A NEW CRISIS IN RUSSIA KORNILOV’S DEMAND REJECTION AND DISMISSAL KERENSKI’S STRONG ACTION

Admiralty, per Wireless Press.

The following has been received through the wireless stations of the Russian Government: PETROGRAD, Monday. FROM THE PRIME MINISTER: On Sept 8, General Kornilov sent to me a member of the Duma, Vladimir Nikolaievich Lvoff, with the demand that the Provisional Government hand over to General Kornilov all the civil and military powers in order that he might, using his own judgment, form a new Government for the administration of the country. The genuineness of the authorisation with which the member of the Duma, Lvoff, was invested to make such an offer was later confirmed by General Kornilov, in a conversation with me direct by telephone. Considering the presentation of this demand, addressed through me to the Provisional Government, as a desire on the part of certain circles of Russian society to profit by the grave condition of the country and to establish an order contrary to the conquests of the revolution, the Provisional Government has deemed it necessary, for the safety of the fatherland, freedom, and republican order, to empower me to take immediate and decisive measures to cut short at the root all attempts to encroach on the supreme power in the country, and on the rights of citizens won by the revolution. All necessary measures to safeguard freedom and order in the country are being taken, and of these the people will be informed at the proper time. At the same time I order: (1) General Kornilov to surrender his functions as commander-inchief to General Klembovsky, the commander-in-chief of the army of the Northern Front barring the way to Petrograd. I order General Klembovsky provisionally to take command of the functions of the commander-in-chief, and to remain at Pskov. (2) The city of Petrograd and the Petrograd district to be declared as in a state of war. I also bring into operation a schedule of rules governing military areas. [Here M Kerenski indicates the particular clause in the Russian regulations upon which he bases the order.] I call upon all citizens to remain absolutely calm, and to maintain order, necessary for the preservation of the fatherland. I call upon all members of the army and fleet to rigorously and calmly fulfil their duties in defending their fatherland from the external foe. A KERENSKI (Prime Minister). The present radiogram is to be immediately transmitted to all persons in authority, all commissaries, military and public organisations for the immediate information of the army and public. (Signed) A KERENSKI.

TREASON OF GENERALS

“To all committees of the army and the front. “Comrades – The late commander-in-chief, General Kornilov, has betrayed his fatherland and the revolution. The day before yesterday, on Sept 8, through N Lvoff, a member of the Duma, he presented a demand for the dissolution of the Provisional Government and for a handing-over to him of all powers, in order that he might constitute a new Government at his own discretion. He made this demand personally by telephone to Minister Kerensky. “The chief of staff, General Lukomsky, has also proved to be a traitor. General Lukomsky has refused to carry out an order of the Provisional Government to undertake the command of the armies in view of the dismissal of General Kornilov, indicating to the Provisional Government the possibility of civil war on the front, the opening up of the front to the Germans, and the conclusion of a separate peace. “The Provisional Government, in full agreement with the Central Executive Committee of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Delegates, is taking measures for the crushing of the counter-revolutionary plot instituted by traitors to their fatherland. “General Kornilov is dismissed, and will be punished for treachery. Minister of War Kerensky has ordered that the commanderin-chief Kornilov surrender his function as commander-in-chief to General Klimovsky, who will provisionally assume the office, remaining at Pskov. “Against the attempts of General Kornilov to direct individual military detachments to Petrograd the most decisive measures have been taken. “The Central Executive Committee suggests to all army corps, divisional, regimental, company, and ship committees that they should not obey a single order issued by Generals Kornilov and Lukomsky. “All army organisations should show to the Provisional Government and the Central Executive Committee the most decisive cooperation and support in their struggle against counter-revolution. The conspiracy has no deep roots amongst the commanding force of the army. It is necessary to preserve full calm and firmness, and to use every exertion in the struggle with the external enemy. “All events and measures taken by army organisations should be brought to the attention of the Central Executive Committee of the Soldiers’ and Workmen’s Delegates.”