RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 25

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

EVOLVING ORDER

(By Cable.) The news from Russia is somewhat contradictory. The Extremists are said to be mainly represented by the Council of Workmen and Soldiers. A statement by M. Miliukoff, Minister of Foreign AH'airs, that Russia's way to the open sea was through the Dardanelles, and that Constantinople was a necessary condition of Russia's life, was declared by M. Kerensky, President of the Council of" Soldiers and Workers' Deputies, not to represent the views of the Provisional Government. He declared that the Labourites were prepared to renounce absolutely any desire for Constantinople. The veteran leader of the Cadet party, said to be the best organised in Russia, on the other hand emphasises Russia's obligation to the Allies, who have made tremendous sacrifices in Russia's interests, thousands of British and French soldiers having been buried at Gallipoli for Russia's sake. A meeting of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee adopted, by 325 votas to 55, a resolution endorsing the Provisional Government's proclamation, which the committee considers an important step towards the realisation of democratic principles in the foreign policy, and- declaring that the official renunciation by all Governments of ideas of territorial expansion will powerfully contribute to the ending of the war, but that while the war continues the Russian democracy recognises that any disorganisation of the army is weakening to its fighting capacity and' would be disastrous to the country and to liberty. The committee appeals to the people to concentrate their energies upon assuring the army that the population will provide everything that is' indispensable to it.

The Executive of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee emphatically denies the report that Russian Socialists have sent delegates to any secret peace negotiations in Copenhagen or elsewhere, and declares it has not the least idea of such negotiations. A deputation from the armies arrived at Petrograd and demanded the dissolution of the Workmen's Committee, declaring that it was undermining discipline. M. Crledzke replied -that the committee was necessary to secure the full programme of the democratic revolution. The deputation has issued a proclamation emphasising the army's firm attitude. The Council of Soldiers and Workers' Delegates declares its intention of retaining its position as a- sort of second house in the temporarv Government. The conference's proceedings suggest that a separate pence is infinitely less possible than before the revolution.

The political crisis centres in the personality of M. Kerensky, who is a Republican Socialist, M. Luoff, M. Miliukoff, M. Rodzianko, and M. Gutchoff, representing the patriotic moderate Liberals. M. Kerensky continually insists on the necessity of defeating the enemy, but he has many enemies, including the extreme anarchical elements. It is impossible to say what will happen if M. Kerensky is forced to resign. General Brussiloff, at a banquet to the Duma delegates, appealed for national unity in order to defeat German militarism. He exhorted the army to support the Duma.

General Aiexielf has been definitely appointed commander-in-chief. Russian extreme Socialists, who were formerly exiled to Switzerland, have arrived at Stockholm with the object off arranging a peace conference-. Some Ger-man-Ereuch Socialists have accepted tha invitation, but the British refused. Tlio British Govermnent lias refused tha exiles permission to visit England. .lh*yj travelled from Switzerland through Germany in closed carriages. The Government is recalling from tha army ail skilled railway workers, to relieve the transport difficulties.

The War Minister has removed General Loch, commander of the Stochod army, > and ako General Janouchevski, com* mauder of tha defeated army corps. ) The Government arrested the proprietor ajid editor of the Socialist newspaper " Pravda on discovering that they were im German pay. The Franco-British Socialist deputation, ' conveying the Democratic Party's frater-. nal greetings, has arrived. The Britishers include Messrs Thorn a, O'Grady, and Bowerman (of the House of Commons). The Allies have given the Russian Go- ' vernment a collective guarantee of Poland's unity and independence, as( foreshadowed in the Provisional Govern* ment's proclamation. / The Czar is suffering from acute neuras* { thenia. He refuses to leave the Czaren vitch's bedside. v Correspondence lias been discovered l ill' the Czar's palaces which shows that members of European Royal families lately urged him to' accede to popular demands! for constitutional reforms in the interests of the allied cause. The Czar's response to these letters was! anything but cordial. President Wilson is arranging v £or a commission to Russia to provide material, and it is expected that similar commissions will k also be sent by Britain, France, and Italy w j.