Citizens! The newspaper "Russkaya Volya," founded by the tsarist minister Protopopov and despised even by the Kadets, is conducting pogromist agitation against our party, against the newspaper "Pravda," against our comrades Lenin and Zinoviev, against the Petrograd Committee of our party, located in the Kshesinskaya Palace. We have received a number of reports—not only oral but also written—concerning threats of violence, bombs, and the like.

From the very first days of the revolution, the capitalists, masquerading as "republicans," have been trying to sow enmity between workers and soldiers. At first they lied about the workers, claiming they wanted to leave the army without bread. Now they are trying to incite hatred against "Pravda."

We appeal to the honor of the revolutionary workers and soldiers of Petrograd and declare:

Not only has there been no threat of violence whatsoever on our part—neither direct nor indirect—against any individuals; on the contrary, we have always declared that our task is to explain our views to all the people, that we consider the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, elected by all workers and soldiers, to be the only possible revolutionary government.

Comrades of various parties who traveled through Germany made a report on the very day of their arrival to the trusted representatives of all workers and soldiers, namely: to the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. In this Executive Committee were Chkheidze, Tsereteli, Skobelev, Steklov, and others.

Comrades! These leaders of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies do not share our views on many questions of state organization. They could not have acted out of favoritism toward us.

What did the Executive Committee do?

It published in full the report on the journey through Germany in its "Izvestia," No. 32 of April 5, 1917.

In this report are listed all the facts and names of foreign socialists from two neutral countries, Switzerland and Sweden, who verified our protocols.

What then did the Executive Committee decide? Did it express condemnation or even dissatisfaction with Lenin's and others' passage through Germany?

No. The editorial board of "Izvestia," in that same issue, presented the decision of the Executive Committee as follows:

"The Executive Committee, having heard the report of comrades Zurabov and Zinoviev, resolved to immediately appeal to the Provisional Government and take measures to ensure the immediate passage of all émigrés to Russia, regardless of their political views and attitude toward the war. We will report on the results of negotiations with the government in the coming days. Ed."

Anyone can see that there is not a word here against Lenin and his comrades. Here is a warning given to the Provisional Government; here it is resolved to take measures so that it does not hinder the passage to Russia.

And after this, Martov's telegram and Trotsky's arrest in England proved that Milyukov is powerless against England and France, who are holding their internationalist socialists in prison, or that Milyukov does not wish to take serious measures.

Exchanges between Russians and Germans during the war have occurred dozens of times. Member of the State Council Kovalevsky was exchanged for an Austrian, and so on. For wealthy people, governments arranged exchanges more than once. Why then does the present government not wish to arrange an exchange for émigrés? Because it wants to cut off a number of fighters from the possibility of participating in revolutionary struggle.

What are "Russkaya Volya" and the newspapers following in its footsteps, such as "Rech" and "Edinstvo," doing?

They continue the persecution, inciting dark-minded people to violence against individuals, and they do not publish either the report or the decision of the Executive Committee!

The Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies has been informed of the names of a number of socialists who verified and approved each step taken by the émigrés in connection with the journey. These are French socialists Loriot and Guilbeaux, Swiss socialist Platten, Swedish socialists Lindhagen (Mayor of Stockholm), Carlson, Ström, Nerman, German socialist from the group of Karl Liebknecht Hartstein, Polish socialist Bronsky.

Such behavior by "Russkaya Volya," "Rech," and "Edinstvo" is complicity with the dark forces threatening violence, pogroms, and bombs.

Comrade soldiers and workers!

We warn you against the gentlemen of "Russkaya Volya," "Rech," "Edinstvo," and we declare once again and again: we are for explaining the views of all parties to all the people, we are for respect toward the Soviet of Soldiers' and Workers' Deputies.

If the Provisional Government, if the newspaper "Rech," if Mr. Plekhanov are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, why do they not declare this openly? Why do they not demand a review? Why are they afraid to reprint what was said in the "Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies" in No. 32? Why? Because they want to sow discord!

If violence is applied in one form or another, we place responsibility on the editors and contributors of "Russkaya Volya," "Rech," "Edinstvo," and the like, who dare not to publish the report and decision of the Executive Committee and who conduct dark persecution.

The newspaper "Delo Naroda," in which Minister A. F. Kerensky takes close part, has already pointed out that the methods of the aforementioned newspapers aid the pogromists ("Delo Naroda," No. 23).

Let Milyukov, Amphiteatrov, Plekhanov, and Company know that if violence begins to be applied because of their persecution, it will turn first of all against them.

Down with pogromist agitation! Down with the heroes of persecution and deception who conceal the decisions of the Executive Committee!

Comrade soldiers and workers! You will not allow your freedom to be darkened by pogroms! You will ensure respect for the decisions of your Soviet of Soldiers' and Workers' Deputies!

Written April 13 or 14 (26 or 27), 1917

Published April 15, 1917 in the newspaper "Pravda," No. 33

Printed according to the newspaper text