Page:Michael Farbman - The Russian Revolution & The War (1917).djvu/37

 the other. And yet the initial difficulty was discovered in Russia itself. It consisted in the attitude of M. Milyukoff and the Russian Imperialists. It became clear that the Foreign Minister was actually doing his utmost to prevent Russia's clear demand from being understood by the Allies. Nay more, he was making every effort to persuade the Allies that Russia still stood to her Imperialistic aims, including Constantinople and the dismemberment of Austria. To say that the Russian mind was astonished and shocked by this perversity would be putting it mildly. The whole thing seemed outside the domain of reason. No wonder, it was thought, that the West was so slow to respond. Here was the reason. The immediate thing to be done was obviously to remove Milyuikoff. A new Government must be found that would express Russia truthfully. The way would then be clear. This new Government would easily come to an agreement with the Allies and thus help to solve the situation.