Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXIV. Revolution
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
1917]
ILLUSIONS
47i
odious choice of persons whom the Emperor placed in
power and who could not inspire any confidence, gave
credence to these suspicions and fears in Russian
public opinion itself; towards the end of 1916 every one
believed them more or less. The Revolution came just
in time to scatter all this dreaded accumulation of Court
intrigues. It gave the Russian people a free hand for
the carrying out of their most cherished schemes which
were—the continuation of the fight to a finish with
Germany and the complete victory of the Allies !
Consequently the latter were at once delivered from
the agonising nightmare of Russia’s possible defection.
Finally Russian military action would derive fresh
life from the renovation of the country, final victory
would be considerably hastened, and in this victory
itself there would no longer be any fear of the transports
of ambition and pride of an autocratic ally and the
extension of a regime of oppression over a fresh portion
of Europe.
Such was the point of view of our Western Allies
which was shared by Russian public opinion. In our
country, what is more, every one had been so justly
displeased with the Government, so deeply humiliated
by what was occurring at Court that a change was
prayed for on all sides ; and when this complete change
occurred in consequence of the days of the 10th to the
15th March all thinking Russia, beginning with the
best balanced elements, thought in all good faith that
it was they who had brought about the Revolution
because they had desired it so ardently.
Hence one can hardly wonder that all that occurred
in Petrograd during those memorable days should
have assumed a dazzling, glorious and triumphant
appearance in the eyes of the whole world.
Spontaneous enthusiasm appeared to have seized all the
inhabitants of the capital; every one fraternised; from
Moscow, the provinces, and finally from all the armies
enthusiastic adherents arrived. The Novoye Vremya
wrote articles worthy of the Ptre Duchesne, and M.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
