54 исторические миниатюры и 29 переводов. Сборник
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January 14, 2017.
This translation: 22.08.2017 11:42
IV.Interview on the riddle of the Fourth State Duma.
The participants in the upcoming presentation included some well-known deputies of the IV State Duma of Russian Empire, V.A. Maklakov, P.N. Miliukov, A.F. Kerensky. The correspondents addressed to them with the intention of finding out why, after the February Revolution of 1917, the IV (Fourth ) State Duma did not resume work.
The most laconic was Vasily Alekseevich Maklakov:
– Loyal, monarchical, constitutional parties, whose representatives were members of the Provisional Committee of the IV State Duma, did not want to convoke the State Duma.
It was clear that Maklakov did not want to have a detailed discussion on the subject.
A student, interested in the statement of V.A. Maklakova, remembered:
– In the manifesto on abdication, dated March 2, 1917, Emperor Nicholas II wrote, in particular: "... In agreement with the State Duma, we recognized for the benefit of abdicating the Throne of the Russian State and resigning from the supreme authority. ... Instruct our brother to rule affairs by state in full and inviolable unity with representatives of the people in legislative institutions, on those principles that will be established by them, bringing in that inviolable oath. "
There was an uneasy silence.
Correspondents switched to Pavel Nikolayevich Milyukov. He was somewhat more talkative, although he was also laconic:
– The State Duma did not try to open a formal meeting, despite the demand of MP M. Karaulov. (...) A private meeting of the members of the Duma instructed the Council of Elders to elect the Provisional Committee of the Duma members and determine the further role of the State Duma in the events that had begun.
– A strange statement, - one of the correspondents said quietly to the other.
– First, what is this "Council of Elders" for the "private meeting"? Secondly, the "demands of a deputy (deputies)" - this is not "an attempt to open a formal meeting"? Logic is not docking ... And, thirdly, how easily disappears-appears the word "members" ... Maklakov: "The Provisional Committee of the State Duma". Milyukov: "Provisional Committee of MEMBERS of the Duma". It's not a rabbit in a magician's hat ...
P.N. Miliukov added:
– It was neither a meeting of the Duma, - Duma had just been closed, - nor a meeting of any of its commissions. This was a private meeting of the members of the Duma. Individuals wandering along other corridors joined the grouped members of the Duma. I do not remember Rodzianko presiding there. The meeting was formless. There were hot speeches in the central small crowd. Proposals were put forward for the return and resumption of the official meeting of the Duma, disagreeing with the freezing of the work of the Duma (M. Karaulov), declaring the Duma the Constituent Assembly, transferring power to the dictator (to General Manikovsky). It was suggested that the members of the Duma assembled at that moment should take power and that they create their own body. At least not to leave Petersburg. I made a proposal to wait until the character of the movement was clarified. I made a proposal to create an interim committee of Duma members "to restore order and to communicate with individuals and institutions."
– The Provisional Committee of the members of the Duma!
– with pleasure said one of those standing nearby.
– How many members? How did the ballot go?
P.N. Miliukov clarified:
– The proposals to immediately take all power into their hands and organize the ministry from members of the Duma or even declare the Duma a Constituent Assembly - were rejected, as, in part as untimely, in part as fundamentally wrong.
– Again it's not clear, - the correspondent whispered to his colleague.
– If the State Duma at the time of the February 1917 events was the only more or less legitimately elected, representative, legislative body, then why the proposals to use its "democratic potential" were called "fundamentally wrong"? About "untimely" ... When was it possible to use the democratic potential and authority of the Duma, if not in the disastrous days of February 1917?
The most informative was Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky:
– On Monday, February 27, 1917, my first thought was: at any cost to continue the Duma session and establish close contact between the Duma and the armed forces. (...) Upon reaching the Duma, I immediately went to the Catherine Hall, where I met Nekrasov, Efremov, Vershinin, Chkheidze and several other opposition deputies. They agreed with my proposal to hold an official meeting of the Duma. (...) Representatives of the Left Opposition - Nekrasov, Efremov, Chkheidze and I - made an offer to the Council of Elders to immediately hold an official session of the Duma, not taking into account the tsar's decree. The majority, including Rodzianko and, somewhat unexpectedly, Milyukov, spoke against such a step. No arguments were given.
A.F. Kerensky, with an element of political passion, began to convince the correspondents and the readers who were standing next to him:
– At a time when the authority of the Duma reached its maximum value in the country and in the army and when this authority could play a far-reaching positive role, the Duma's refusal to convene a formal meeting was tantamount to political suicide. (...) Refusing to take the initiative in their hands, the Duma became an unofficial organization on a par with the Soviet of Workers' Deputies, which by that time had only just begun to gain strength. Realizing the next day a perfect mistake, Rodzianko made an attempt to revive the Duma as an official institution. But it was too late. By then, two centres of power had already emerged in the capital. The revolution has created them. The two centres of power. First, the Duma that created (in an informal meeting) the Interim Committee as its provisional governing body. Secondly, the Council of Workers ' deputies. The executive committee chaired the Council.
– Much more detail, - the correspondent expressed to his fellow satellite.
– Again - it is not clear: first, what is the "majority"? From those present in the room? Uncertainty. Secondly, if the Duma became the "center of power", then why not start official work, not start "formal" meetings?
– Who is more democratic? Nikolai Alexandrovich (Romanov)? Or people's deputies-Duma members, who turned out to be participants in the "formless meeting"?
– there was a remark from the public.
– Nicholas II Alexandrovich established (in 1905) the State Duma of the Russian Empire. There was not any complete replacement of this representative body nor in February 1917, nor many years later. Could the "state structure" established in February 1917 by some "members of the Duma" become full, durable and viable? If this "state structure" does not have a basis? The basis is the all-Russian legislative institutions, representing the entire population.
Again a second of awkward silence.
The interview ended naturally. Deputies have already started to enter the cafe-library, founded by Maxim Gorky, to take part in the presentation of memoirs (ex) Premier S. Yu. Witte, V. N. Kokovtsov and other publications.
However, the colleague-satellite answered the doubting correspondent:
– The most informative words in the statement of Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky: "No arguments were given" ...