The victory of the Bolsheviks has been accompanied by a “Polovtsian” attack on the freedom of the press. This is quite natural and to be expected. The only people who could be amazed at it are those who see the Bolsheviks as apostles of freedom and social equality.
But nobody forced them to regard committed pogromists and thugs as brave knights of liberty. The Party of People’s Freedom, to which I belong, has never been under any delusions on this account, and has strenuously and insistently warned Russian society about the true nature of Bolshevism. Why is Bolshevism not compatible with the freedom of the press?
The garrison of Moghilev rose and seized the city, arresting Dukhonin and the Army Committee, and going out with victorious red banners to meet the new Supreme Commander. Krylenko entered Moghilev next morning, to find a howling mob gathered about the railway-car in which Dukhonin had been imprisoned. See more
You’re always enigmatic and new,
And I am ready to serve your desire,
But the love that I’m getting from you
Is a trial by iron and fire.
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In the morning, as usual, I was visited by my dear children and grandchildren. We had breakfast with Prince Shervashidze and Dolgorukov, and afterwards walked in the garden with them and with the children. See more
I dined with the W-s. They say that Smolni talks of arresting the Ambassador, Thornhill and me. Thornhill “ because he pushes his nose in everywhere,” and me as the " ame damnee ” of the Embassy. See more
Trotsky, I hear, is very angry with me for not answering his note. On my sending Consul Woodhouse to endeavor to obtain the necessary permission for some of our subjects to go home, he said that it had been decided that no British subjects would be allowed to leave Russia till the question of the two interned Russians had been satisfactorily settled. See more
The cold grew stronger and during the day it got clear. The guards were restless because they had not received their wages from Petrograd. This was quickly brought to an end by borrowing the necessary sum from a bank. During the day I worked on the firewood. At 9 o'clock vespers was over.