The
Bolsheviki seized the power of government on November 7th and the elections
for the Constituent Assembly took place on November 25th--nearly three
weeks later. The date set by the Kerensky government for the opening of the
Constituent Assembly was December 12th and on that date some forty-odd
members put in an appearance. Recognizing that they could not begin
business until a quorum appeared, these decided to wait until at least a
quorum should be present. They did not attempt to do any work. What
happened is told in the following passages from a signed statement by 109
members--all Socialist-Revolutionists.[34]
On the appointed day and hour of the opening of the session of the
Constituent Assembly ... the delegates to the Constituent Assembly
who had arrived in Petrograd gathered at the Tavrichesky Palace.
The elected representatives of the people beheld innumerable
banners and large crowds surrounding the palace. This was
Petrograd greeting the representatives of the people. At the doors
of the palace the picture changed. There stood armed guards and at
the orders of the usurpers, the Bolsheviki, they refused to let
the delegates pass into the Tavrichesky Palace.
Pages:
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337