9 September 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)

I had spent Sunday at Mourina, a village some fifteen miles from Petrograd, where the British colony had laid out a rough golf course, and on returning in the evening I found a telephone message from Tereschenko asking me to come to the Ministry with the French Ambassador, M. Noulens, immediately after dinner. He then told us of the complete breach w^hich had just taken place between Kerensky and Korniloff.

So many different accounts have been published of the genesis of their quarrel that it is still difficult to apportion the share of blame attaching to each or even to state correctly what actually happened. The person, whether wittingly or not, responsible for bringing matters to a head was the former Procurator of the Holy Synod, Vladimir Lvoff. He had a conversation with Kerensky on the 4th, and immediately afterwards proceeded to headquarters, apparently with the object of arranging for the formation of a stronger Govern- ment. According to a statement subsequently pub- lished by Savinkoff, he gave Korniloff the choice between three possible courses, and he did so in such a way that Korniloff was under the impression that he was speaking in Kerensky 's name : —

1. Korniloff to form a Government, with Kerensky and Savinkoff respectively Ministers of Justice and War.

2. A triumvirate, with dictatorial powers, composed of Kerensky, Korniloff and Savinkoff.

3. Korniloff to declare himself dictator.

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✍ Also today

Maxim Gorky

23, Kronversky ave., Petrograd, Russian Empire

The gardener is pacing up and down the alley, a ladder on his shoulders, scissors in hand, trimming trees. He’s lost weight, shrunk a little, his clothes hang loose on him like a sail on a mast on a windless day. His scissors cut branches with loud angry clicks. I was watching him and thinking that nothing - not an earthquake, not even the Deluge could stop this man from doing his job.

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Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I command that General KornilovCommander in Chief of the Petrograd command - from 18 March 1917 surrender the position of High Commander. I command that he notify the city of Petrograd and the Petrograd region of the activation of martial law and that he expand the activity of all regulations associated with martial law to that region.

I call all citizens to maintain the complete calm and order necessary for the rescue of the motherland. I call all officers of the army and navy to self-sacrifice and the calm fulfillment of their duties—the defense of the motherland from her external enemy!

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Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

I was waiting for the Prime Minister to depart for Headquarters. Then, in the morning, I received a telegram signed “Kerensky” but without a number. It commanded that I temporarily surrender the position of High Commander and depart for Petrograd. In light of the grave circumstance in which the country and the army currently find themselves, I decided not to surrender my duties and clarify the situation first.

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Nicholas II

Tobolsk, Russian Empire

Today it was a little fresher. At 11 o'clock church services were held. We all liked the priest very much who offered the services for us and the four nuns who helped. Alix continued to stay in bed for reasons of caution.

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Olga Paley

House with services and a garden on Pashkov Lane, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Republic

At nine o’clock we were told that a commissar of Kerensky’s called Kuzmin had come with a convoy of ten men and wanted to speak to us. Kuzmin took three papers out of his pocket which he read to us, one after the other. They said that in view of the possible disturbances, and because of the approach of KornilovCommander in Chief of the Petrograd command - from 18 March 1917, with the aim of restoring the monarchy, the Provisional Government thought it necessary to put (there followed each of our names) under house arrest and that the garrison at Tsarksoe Selo was charged with guarding us. See more

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the store of the Russian Music Publishing House, Moscow, 6, Kuznetsky Most, Moscow, Russian Empire

My sweet Fofa, I am writing my last letter to you and sending it to Moscow, where, I suppose, you have already arrived. I want to tell you that in all likelihood, I will be departing from here alone on the 15th of September, and I hope to be in Moscow on the 17th late in the evening. These days, I have been playing in Yalta. I took on this concert just to make a bit of money. See more

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