Page:Michael Farbman - Russia & the Struggle for Peace (1918).djvu/170

 158 ''Governments for the repudiation of all aims of conquest. At the same time, every nation of both Alliances must insist on its Government obtaining from its Allies a common renouncement of annexations and indemnities. For its own part, the Executive Committee emphasises the necessity for negotiations of the Provisional Government with the Allies for the elaboration of a general agreement to that effect.''

"The revolutionary people of Russia will continue its efforts to bring- about an early peace on the principles of brotherhood and equality of free nations. The official renouncement of annexationist programmes by all Governments is a powerful weapon for the conclusion of the war on such terms.

"Until these terms are realised, until the war is over, the Russian democracy recognises that the destruction of the army, the weakening of its strength and stability and fitness for active operations, would be the greatest blow for the cause of freedom and for the life-interests of the country. In order to defend revolutionary Russia most energetically from all external encroachments and to offer the most decisive resistance to all attempts to hinder the further success of the Revolution, the Soviet summons revolutionary Russia to mobilise all the living forces of the country in all branches of national life for the strengthening of the front and of the rear. This is the imperative demand of the moment; it is indispensable for the success of the great Revolution."

After this Congress the Soviet's policy, being endorsed by the provincial Soviets and by the democracy of all Russia, was firm and confident. They demanded immediate diplomatic steps towards a common repudiation of annexationist aims by Russia and the Allies. The Provisional Government began again the game of shelving and havering. At that time the disagreement between the democracy and the Provisional Government on almost all points of policy was beginning to crystallise. It became evident that the Provisional Government, which had undertaken to carry out the pro-