Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1794855874

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-179223

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Polner, Tichon I. http://d-nb.info/gnd/172311195

Title:: Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Place of publication:: New Haven

Publisher:: Yale Univ. Press

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: XXV, 317 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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INTRODUCTION strength of the zemstvos. But national emergencies such as war and famine created conditions which called for enthusiasm and codpera- tion. The strong emotions they provoked sought to translate them- selves into action, and the nation refused to remain indifferent to the shortcomings of governmental organization. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the zemstvos knowing the unsatisfactory conditions of the army medical service, decided to help the army by sending field hospitals and detachments to the Far East. Of course this work was outside the sphere attributed to the zemstvos by law, but patriotic feelings refused to be damped by legal technicalities. Fourteen zemstvos entered into an agreement, kept secret from the Government, to send field hospitals to the Far East, and at once began the necessary preparations. In spite of the strictest secrecy the news reached the Government which at once prohibited the organization of the hospitals on the ground that it was illegal. This decision was met with a feeling of natural indigna- tion by the zemstvos, who in the meantime had equipped their hos- pitals. They succeeded in sending the field hospitals to the Far East, and the Petrograd authorities confronted with a fait accompli did not dare to order them back. Nevertheless, the other zemstvos were forbidden to join in the work of relief. This instance shows clearly how desperate was the struggle waged by the Government against the zemstvos and indicates that it was ready to take any risks and to make any sacrifice rather than allow the zemstvos to enlarge their sphere of influence. In this particular case the Government feared not only the strengthening of the zemstvos but also their participa- tion in work of national importance and that criticism of official methods which would naturally result from the experience. During the Russo-Japanese War, von Pleve, Minister of the In- terior and one of the staunch supporters of the principles of abso- lutism—the very man who prohibited the formation of the zemstvo field hospitals—was murdered. As a concession to public opinion Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky was appointed his successor and “one could feel the breath of the spring.” The Commander-in-Chief of the army informed him of the brilliant work of the zemstvo hos- pitals and he issued an order permitting the other zemstvos to join the organization. However, the war proved unsuccessful and soon ended, and the zemstvo hospitals returned home. Eventually the Government became reconciled with the idea of the

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