The first point of confusion is the question: Was the Revolution provoked by the Government? Those who adhere to the theory that the Duma created the Revolution affirm that "to imagine that he (Protopopov) 'provoked' the Revolution would be to accept a palpable absurdity."[1] According to the majority of observers in Russia, the provocation of the Revolution was, however, to say the least of it, a palpable fact. It was deliberately organised many weeks in advance of the Revolution.
This is indicated by a whole series of Government measures—measures which were utterly senseless except on the assumption that they were deliberately intended to provoke revolt. First there was the sudden and unfounded arrest of the Workers' representatives in the War Industrial Committee, which was bound to arouse the greatest possible indignation among the munition workers. Then there were the aggressive proclamations of the Military Commandant of the Petrograd district, Habalov, especially the one which was issued on the day of the opening of the Duma, a fortnight before the Revolution. These proclamations threatened to crush by force any attempted demonstrations; but there were in fact no crowds in the Petrograd streets at that time except the food queues. There
- ↑ Mr. Wilton, "Russia's Agony," p. 104. Mr. Wilton says at this point: "He (Protopopov) was not yet a lunatic, and nothing short of complete insanity could have impelled him into such courses." I am by no means of opinion that it is necessary to postulate Protopopov's madness in order to explain the deliberate provocation of the Revolution. The provocation policy was based on a miscalculation as to the eventual attitude of the army. But it is interesting to note that even Mr. Wilton's argument breaks down on his own showing. In an earlier chapter entitled "Razputinism," Mr. Wilton shows that Protopopov was really insane; and in the very chapter from which the above quotation is taken, he says (p. 107), "Protopopov had succumbed to nervous prostration on the Saturday" (i.e., on the eve of the Revolution). And in the same chapter, on p. 114: "Habalov lent himself to a 'brilliant idea' emanating from the half crazed Minister (Protopopov): to dress up the police as soldiers." (Italics are mine.)
