On the day set for
the movement on Petrograd to begin, Prime Minister Kerensky telegraphs General
Kornilov, ordering him to present himself at the capital. Instead Kornilov issued
a manifesto declaring that “the Provisional Government, under pressure from the
Bolshevik majority in the Soviets, is acting in full accord with the plans of
the German general staff,” which, he added, included an advance up the
coastline from Riga. So he, Kornilov, was going to do something to save the
Provisional Government from itself. At least he was acting consistently with
the plans of the conspiracy – though of course the “Bolshevik majority” did not
exist and though, even on the six-month anniversary of the February Revolution,
the streets of Petrograd were quiet.
Next Kerensky
ordered Kornilov to hold up the movements by rail of the Savage Division and
cavalry corps towards Petrograd, but Kornilov refused. Kerensky removed him
from command. This likewise had no effect on the tendency of events. Next
Kerensky issued an order to the Petrograd garrison, saying Kornilov had treacherously
removed troops from the front and sent them against the capital. Kornilov
answered by saying the traitors were already there, in Petrograd.
There had been
nothing about Kornilov’s movements in the morning papers, but word of his
manifesto and break with Kerensky spread through the capital. By evening, the
Central Executive Committee of the Soviets had formed its Committee of
Struggle Against the Counter-Revolution. The committee drew its membership from
all three socialist parties including the Bolsheviks, from trade unions, and
from the Petrograd soviets generally.
The Mensheviks now
began to advocate a program considerably to the left of where they stood
before: for declaring a republic, for dissolving the State Duma, and for
agrarian reform. The Committee also agreed the cabinet of the Provisional
Government should continue, with socialists replacing the resigned Cadets.
The Bolsheviks
declared themselves and the Red Guards ready to resist Kornilov’s attempt.
Through their Military Organization, they had already issued instructions for
the revolutionary troops of the garrison to remain at arms, but not to
demonstrate.
On the other
side, only the command of the Southwestern Front supported Kornilov. Accordingly, they smashed the printing presses of organizations
thought to be loyal to the government.
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