8 October 1917. Alexander Kerensky

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

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.

Only once before had I seen the Ambassador as nervous as he was on this occasion, and that was when he had had to report his government’s decision to refuse the Tsar and his family residence on British territory in time of war. A true diplomat, Sir George was usually reserved and self-possessed. But if his fingers began to tremble slightly, if his cheeks acquired a delicate, almost girlish pinkness, if his voice became slightly strained, and a moist gleam came into his eyes, it meant that Sir George was under great emotional stress. All these signs were evident on this occasion.
Next to Sir George sat the new French ambassador, Noullens, who was the French Senate's expert on financial and agricultural affairs. Heaven knows how he came to be appointed to the post of ambassador! Unlike the British diplomat, Noullens was in fine form and was evidently delighted that the Allies had finally decided to be firm with the Provisional Government.
The Marchese Carlotti, the Italian ambassador, played the part of observer. The collective note was very candid: It threatened to cut off all military aid to Russia unless the Provisional Government took immediate steps, evidently in the spirit of the Kornilov program, to restore order at the front and in the country at large.

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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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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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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. See more

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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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