4 April 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

Reluctant up to the last moment to take the final step in the long controversy with Germany, President Wilson showed as soon as he rose early this morning that he was ready for the inevitable task.

Before breakfast his address to Congress, written by himself on his typewriter, was sent to the public printer in a sealed envelope. Secretary Tumulty was called to the White House an hour earlier than usual, and the President gave word that he was ready to appear before the Congress as soon as the House organized.

Realizing that it would be hours before he could speak, the President freshened up on the golf links until noon. He received frequent bulletins on the progress of the organization of the House and expressed pleasure when told that Speaker Clark had been re-elected.

Although it was the President’s idea at first to wait until 3 o’clock on the House, and to postpone his address until tomorrow, if preparations were not completed by that time, he changed his mind as the day wore on, and determined to go to the Capitol whenever the House was ready. Late in the afternoon the Democratic House leader conferred and fixed the hour at 8 o’clock.

The contents of the message were more closely guarded than ever before. Not even members of the Cabinet saw the text, although they knew in a general way what the President planned to say.

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Nicholas II

During the night there was a storm and a lot of snow fell. The day became sunny and quiet. Olga and Tatiana went out into the air for the first time and sat around the balcony while I walked. After breakfast I worked for a long time. The youngest slept a little more and felt better. We passed all the time together.

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Leon Trotsky

Amherst concentration camp, Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada

British officers, accompanied by bluejackets, came aboard the Chrisliani- afiord and demanded, in the name of the local admiral, that I, my family, and five other passengers leave the boat. We were assured that the whole incident would be cleared up in Halifax. See more

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Georgy Lvov

Welcomes the delegation of Equal Rights for Women League

Petrograd, Russian Empire

If we’re going to have universal suffrage, what’s the rationale for preventing women who wish to participate in elections from doing so? Our electoral law is being developed. In its final form, it is contingent on the total composition of the provisional government. But I’m for the participation of women.

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Tamara Karsavina

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Like microbes on the body of a sick man, the rumours grew more numerous with every passing day; newspapers born overnight disseminated panicky information and concocted slander. How the big posters hanging in the main street escaped my attention, I don't know. In the evening the telephone rang, and an old friend anxiously asked, “Are you safe?” I couldn’t believe my ears when he told me that today’s posters featured my full name, with the words “German spy” inscribed underneath.

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Winston Churchill

London, United Kingdom

There are only two ways of winning the war, and they both begin with A. One is aeroplanes and the other is America.… Everything else is swept away.

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzova embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The Minister of justice, Kerensky, yesterday paid a visit to Tsarkoïe-Selo to see for himself the arrangements made for guarding the ex-sovereigns. He found everything in order. See more

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The New York Times

The wife of the former Russian Premier Boris V. Sturmer has attempted to commit suicide, according to Reuter dispatch from Petrograd. After receiving a letter, the contents of which are not known, she cut her throat. She was taken to a hospital, where she was said to be in a dangerous condition. Madam Sturmer is 60 years old.

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3 April

The soldiers flee and hide. Things will be even worse in the future.

The émigré communists consider whether to accept the Germans’ offer

How the arrested emperor spends his time

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

1917. Zombies, drugs, and progress

Why did the Russian Empire collapse

in Petrograd

in Moscow