First Published: Novaya Zhizn, No. 167, October 30 (November 12), 1917, p. 3.
Sources: James Bunyan and H.H. Fisher, The Bolshevik revolution, 1917-1918: Documents and materials, Stanford University Press; London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1934, pp. 156-157; National Library of Russia.
Translated: Emanuel Aronsberg
Online Version: Marxist Internet Archive 2021
HTML Markup: Zdravko Saveski
[Meeting of November 11, 5:00 P.M.]
. . . A representative of the All-Russian Railwaymen's Union made the following declaration:
"The All-Russian Railwaymen's Union had no intention to mix into the political strife of the parties, but the recent news from Moscow made it necessary to do something. We received information that civil war is raging in Moscow; that two liquor stores were broken into during the night of November 10 and drunken mobs are plundering the city . . ."
[He then read the Vikzhel ultimatum and continued]: "I must declare . . . that though Moscow is surrounded by government troops, . . . we shall not allow the latter to enter either Moscow or Petrograd. We are sending just now a delegation to Kerensky to let him know our decision, and even if Kerensky should succeed in entering Petrograd he would have to surrender, otherwise the railway union will block all the roads leading to Petrograd." . . .
Replying to the representative of the Vikzhel, Kamenev declared that he welcomed the fact that in its resolution the Railwaymen's Union acknowledged the bankruptcy of the Coalition Government . . . The important thing in organizing an all-Socialist government was not so much the question of the composition of that government . . . as the acceptance of the basic principles adopted by the [Second] Congress of Soviets.
We are willing to attend a conference [with other Socialist parties] . . . I move, therefore, that we accept without further discussion the Vikzhel invitation to send our delegates to that conference.
Kamenev's proposal is accepted . . .