Soviets Ask for Western Aid

I would like to correct an error in the editorial “Vote of Sheer Defiance, Future of Grave Doubt” (June 14).

The election in the Soviet republic of Russia was not the first free election in Russian history. In 1905, in an attempt to relieve rising discontent among the workers, Czar Nicholas authorized the election of the Duma, which served as an advisory body to the government. This first attempt could not be considered to be what we would call a democratically elected body; however, it did show a great deal of independence and was dissolved by the czar.

Later editions, with a broader base of voters, were also sent home. However, the Duma elected in 1912 was made of sterner stuff and refused to obey a dissolution order by the czar. It was this body, under the leadership of Alexander Kerensky, which forced the czar to abdicate. An accomplishment for which the Communist Party has long taken credit.

Needless to say, there were many marches and countermarches in the period between the establishment of the provisional government of Kerensky and shootout, figuratively speaking, of the November Revolution and the death of democracy in Russia. Let us hope that it wasn’t the death of democracy, but only a serious wound.

WILLIAM J. CASEY

San Juan Capistrano