Overwood Henry de
Russian potatoes in Constantinople. Confidentiality of diplomatic negotiations as a political anti-resource of the Russian Empire in 1914-1917. An essay
Аннотация: MMMDCLXVI. Russian potatoes in Constantinople. Confidentiality of diplomatic negotiations as a political anti-resource of the Russian Empire in 1914-1917. An essay. - May 31, 2025.
Russian potatoes in Constantinople. Confidentiality of diplomatic negotiations as a political anti-resource of the Russian Empire in 1914-1917. An essay.
This is how the "genius" ("geniality") of Bolshevik propaganda is presented in the Soviet film.
The scales are tipping (are fluctuating) - the Provisional Government is moving into past. Bolshevik slogans: "Lands!", "Peace!". Lenin asks a simple (random) soldier: are you planning to carry potatoes to Constantinople for selling? The soldier is stumped. A simple soldier does not know what to answer, which means that Lenin is a very intelligent and very understanding person.
The effectiveness of Bolshevik propaganda was high, as evidenced by the resignation of Pavel Milyukov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government. Milyukov made an attempt to declare Russia's loyalty to its allied duty, and Russia's commitment to fight to victory. The public reaction was so acute that Milyukov was forced to resign on May 2 (15), 1917.
The effectiveness of Bolshevik propaganda was based on the traditional confidentiality of the diplomatic work of the foreign policy bodies of the Russian Empire.
Confidentiality (privacy) was a tradition passed down into the 20th century from the Middle Ages.
In the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, small professional armies were replaced by mass armies.
Such a political "quality" as the trust of the (peaceful) population and of the (mass) army in the government and in practical politics was of great importance.
The confidentiality of diplomatic activity and its results, practiced by the governing bodies of the Russian Empire, allowed the Bolsheviks:
to mythologize
and
to discredit
the foreign policy of the Russian Empire.
The Bolsheviks carried out the obfuscation and confusion of the population widely and with good (for them, Bolsheviks) results.
At the beginning of the First World War, the Russian Empire had a huge political advantage.: Russia acted as a victim of aggression. At the beginning of World War I, the majority of the population had a clear understanding of the political objectives: it was the defense of the country.
As Bolshevik propaganda developed, political rejection became more widespread among the general population - theses about "annexations" and "indemnities" were introduced, for example: On waging war for the purpose of "imperialist seizures" (including the seizure of Constantinople).
The most incredible and ridiculous rumors about espionage have become widespread: allegedly, the tsaritsa transmits information directly to Berlin via a direct wire from St. Petersburg.
At the right moment, emphasis was placing on the tsar's "plans" to conclude a separate peace with the Germany.
"Secret treaties" and "secret diplomacy" (allegedly unprofitable for the majority and beneficial to narrow groups of the bourgeoisie and landlords) were one of the convenient playing propaganda cards of the Bolsheviks, which they used at every opportunity. They, the Bolsheviks, are for the people (are acting in favor of the people). And the tsar, the government, they are against the people, they are hiding the "truth" from the people.
Regardless of the Bolshevik propaganda, the outdated (passed over from the Middle Ages) principle of confidentiality (of diplomatic activity and its results) led to a decrease of confidence of the broad masses of the (peaceful) population and the (mass) army in the political line of the ruling circles.
Even if there were incorrect "trajectories" in foreign policy, wide informing about diplomatic activities would make it possible to adjust policy for the purpose of maintaining a high (sufficient) level of trust among the broad masses of the (peaceful) population and the (mass) army in relation of the ruling circles.
The above suggests that in a favorable ideological and political atmosphere caused by the desire of the broad masses to protect Russia from external attack (aggression), the ruling circles have lost the political advantage, - and one of the reasons for the loss of confidence in the policy of the ruling circles, for the loss of political advantage: the outdated practice of confidentiality of diplomatic activities and their results.
May 31, 2025, 16:05 (4:05 p.m.)
Translation from Russian into English: May 31, 2025 17:37
Владимир Владимирович Залесский ' Российская картошка в Константинополе. Конфиденциальность дипломатических переговоров как политический анти-ресурс Российской Империи в 1914-1917 годах. Очерк. '.
{3695. Российская картошка в Константинополе. Конфиденциальность дипломатических переговоров как политический анти-ресурс Российской Империи в 1914-1917 годах. Очерк. - 31 мая 2025 г.
MMMDCLXVI. Russian potatoes in Constantinople. Confidentiality of diplomatic negotiations as a political anti-resource of the Russian Empire in 1914-1917. An essay. - May 31, 2025.
Vladimir Zalessky Internet-bibliotheca. Интернет-библиотека Владимира Залесского}