War aims

• Spring 1915, Allies negotiated the Constantinople Agreement.

  • GB and France promised to give Russia Constantinople, Dardanelles and the Straits in events of an Allied victory
  • Would give Russia access to Mediterranean Sea
• Miliukov believed that the Rev did not affect Russia's foreign policy needs, should continue to fight and benefit from agreements in the Constantinople Agreement
• Leaders of Petrograd Soviet issued an appeal to all the workers of Europe to unite in peace, while promising that the Rev will not be 'crushed by foreign military force'
• Tsereteli wanted to work with the PG to renounce all imperialist war aims an work towards a negotiated peace. He and Soviet adopted the slogan 'Peace without annexations'
• Lvov and other members of PG were prepared to work w/ Tsereteli and on 27 March, agreed to issue a new foreign policy statement, and adopted the 'peace without annexations' approach, but also mentioned need for defence and to meet obligations to its allies.
• On April 18, the new foreign policy statement was sent to Allies, but Miliukov insisted on sending a covering note.

  • went against the 'peace w no annexations' note by Lvov and undermined PG's policies
  • Unwavering support for the allies, said Russia will continue to fight
• Miliukov's note was made public and was interpreted as following the same war aims as the Tsar, contrary to the wishes of soldiers and the public

  • Protests and demonstrations erupted on April 20
• After protests on April 20, PG issued a statement 'clarifying' the meaning of the note (fighting a defensive war). It wanted to avoid civil war and was also tied to the wishes of Petrograd Soviet, as they held the weapons and soldiers.

  • showed the divisions between PG and Soviet
• After the note

  • Miliukov and Guchkov resigned
  • Formation of new PG coalition cabinet w/ more representation from socialists (Tsereteli, Chernov, Skobelev)
  • Kerensky - Minister of War