In fact it realized that only recognition of such
supervision would ensure any measure of common action. The Duma committee
had been asked to efface itself, for as an institution of the old regime it
aroused the suspicions of the revolutionary bodies. The efficiency of
the local government bodies was sacrificed to the idea of immediate
democratization. The establishment of revolutionary committees all over
the country, and in the army even, was countenanced and accepted, though
perhaps only because it was seen that it could not be prevented except by
repressive measures, to which the first leaders were unwilling to resort.
Perhaps also the latter realized that physical force was not on their side.
The Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies acted on the principle of
a direct mandate from the whole people. It issued orders to revolutionary
democracy, as we saw. It insisted on the exercise of a real control,
even on the right to countersign, as it were, some of the orders of the
Provisional Government. Then it definitely questioned the policy and
measures of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of War. When
these two men were forced to resign, the other members of the government
demanded that revolutionary democracy share in the responsibility of
government, if it insisted on such a measure of control. The Councils
at first refused, but later agreed, and a frankly and officially recognized
coalition government was formed.
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