The details of the conditions existing in the factories that produce munitions of war, conditions which may lead to the suspension of the operations of these factories, and the information concerning the approaching famine that threatens Petrograd and Moscow, as well as the possibility of serious popular disturbances in connection with this state of affairs, have, no doubt, been reported to you by the chairman of this conference. These facts and considerations made it quite apparent to me, as well as to the other members of the conference, to what an abyss our country is rapidly moving, thanks to the complete apathy of the government, which takes no active and decisive measures for the purpose of forestalling the events that threaten us.
The members of this conference anticipated all this six months ago, and you cannot deny, Ivan Loginovich, that I, myself, upon several occasions brought the matter to your attention, and that every time your reply was that the matter does not concern you, and that you cannot interfere with the conduct of the war. Such replies are out of place now. The end of the war is rapidly approaching, while within the country, in every department of the people's life, even in those which are concerned with the satisfaction of the prime necessities of life, complete disorder prevails and grows. The inactivity of the government oppresses the faith of the people in ultimate victory. It is your prime duty, without losing a moment's time, to do everything in your power in order to remove all those things that interfere with our achievement of victory.
If the Council of Ministers will not, at last, take those measures which are possible and which will save the country from disgrace and disaster, the responsibility for this will fall upon you. And if you, Ivan Loginovich, do not feel within yourself the strength to bear this heavy burden, if you will not use all the means within your power that will enable the country to come out upon the road that leads to victory, have the courage, at least, to confess this, and to make room for younger forces.
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