The New York Times/1916/11/22/Duma Victorious in Russian Crisis
DUMA VICTORIOUS IN RUSSIAN CRISIS
Said to Have Imposed Its Views Upon the Reactionary Cabinet.
NO SEPARATE PEACE FEARED
Agreement Expected to Unite All Classes in Determination to Fight to the End.
PETROGRAD, Nov. 21, (via London.)—The crisis which was brought about by the attacks upon the Government by the Constitutional Democrats, led by Professor Paul Milukoff, is generally believed to have passed. The opinion of the press and public in the last few days has become decidedly more optimistic regarding an agreement between the Duma and the Cabinet, and it is felt that, whatever political expedients may be found necessary to bring them into harmony, the danger of a rupture is at an end.
Professor Milukoff said to The Associated Press representative today:
“I regard the trouble as definitely over. The War and Marine Ministers have shown their sympathy with the Duma, and the Duma feels and has felt confidence in them. The Duma can go on with its appointed tasks, the chief of which is the reorganization of the Zemstvo unions and all the channels by which supplies are handled and distributed.”
It is stated on good authority that an agreement has been reached which has entirely satisfied the representatives of the people. The nature of this agreement will probably be disclosed in the course of a few days.
The event is interpreted generally as a victory for the Duma. Its chief significance is the political awakening of the entire nation and the development of a real public consciousness which, perhaps for the first time in Russian history, has become articulate and can be ignored no longer.
Among the effects expected from the agreement is the final burial of all rumors of a separate peace and of the influences which gave rise to them. Another effect which is looked for is the infusion of a new spirit in the Government, which it is believed will reflect with greater decision than ever the unswerving intention of the nation to carry the war to the conclusion desired.
The gravity of the recent crisis is indicated by an article in the Russkiya Vedemosty of Moscow, which is permitted to publish an unusually candid analysis of the situation. This paper states:
“The situation is now quite clear and defined. We do not live in a time of political crisis in the ordinary sense of the word, but in a time much more serious—a crisis which touches the whole life of the empire. The crisis in obtaining supplies and the experiments in remedying this situation, the present status of foreign politics, the new limitations of the press, dark rumors and dark facts which are making the masses of the population nervous—all these are only single aspects of the question. Events clearly foretold a collision between the interests of the country and the present system of Government.
“The disorganization to which the country has been brought at a critical moment, when occupied with an enemy without, is final judgment upon the existing order.
“The Government does not believe in the same measures as do the people. In this lies the greatest internal danger. This cannot go on longer. Without harmony between the Government and the country we cannot be victorious or preserve our internal life from disorder. Only a public-spirited and responsible Ministry will be able to hold back the empire from the precipice.”