ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the struggle of the Allied diplomacy with the Russian democracy as it appeared in Russia. When the Soviet had published its manifesto to the peoples of the world, there began a time of great expectations. At first the Russians thought only of what would be the attitude of Germany. Less attention was paid to France and England. They were confident that the old democratic traditions of these countries would make them all the more responsive to any manifestations of the democratic spirit in Russia. On March 14 the Soviet issued its Manifesto, and on the 27th the Provisional Government associated itself with the principle of no annexations and no indemnities. At once in the Allied countries the cry was raised that the Russian democracy was contemplating a separate peace. French, Belgian, British, and Italian Socialists and workers hastened to Russia to implore the democracy and the Soviets not to conclude a separate peace.
