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RUSSIA x

(Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic.)

On March 12, 1917, a revolution broke out, as a result of which the Emperor Nicholas II abdicated. A Provisional Government under Prince George Lvoff was set up by the Duma, which held office until May 1(3, 1917, when it was reorganised. On August ft, 1917, a new Cabinet under M. Alexander Kerensky was formed. This too was reorganised on October 8, 1917, and maintained itself until November 7, 1917, when the Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet seized the government authority, and handed it over the next day to the All-Russian Congress of the Councils of Workmen's, Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies. On November 10, 1917, the following manifesto was issued: — "The All-Russian Con- gress of the Councils of Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies decrees the form of the administration of the country pending the meeting of the Constituent Assembly. The Provisional Workers' and Peasants' Government is to be called the Council of People's Commissaries. The administration of the individual branches of State life is to be entrusted to Boards, the composition of which is to secure the carrying out of the pro- gramme proclaimed by the Congress in close contact with the organisations of workers, sailors, soldiers, peasants, and employees. The Government authority belongs to the Board and chairmen of these Commissariats, that is to the People's Commissaries, and the right of systematising them belongs to the All-Russian Congress of the Councils of Workmen's, Peasants', and Soldiers' delegates, and its Central Executive Committee."

The Government is controlled by the Central Executive Committee of Soviets (elected by the All-Russian Congress). The Central Executive Com- mittee, as well as the members of the Government, are elected for a period of 3 months, but the Commissaries can be recalled or superseded at any time by the Commissaries' Executive Committee. The Chairman of the Central Executive Committee is M. Kalinin.

The following is the constitution of the Council of People's Commissaries (May, 1921) .—

1. President. — M. Vladimir Ilich Ulianov- Lenin.

2. Fore ign Affa irs. — M. Vh ich c r in.

3. War and Marine.— M. Trotsky.

4. Finance. — M. Kredinsky.

5. Health. — M. Semashko.

6. Post's and Telegraphs. — M. Liubovich (acting).

7. Ways and Communications. — M. Dzerzhintky.

8. Supreme Economic Council. — M. Rykov.

9. Agriculture. — M. Ossinsky (acting).

10. Food. — M. Tsuriupa.

11. Justice. — M. Kursky.

12. Social Welfare. — M. Viiwkuroi:

1 see Preface.