New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
By Isaac Don Levine

Kerensky's government was not over
thrown. II fell Of itself. Il crumbled
away like n house built upon the sands.
The Bolsheviki did not demolish it,
The Bolsheviki onl.' happened 10 be
ION the spot" when it collapsed Of its
own accord. They saw their oppor-
tunity and seized il without delay.
The full story Of the second Russian
revolution has not yet been told in this
country. Though the fall Of ke-
renskys government was not nearly as
dramatic as that of Czarism, 1t was
even more astonishing than the latter
in its lightnine-like speed.
The November revolution was in
some respects strikingly similar to
that Of last March. Eight months ago
il was the Duma that prepared public
opinion for the great upheaval. Five
weeks ago it was the Preliminary Par
lament. created by kerensky himself.
that served as the crystallizing force
of the Maximalist movement. In both
instances the masses translated into
action the sentiments of their half
hearted representative bodies.
Began in Preliminary Parliament
The Maximalist rising really began
in the Preliminary Parliament con-
voked by Kerensky. This big fact
seems TO have escaped the correspond
ents who cndcavored TO give the Amer
lean public in their very iragmentary
dispatches an account of what tran
spired in Russia in the early part OF
November. The Preliminary Parlia-
ment, TO which the Provisional Gov
ernment was responsible and on whose
vote Of confidence its existence de-
pended, met in session on Monday. No
vember D, for the discussion Of Russia's
foreign policy. It was there, in Ke-
rensky's own camp, that the trouble
began.
The historic debate was opened by
Peshekhonof, leader of the party to
which Kerensky himself belonged. His
criticism was therefore the more sem
sational, as it indicated the disap-
proyal OF Kerensky's policy By his own
party. The speaker declared that the
moment was opportune to invite the
Allies to define their war aims and tell
the world that the Entente Powers
were only carrying on a defensive war.
If their enemies admitted this they
would consent TO accept the funda-
mental principles of the Allies, and it
would be possible to propose to them
TO enter upon peace negotiations.
"Conquests' Versus Defence
Mr. SkobclelT, the delegate of .he
Soviet to the Paris inter-Allied con-
ference, spoke next. He drew line
between the foreign policy Of the new
Russia and the old. The banner Of the
latter. he said. bore the inscription
"Conquests," as it aimed al the contn-
uation Of the war. But the flag of the
"Defencc," and aimed at the immediate
conclusion of peace. The spokesman
of the Soviet then arraigned the Minis
ter Of Foreign Affairs. Michael Terest-
chcnko, who replaced MiliukoH, because
he did not make sufficiently energetic
efforts 10 modify Russian policy in this
sense. The speaker regarded as very
dangerous the oblivion into which the
4 a,rt .f ha
democratic peace formula had fallen
namely, it's immediate realization.
Peshekhonoff, speaking for the moder-
ate Socialists. and Skobeleff. speaking
for the radical Soviet, were thus prac-
tically united in their condemnation OF
the Provisional Government. This
meant that the Preliminary Parliament
was sure 20 vote its lack Of confidence
in Kerensky's Cabinet. unless the lat
ter managed 20 rehabiitatc itself very
quickly.
Failed TO Stem Tide
Foreign Minister Terestchenko then
appeared al the sitting TO stem the OPP
position tide. lie delivered long
speech on Russia's war aims. which
had the reverse effect of that desired.
lie defined Russia's aims in the war as
national; he spoke Of political and eco
nomic interests of the fatherland in
language that strangely reminded his
audience of Paul Miliu-
koff, the Foreign Minister. who was
forced out by the masses. Finally. he
committed the indiseretion Of critics.
ing the Sovict's instructions as regards
war aims given to Skobelef, delegate
TO the Paris conference.
This virtually sealed the fate OF the
Provisional Government. The Soviets
opposition TO Kerensky's ministry was
now augmented by that of the Pre-
liminary Parliament. child Of keren
sky himself. Leon Trotzky, the leader
Of the Soviet, FASTENED TO avail him
self of the prevailing state of mind
and issued an order 10 the Petrograd
garrison to take orders only from the
Soviet. With this. Monday, November
., passed out of existence.
Kerenslly's Final Plea
The following day, November 6, the
debate on peace and war aims was re-
sumed in the Preliminary Parliament.
On the issue of the debate kerensky's
rule depended. lie made an eleventh
hour effort to hold the assembly in
line Appearing at its session when