2 August 1917. George Buchanan

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

George Buchanan

4, Dvortsovaya embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire (British Embassy)

Letter to the Foreign Office

"Tereschenko told me this morning that both he and Kerensky had tendered their resignations, but had withdrawn them at the request of their colleagues. Tchernoff had also resigned and had, on going to the Soviet, received a great ovation. Tereschenko then proceeded to say that if the Government did not now apply stringent measures they would have to give up their places to men of the counter-revolution. His country had the first place in his eyes, and the situation brooked no delay. He had told Kerensky that unless the latter acted with vigour he would resign. It was necessary, in his opinion, to militarize the whole country, to repress all disorders, and to admit Komiloff into the Government. Kerensky shared these views, but his hands were tied, while the Socialist Ministers did not wish to assume responsibility for the measures necessary to save the country. Tseretelli, he said, would prefer to leave the Government and to act as an independent member of the Soviet, while the Cadets wanted a complete party triumph and to replace the Government.

The situation is so obscure that I personally see no daylight. The carrying out of Tereschenko's policy can only be undertaken by a Government in which the Socialists are strongly represented, otherwise it will be accused of paving the way for a counter-revolution, with the result that there will be another Bolshevik rising and a lapse into anarchy. The Cadets have not got the army with them, and it is premature for them to assume office with any prospect of success."

, and others

Comment

✍ Also today

Konstantin Paustovsky

Kiev, Russian Empire

I was passing through Kyiv. The city was bustling with demonstrations just like Moscow. Although mottoes “Away with!..” and “Hurrah!” were called out in Ukrainian, and they were singing “Zapovit” by Shevchenko and “Sche ne vmerla Ukraina” instead of La Marseillaise.

, and others

Comment

Boris Nikolsky

Ofitserskaya street, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I have to buy coffee, the price of which has gone up by 30%. I am going to buy 14 pounds of coffee, 20 pounds of malt, and 16 pounds of chicory. This should last the year. It seems, after all, that coffee will form the larger part of our diet, and while my mixture of malt and coffee is, of course, less inspiring than pure coffee, it is undoubtedly more nutritious. Only a well-stocked parlour will save us.

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Alexander Zamaraev

Totma, Vologodskaya guberniya, Russian Empire

A fine clear morning. These days while the crops are not entirely good, the harvest is a success. The prices are as follows: rye wheat - 5 r. 50 k., and only by ration cards from the peasants. Fish, it seems, has disappeared completely, one perch is 80 kopeks, margarine - 2 r., eggs - 1 r., cotton and iron have disappeared, so have wheat and peas, salt is 2 r. a pound, tobacco has disappeared, and a year ago was 1 r. 25 k., the monthly ration of sugar is a pound at 38 k., leather has disappeared. One feels that soon only air and water will be left.

, and others

Comment

Marina Tsvetaeva

Borisoglebsky lane, 6, Moscow, Russian Empire

You can write ten volumes on Akhmatova’s little book - and there would be nothing more you could add. And you could only write one book - the size of Akhmatova’s book - on countless volumes of Bryusov’s complete set of works, and there will also be nothing more to say.

, and others

1 Like

Comment