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Statement issued by Pavel Milyukov
The
Milyukov note
was a telegram, drafted by Foreign Minister
Pavel Milyukov
on behalf of the
Russian Provisional Government
in April 1917, important in the
April Crisis
period between the
February Revolution
and later
October Revolution
in
Russian history
. Sent in the wake of the
abdication
of
Nicholas II
and amidst the ongoing
First World War
, it was addressed to the
Allied Powers
. The telegram contained the statement that the Provisional Government would continue to fight against
Imperial Germany
, as had begun under the
Czar
. Though it had broad agreement within the provisional government when drafted,
[1]
the telegram came in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction in Russia with the course of the war. Ongoing Russian
draft
combat losses, such as at the disastrous
Battle of Tannenberg
early in the war and later in the successful but incredibly costly
Brusilov offensive
, had aided in the collapse of military and popular support for
Czar Nicholas II
and ultimately helped force his abdication.
[2]
Public circulation of the note on April 20, 1917, prompted violent street protests in opposition to Russian participation in the war and outrage that the new government would continue Czarist policies.
[3]
It also led to condemnation by notable
Marxists
such as
Vladimir Lenin
and others who claimed the note was evidence that the Provisional Government was bowing to the interests of international
capitalism
and those who sought to continue the war for foreign conquest and other financial gain.
[4]
Not only did the note's publication weaken the position of Milyukov, who faced public outrage, but it also exposed others in the Provisional Government such as
Alexander Kerensky
to face pressure from more activist
left-wing
elements such as the
Bolsheviks
who blamed him for agreeing to the Note's drafting.
[1]
The pressure that resulted accelerated the
April Crisis
which increased popularity of the
Bolsheviks
[5]
and helped to further weaken and isolate the Provisional Government ahead of the
October Revolution
.
References
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