The Washington times., 1917-05-04
DEMAND MIIUKOFF
SURRENDERS OFFICE
Russian Soldiers and WOrkmen
Make Demonstration.
By WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.


PETRoGRAD, May 4-open rup-
ture between the provisional govern
ment heads and the workmen's and
soldiers committee came today. The
workmen and soldiers demanded that
the government take them into their
confidence. The tensity OF the situ-
alton is growing hourly.
How seriously the situation threat
ems Russia's future in the war is
shown by the fact that after listing
a long series of provisional govern
ment acts to which the soldiers and
workmen object, the council repre-
senting these elements formally de-
clared that they would not approve
of any loans to Russia until fully
informed of the complete waraims OF
the entente and of all details of the
compacts entered into by the deposed
Car and his ministers.
Vigorous disapproval was also ex-
pressed by the council of state OF a
statement extensively credited TO
Foreign Minister Miliukoff that Rus
STA aims to crush Germany and
Austria
The First Clash.
The first clash between the two
elements in the new government
came yesterday. The greatest feel
ing of Indignation was aroused
among the workmen's and soldiers
delegates by an announcement OF the
provisional government that 1t l.
teded to stand by the Cars contracts
with the allies.
At yesterdays meeting OF the
council of ministers, 1000 soldiers
with loaded rifles were drawn from
the Petrograd garrison to guard the
building where the government
leaders met Throngs OF citizens gath
cred there in a gigantic demonstration
against Foreign Minister Mlliukon.
Speakers from the soldiers and sail
ors' delegations mounted impromptu
rostrums and exhorted the people to
Join in their demand that the govern
ment take all people into their conf
dence.
As the meeting OF the council
progressed the 1000 soldiers from the
garrison openly fraternized with the
crowds. Many Of the soldiers, rifles In
hand. Joined in the demonstrations de-
manding the resignation OF Miliukon.
Some of their number delivered speeches.
No effort was made to maintain any
line of demarcation between the mill
tary and citizens. Soldiers and private
citizens alike were voicing their opinion
Insist Upon Being Consulted.
The workmen's and soldiers coun-
ell held an all-night session last night,
at which resolutions were adopted
disapproving the acts fthe pro-
visional government and charging
failure on their part to keep promises
to the workmen and soldiers to admit
them to conferences on all important
matters. The official minutes of the
meeting, as published today, contain
bitter attack on the provisSnal
governments blanket approval of all
contracts and agreements pledged by
the former autocratic government
with the allies.
'The workmen and soldiers do not
even know the provisions Of all OF
these agreements" the official Jour-
nal asserted.
The governments statement voic-
ing approval Of the contracts and
obligations of the former regime was
declared by the meeting to have been
secretly prepared at the home OF Min
lister of War Gutchkoff, without con-
sultation with the soldiers and work.
mems representatives. Not alone did
the meeting attack the provisional
leaders for failure to move in the
open on all administrative and gov
ernmental matters, but II was charged
that the provisional officers were
seeking to cast discredit on the work
men and soldiers by sending false
news OF their activities out OF Russia.
The committe demanded permission
TO disseminate its own Iews reflect
ing its own views. This permission
was formally granted today.
Forecast in the category OF the
false news which the committee
charged was given circulation abroad
BY the provisional leaders was the
impression" which II was asserted
had been spread that the Russian
constitutional conventions would not
be held until after the war. and the
inference that the workmen and sol
diers had approved such a course.
On the contrary, the committee
made formal demand that the con
stituent assembly be held at the
earlist possible date.
Many Internal Disturbances.
The dispatch from Shepherd is the
first word OF any serious friction be-
tween the duma provisional govern
rnent and the soldiers and workmen.
Various ymall internal differences
have been reported heretofore, but
all related to administrative acts
rather than governmental policy.
One the other hand, the provisional