9 May 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

A meeting of prominent Socialists here today under the leadership of William English Walling, Charles Edward Russell, and Ernest Poole issued a statement describing the forthcoming International Socialist Conference to be held in June in Stockholm, as “the most dangerous of all the Kaiser’s plots for cashing in his military victories”. The statement declares that as the dominant Socialist parties of England, France, and Belgium will not attend, the conference will be under the control of German delegates, whose purpose will be to lure a large Russian delegation to the Swedish capital, and induce them by any and all sorts of pressure to work for a separate Russian peace.

This statement by prominent American Socialists, which brands American delegates to the Stockholm conference as pro-German, is regarded as highly important by the State Department. The American Government, like the Governments of the other Allies, had been watching developments in Russia with strained attention. The recent victory of the Provisional Government over the Council of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Deputies has confirmed reports from American Ambassador Francis that the new republican regime is determined on a vigorous prosecution of the war. But this victory was achieved by a narrow margin of less that forty votes in an assembly of well over 2,000 and it is not expected that Germany will accept her first defeat as final, but will continue her efforts for Russian disunion within and Russian separation from the Allies.

The American Government has already taken steps to offset these Russian efforts in the most practical way. In addition to the commission, headed by former Secretary of State Root, which will visit Russia at an early date to place the advice and material assistance of the United States at the disposal of the new Russian Government and the commission of prominent railroad men which has been named to work for the rehabilitation of the Russian system of highways, other steps will be taken to strengthen the hands of the Provisional Government.

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Romain Rolland

Saint-Légie, Switzerland

The membership of the Provisional Government is still a conundrum. Born of a popular revolution, it is now made up of people who are as far away from the spirit of revolution and as close to the spirit of a coup d’etat as it as it is possible to imagine. The Minister of War in the Provisional Government, Guchkov, is the former alter ago of Stolypin the “hangman”. The Foreign Minister, Milyukov, is an imperialist who supports continuing the war “to a victorious end”. It is impossible to place one’s trust in any of the generals. See more

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Anatoliy Lunacharskiy

Luckily, Martov, the leader of the moderate faction (the Mensheviks) is coming with me to Russia. A dedicated internationalist, endowed with all the qualities necessary in an outstanding statesman. He lacks the gift of oratory possessed by Lenin and Trotsky, but surpasses them in spirit and judgement.

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Elizaveta Naryshkina

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

The commandant came. He understands all my reasons for wanting to leave and approves the letter to Kerensky but he is very anxious for me not to take this step. He thinks that Kerensky will refuse. At such a critical and dangerous moment, the fact of my leaving will be exploited, misinterpreted, and will result in more unrest. See more

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Alexander Kolchak

Sevastopol, Russian Empire

At war, one can have wonderful dreams which, on awakening, make one feel sorry that they cannot continue.

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Maria Feodorovna

Ai-Todor, Crimea, Russian Empire

I was suddenly awoken at 5:30 in the morning by a knock at the door. In the terror of the twilight, I made out a man who loudly declared that he had been sent on behalf of the government to search the house. Despite my firm protestations, they pulled back the canopy, and the lieutenant said that I had to get out of bed. See more

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Amedeo Modigliani

is working on the painting 'Portrait of Jean Cocteau'

Emil Gudo's square, 13, Paris, France

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George Buchanan

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

The Government took a step in the right direction by announcing that the right to dispose of the troops was vested exclusively in the military governor of the town. On the same day the Foreign Office handed the Russian charge d'affaires in London our reply to Miliukoff's famous note that had been the cause of the recent crisis. We welcomed that note as showing that Russia would not relax her glorious efforts to defend, with her alhes, the cause of justice and humanity. See more

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Sofia Tolstaya

Yasnaya Pol'yana, Tul'skaya guberniya, Russian Empire

Our son Misha came for a visit. He told me a lot of interesting news. The lack of discipline among the troops is bad. All in all, everything is bad.

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The New York Times

To the Editor of The New York Times:

Recent editorial utterances of The New York Times and other usually well-informed newspapers indicate that the American public has formed an utterly false opinion about the attitude of Socialists in Russia and the United Stated towards the revolutionary Government of Russia and on the question of a separate peace between Russia and the Central Powers. See more

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8 May

Kerensky gives an ultimatum

Lenin on the Mensheviks

Elizaveta Naryshkina decided to leave Tsarskoye Selo

1917. Zombies, drugs, and progress

Why did the Russian Empire collapse

1916: Year in Review.

in Petrograd

in Moscow