New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-19
Pan-Russian Meeting
Is Planned to Unite
Democrats and Radicals
IstAn Corr@pondNcel

WASHINGTON. Sept, 1S-Prepara-
lions are under way at Petrograd for
the convocation Of q pan-Russian meet
ING Of the Councils of Workmen's and
Soldiers Deputies and Councils OF
Peasants Deputies. 1t was asserted In
official quarters here to-day that the
meeting would be held in a few days
No information WIS available as to tho
authority which has called the meet
ing, but it is believed to be tho Pro-
visional Government.
The object Of the convention will be
to devise a programme upon which the
radical elements of the country can
unite with the more conservative Con-
stitutional Democrats and Industrial
lists. For a situation has arisen since
the Bolshevih gained tho ascendancy
IN the Petrograd Council Of Workmens
and Soldiers Deputies which threatens
the continuance Of the coalition form
Of ministry.
The present Cabinet Of Ave members
was declared 60 be a temporary war
ministry, which cannot last long. The
less extreme parties represented in the
Petrograd Council, who were swept
from its control by an overwhelming
vote Of the Bolsheviki, favor a COM
promise with the moderate conserva-
tives, embracing principally the Con-
stitutional Democrats and Industrial
lists.
In some quarters the information
that a pan-Russisn council of workmen,
peasants and soldiers would soon be as
sembled In Petrograd led to the belief
that the Provisional Government saw
the necessity of overthrowing in this
manner the pretended authority Of the
Petrograd Council, which heretofore
has exercised a veto power over the
government, and which now demands
internal measures which are considered
impossible Of realization.
Menace of Bolshevih
From an authoritative Russian source
the following information regarding
the menace Of the Bolsheviki. with their
threat Of peace, was obtained:
There were very few Bolshevih in
Russia at the beginning Of the war.
and they to-day are IN an astonishing
minority" but were recently strength
ened by the conservative movement led
by Commander in Chief Kornilof, and
one Of the principal tasks of the Pro-
visional Government at the present mo-
ment 10 70 defeat them.
The leader of the Bolsheviki is
Lenine, who has won fame in revo-
lutionary Russia as an extremist, and
whose whereabouts at the present time
is unknown. They are not yet in con-
troll of the situation, despite their pre-
dominance in the Council of Work
mems and Soldiers Deputies, but are
for the moment very dangerous owing
to their domination Of that body, which
has previously been respected as an
authority almost equal with that Of the
government itself throughout the army.
So far as is known here, no reaction
has yet set in against the Bolsheviki,
whose opposition has prevented, up to
this time, the formation Of a coalition
Cabinet. The government, however, is
doing all in its power to suppress them,
but It is admitted here that the situa-
ton Is still extremely difficult and com
plicated.
The Provisional Government. 1t was
asserted authoritatively to-day, is as
determined as ever TO fight the war
to finish, without any thought of q
separate peace. and 1t is hoped that
Premier Kerensky will be able to come
out of his present political difficulties
as successfully as he issued from the
Kornilof rebellion, stronger than
ever. There would be no question Of
his authority II he did not oppose the
Bolsheviki, but the fact that he is
lighting them may lead to his own
downfall if they triumph.
Russian authorities here to-day re-
iterated that Russia is compelling
Germany to maintain more divisions
on the Northern, or Riga, front than
ever before, and stated that at no