sheremetyevskaya, with whom Mikhail Romanov entered into a morganatic marriage, was the daughter of a Moscow lawyer. The marriage with Mikhail was her third. is “very much a member of the intelligentsia”, and, as such, lacks any constraints. She’s already wormed her way through to Maria Pavlovna. Her box at the theatre is teeming with Grand Dukes; they’ll connive together with Maria PavlovnaGrand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was the center of opposition to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of the Romanovs.. She’ll see to it that she’s accepted by the Empress-Mother and the Emperor. I sense that they’re plotting. Poor Misha will, in spite of himself, be implicated in this plot; first he’ll be regent, then he’ll be emperor. They’ll accomplish everything.

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Edvard Munch

at work on "Horse and Man in the field"

Ekely estate, Norway

Alexandre Benois

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Empire

An “intimate” lunch at the GorchakovsMikhail Gorchakov, aristocrat and public advocate of the monarchy.’. Delicious food, first-rate wine, a highly well-mannered maitre d’hotel such as are found in the best bonnes maisons, and an ecstatic (if sometimes exhausting) host. Akitsa and I are both terribly fond of these feasts, which extend long into the evening, are executed with great taste and accompanied by countless comforts (such as the oh-so delicious chocolates we enjoy after the meal). Not a word, thank God, was mentioned of the war; most of the time we spoke of friends and acquaintances.

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Max Linder

Premiere of the short comedy “Max and the handbag”

Hollywood, USA

Vasily Gurko

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Rumours have been circulating the world over to the effect that the Empress is a German sympathiser, with relevant evidence adduced. These rumours, which resist refutation, will undoubtedly find their way into the field army, and the consequences of their propagation may prove highly deleterious. It has been claimed, for example, that during one of my reports to His Majesty, the Empress entered his office, upon which I discontinued my report. His Highness, so it is alleged, proceeded to tell me that he had no secrets from the Empress, to which I am supposed to have responded that, on the other hand, did have such secrets. But, far from bespeaking the existence of any “fire”, as per the famous proverb, this tittle-tattle is “smoke-free”, too; during my time as Chief-of-Staff, the Empress has not been present at a single one of my reports to the Tsar, conversations at table excepted.

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Alexandra Feodorovna with Nicholas II

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

N. had a big dinner, I received these gentlemen of the conference in the evening.

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzova embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

At eight o'clock state banquet at Alexander Palace. As a matter of fact, the state part of it was displayed only in the liveries, lights and plate, for the menu was simplicity itself, a thoroughly bourgeois simplicity which contrasted forcibly with the ancient and far-famed splendour of the imperial cuisine. The Tsar looked as he does on his good days; he feared, I am told, that the delegates would give him unwanted advice on internal politics; he is now reassured on the point. The Tsarina is not well and remained in her room.

Dinner ended at last and we went into the next room where coffee was served. The Emperor lit a cigarette and passed from group to group. While these dull conversations were in progress, the Empress received the chief delegates in turn in her room.

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2 February

One of the leaders of the Russian opposition: “We need to steer a course for a coup d’état.”

Lenin: “We oldsters won’t live to see the decisive battles of the impending revolution.”

German U-boats threaten Europe-wide hunger