Source: File: Vladimir 'Lenin' Ilyich Ulyanov in Exile. Collective Leadership.
See an original image at: <http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/11562318>
[Accessed 25 March 2017]
16 March 1917 of the Gregorian calendar,
Noted how just over a week of revolution
Within Russia brought out reactions from
Other world countries - America's press
Were positive to respect Russia's people.
The view had arrived from New York,
Unblended by a lengthy Berlin wireless
Message to neutral countries - whose
Influence of assistance had funded
The return of Bolsheviks to Russia.
This included one
certain figure intent
To lead the party;
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov
Known by alias
Lenin - propaganda from
Germany had
sought to suggest how
Russia would then be out of the war.
London opinion
had no such thought -
Rebirth of
Russian determination
Was suggestion -
united Russian, free
Of plots would be
better equipped;
Revolts success would defeat Germany,
Revolts success would defeat Germany,
A Petrograd dispatch
told how army
Was on
revolutionary side - two years
Of war bled away complete Tsar loyalty
And obedience to
the Empire - America
Had welcomed the
change of rule.
To say how
entrusted Duma leaders
With others were
directing the empire -
Maladministration’s
had been turned
Upside down to realise
ambitions; for
Russian access to unfrozen seas.
Russian access to unfrozen seas.
News of the Tsar's abdication raised
By press, as in the New York Times,
Noted the passing of an old regime,
Maybe to herald a new free world;
Democratic countries looked to Russia.
Democracy would free Russian
People - that good organization
Would make defeat of revolution
Impossible - what then will those
Autocrats in Germany consider?
The New York Tribune had debated
How changes of Russian rule may
Be decisive act to defeat Germany -
Within New York Times was theory
Of temporary abdication of monarchy.
To see new constitutional Tsar form
That could rule as head of the state;
America eagerly awaited more news.
Yet German reaction was subdued;
Perhaps a more realistic viewpoint.
Overall the view from Germany
Was one of regret and unknown -
How might alliances be affected?
A warning made by press to say
Caution against any change in war.
Deutsche Zeitung; 'personalities are
Central to events,' Vassische Zeitung;
Advised judgment; Berliner Tageblatt
Warned of anti monarchy; Frankfurter
Zeitung stated; can be no prediction.
A calmer reaction purveyed France
Where Press in the 'Temps' saw a shift
To the left in Bureaucracy and peoples
Struggles - a power shift to a bloc held
By assemblies and an army majority.
Yet the 'Temps' reminded the reader by
France's own historical fight for liberty.
Holland held change as victory for war
Parties, to end speculation of separate
Peace between Russia and Germany.
Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant added,
Idea of revolution would lend continuation
Of war - Italian military situation would
Not alter due to rapid manner of revolt -
Italy said: 'evil out of which good will come.'
Skepticism dominated - such Russian
Events as a telegram in Austrian capital
Of Vienna - any results of rising were far
Too soon to speculate; the coup d'etate
Would have a world reaching effects.
Analysis of Denmark dwelled on theory
That the old government had tendencies
Of a bond with Germany - in a renewal
Of rule, Russia would lean to envigoured
Route into the war as shared in Britain.
British MP Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron
Weardale's statement in an interview
Told of close acquaintance of many
Members of the new Russian cabinet -
To hope for new freedoms for people.
Stanhope shared belief of resurgence
By military presence on the fighting
Field - how agricultural movements
Would now be restored, to deal with
Food shortages with Moscow at centre.
Seen as important, British opinion held
Thoughts of Henry Mayes Hyndman,
A founder of Britain’s first socialist party;
This had been an ideal revolution
Where limited blood had been spilled.
A 'parasitical class' had been overturned
To claim facts had been issued in 'Justice,'
5 months before - background intrigue
Had led to downfall, while Miliukoff gained
Praise by Hyndman for smooth revolt.
So Kaiser be warned writing is on wall -
A world was watching wheel of revolution
For a smoothed shift of Russian power,
To rise and crush Germany; yet a wary
World should beware of revolutionaries.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1917. A Worlds View On The Russian Revolt -
America Delighted. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 March 1917. P.6. Col.4. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214364/Daily-Telegraph-March-8-1917.html>
[Accessed: 25 March 2017].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 25 March 2017).
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