8 October 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 embarkment, Petrograd, Russian Republic (British Embassy)

In a conversation which I had with him, Tereschenko said that, while remaining at the Foreign Office, he had refused to act as Vice- President of the Council or to take part in any Cabinet councils, except on questions of foreign policy or on matters on which his colleagues especially desired his advice, until the Government had elaborated a definite programme.

He read to me a letter which he had addressed to Kerensky tendering his resignation — a letter that constituted a scathing criticism both of the Government and the Soviet. They had, he wrote, during the six tragic months through which Russia had passed since the revolution learned nothing and forgotten nothing. Instead of trying to save Russia, demagogues had but thought of their own party interests and of how to control and impede the Government's action. A counter-revolution, though not necessarily a monarchical one, offered, he concluded, the only hope of saving the country. The reading of this letter, which he threatened to publish, produced a tremendous impression on his colleagues. The Cadets, who formerly had been his bitterest opponents, declared that they would not enter the Government if he left it, and he eventually withdrew his resignation.

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✍ Also today

Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko

50 Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Moscow, Russian Republic

In these times, everything one does is so noticeable that even dying is tactless. One’s death attracts too much attention--it distracts people from their other concerns.

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Ivan Bunin

Vasilievskoe estate, Glotovo village, Orlovskaya guberniya, Russian Republic

Please tell me immediately if you have bought tobacco for me. If you have, I will send you money right away. Tell me how much.

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Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Tereshchenko gloomily informed me that the three Allied ambassadors wanted to deliver a verbal note. I arranged for an appointment the next day and invited two of my ministers, Konovalov and Tereshchenko, to be present.
The three-power note was read by the senior envoy. Sir George Buchanan. See more

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John Reed

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Against the overwhelming sentiment of the country, Kerensky and the “moderate” Socialists succeeded in establishing a Government of Coalition with the propertied classes; and as a result, the Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries lost the confidence of the people forever.

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Vladimir Mayakovsky

Moscow, Russian Republic

Dear Lichika, dear Oska!

I kiss you right at the start of the letter, and not at the end, as is the norm: I am impatient! How are you? Happy people who have been to this fairy tale country, when asked ‘how are you’, are scoundrels who get away with the classic phrase “Lilya is Lilya”.

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Sigmund Freud

19, Berggasse, Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire

I’m working with nine patients for eight hours a day and I’m not at all tense – but I find it disgusting that even the profits from this aren’t enough to cover the costs of my house. I look at things from such a negative viewpoint and I think that if if a parliamentary revolution doesn’t happen in Germany, we should expect the war to continue until we are completely defeated.

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Alexander Parvus

Stockholm, Sweden

My wealth, which by the way is massively exaggerated by rumours and hearsay, doesn’t bother me. It merely provides me with the ability to expand my social activities. See more

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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Gatchina, Russian Republic

I've been reading the whole day - currently, I'm reading about the history of the French revolution (written by F. Mignet). I spent the afternoon writing in my diary - I've completely abandoned it during my illness.

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7 October

The Finnish demand forbidding Russian street names

Former minister Frederiks has been released on bail

"A railway strike has begun today"

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

1916: Year in Review.

in Petrograd

in Moscow