because it cleared the way for a final settlement of the Balkan problem
and promised the elimination of Turkey from Europe. Long after Sazonov was
removed, when the consent of England and France to give Russia free hand in
Constantinople and the Straits was read in a telegram before the Duma, a
general outburst of enthusiasm took place, the members demanding to
know why Sazonov, who was justly credited with this achievement, was in
retirement and not in charge of the foreign office which he should have
held by right. Miliukov's speeches and writings on the future settlement
of the Balkan problem were jokingly spoken of as his dissertation for the
degree of foreign secretary. At home the party was pursuing a policy of
patient endurance, postponing strife for the future until the crimes of the
tsar's government made further silence impossible. At that time the whole
tissue of treason was not yet known, but enough was in evidence to demand
vigorous protest. Not being a revolutionary party the Constitutional
Democrats abstained from any action not strictly within the law and merely
condemned the activity of the Government. They desired amelioration of the
fundamental laws, but even that they would have preferred to accomplish by
persuasion rather than by force. In fact they considered socialist demands
unreasonable, socialization of Russia premature, and any violent overthrow
unwise and hazardous. For the latter opinion they found support in the
failure of the uprising of the working class in 1905-06, when the punitive
expeditions proved the loyalty of the army to the throne. Consequently the
attitude of the army in the memorable days of the March revolution was a
great surprise to them. At the same time they attributed to themselves the
lion share in the overthrow, presumably on the ground that masses follow
leaders and the Constitutional \ Democrats were the only ones who had a
chance for open protest in the Duma and made use of it. This delusion led
to a series of tactical errors and cost them dearly. In all elections they
polled a comparatively small vote. Trying to save Russia for the Allies
they failed to meet the Russian Socialists on their own ground and were