3 February 1917. The New York Times

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

The New York Times

NEW YORK, Feb. 3. Within five minutes after news came that Ambassador Gerard had been recalled, Wall Street was bright with the Stars and Stripes floating from bank and brokerage offices. Figuratively, the Street gave a concerted sign of relief, and went back to its business in a more serious frame ofmind. The break, expected all the week, had come, and the financial district was prepared for what might follow.

On the Produce Exchange James Simpson mounted the rostrum and said to the brokers massed below him: “Politics is one thing, patriotism is another. The President has said: “I raise my hand to the American flag; who follows? Is there any man here who does not follow?”

The room rang with a volume of cheers and 300 men gathered under the Exchange’s giant flag, and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Enthusiasm in other quarters was less exuberant, but in many brokerage offices the assembled customers stayed discussing market, and banking prospects in a more optimistic frame of mind than in many weeks.

General opinion in banking circles is that the recall of Ambassador Gerard will result in actual war. On the other hand, the view is held by some that the United States is not likely to be obliged to send troops or warships, but it will remain as an inactive enemy, much after the fashion of Japan.

Bankers were reluctant to express opinions for publication as to what going to happen, but they were unanimous in the belief that this country was unusually well prepared for the worst. They pointed out that the industrial and financial position of the nation was very strong, considerably better than at any time since the outbreak of the world war in the middle of 1914.

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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

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

-23

in Petrograd

-26

in Moscow