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 were undergoing a state of decomposition. In this manner, I suddenly found myself transported to the very sources of this Revolution. Coming into contact with and studying the Workers' Soldiers' and Peasants' Soviets, as well as the Socialist Parties, which until then had been more or less unknown to me, I was again forcibly made aware of the Russian Power,—a power which certainly was very different from that which I had formerly known, but which all the same struck me at once as being more profound, much more real than the former, because it came direct from the people themselves, unadulterated either by statistics or chancelleries.

With indescribable rapidity, therefore, and entirely overlooking my first impressions made during my contact with this power, I came to persuade myself (still preoccupied with the question of the War), that the Russian people was about to return to the fight with much greater energy than under the former regime. In other words, that this Revolutionary power was going to become a power in the imperialist war!

Even at that time, the alarming contradiction which existed in this association of ideas did not enter my thoughts. Later on, attracted more and more towards the heart of this people, that I felt beating day by day ever faster and faster under pressure of the daily events through which I was living,—captivated ever more and more by the discourses of such orators as Kerensky and Tzeretelly,—I did not pay much attention to Bolshevik propaganda, which commenced at that time to vigorously manifest itself. Had I, however, recollected my first impressions,—that