New Britain herald., 1917-05-18
Statement by Premier Lvofr.


 Petrograd. Via London, May 1s.- After the seeming solution of the governmental crisis by the reception into the cabinet of five socialist repre- sentatives of the council of deputies, Premier Prince Lyon received rep resentative of the Associated Press and authorized him to transmit to America an explanation of the pre- mier's satisfaction of the solution and his confidence in the future. ' Premier Lvoff said: ;
 "The most serious crisis in the modern history of Russia has been satisfactorily settled and conditions al- ready show marked symptoms of im- provement. It is my impression that the new coalition cabinet will re- ceive the support of all reasonable Russian citizens. We have for the time being the prospect of govern- ment which will combine both moral authority and material power.
 Most of the difficulties of my first revolutionary cabinet arose from the fact that in all questions I and my colleagues were obliged to rely solely upon moral persuasion. There was no actual governmental power with ma- terial force, such as you have in America and in other democratic countries of the world. After two months experiment we discovered that moral influence was sufficient weapon with vast majority of Russian citizens who de- sired tranquility but unluckily both in the civilian population and the army there were individuals and small groups who actively aimed at anarchy and repudiated all forms of discipline.
 Threatened With General Anarchy. ,,
 Ut became plain that the govern ment could not remedy this condition without material force and this force could only be obtained if represent atives of the socialist and allied Left parties entered the government move- ment and agreed to support it un- shrinkingly in policy of combined freedom and order. If this solution had proved unreachable we were threatened with general anarchy, fol- lowed by g national disillusion with the revolution and a reactionary counter revolutionary movement as the final stage.
 This normal course of unsuccessful has. hope. been avoided as tho result of the agreement between the temporary government and the council of deputies. The council has to support the government against anarchy and disorder and fur- ther to work for the restoring of dis. cipline to tho army, naturally on con- dition, which we granted, that the army will be democratixed.
 My hope fs that when the present enemies of national tranquility see that not only the so-called bourgeoisie but also the workmen and the social ists themselves stand for the restora- ton of order they will. without com- polling Us to take action, abandon their present anarchial methods which, if continued, would result in the ruin of Russia. The program of policy which we have agreed upon with our new colleagues contains very great concessions to the socialists, but these concessions were an indispens- able condition of socialist collaboration in the government.
 ''In the future democratic Russia must not only enjoy freedom but must take on itself the responsibility of defending its freedom. Personally I do not doubt our democracy's fitness for higher governmental work. Dur ing the negotiations which led to a settlement, the representatives of the council of deputies showed that they thoroughly understood the dangers