April 2, 1917
Wilson delivers his Declaration of War. Kennan states; “In his message to Congress of April 2, calling for a declaration of war, the President drew sharply the ideological issue between democracy and autocracy. He denied the possibility of any fruitful participation in international life by autocratic governments. (“No autocratic government could be trusted to keep faith or observe it covenants’). He then turned, with obvious relief and pleasure, to the Russian situation, and went on to say:
Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was known by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the intimate relationships of her people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude towards life. The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power; was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their naïve majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice, and for peace. Here is a fit partner for a league of honour.”
April 3, 1918
Kennan relates: “…everything possible was done to bring assistance and encouragement to the Provisional Government. One of the principle efforts in this direction was the extension of credit. As early as April 3, even prior to our entry in the war, Francis was authorized to off American governmental credits to the new Russian Regime. In pursuance of this offer, a series of credits totally $325 million were eventually extended at various times during the period of tenure of the Provisional Government. Against these credits, $187,729,750 was actually used…In addition to this financial assistance, numbers of Americans were sent to Russia in 1917 in the belief that their presence would be useful either in giving inspiration and encouragement to the Provisional Government or in helping it to cope with the various technical problems thought to be associated with its war effort.”
April 2-5, 1917
Burton J. Hendrick states: “An England that had been saying harsh things of the United States for nearly two years now suddenly changed it’s attitude. Both houses of Parliament held commemorative sessions in honour of America’s participation; in the Commons Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith, and other leaders welcomed their new allies, and in the Upper Chamber, Lord Curzon, Lord Bryce…The Stars and Stripes almost instantaneously broke out on private dwellings, shops, hotels, and theaters…Churches and cathedrals gave special services in honour of American intervention, and the King and the President began to figure side by side in the prayer books…The Presidents address before Congress was praised as on of the most eloquent and statesmanlike utterances in history. Special editions of this heartening document had a rapid sale; it was read in school houses, churches, and at public gatherings, and it became a most influential force in uplifting the hopes of the Allies…”
In a letter to Frank N. Doubleday, Ambassador Page described the American Dedicatory Service at St. Pauls which he arranged; “The royal family came, the Government came, the Allied diplomats came, my Lords and Ladies came, on hundred wounded American (Canadian) soldiers came—the pick of the Kingdom; my Navy and Army staff went in full uniform, the Stars and Stripes hung before the altar, a double brass band played the Star Spangled Banner and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and an American bishop (Brentt) preached a red-hot American sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury delivered the benediction; and (for the first time in English history) a foreign flag (the Stars and Stripes) flew over the Houses of Parliament. It was the biggest occasion, so they say, that St. Paul’s ever had…”
April 5, 1917
Morrow tells us; “In an almost childlike mood of optimism, Nicholas revealed his hopes, writing in his diary in his elegant hand on 5 April 1915: ‘I began to pack the belongings which I shall take with me, if fate wills that I shall take with me to England.” His two daughters, Olga and Tatiana, with the hopefulness of youth were seen by one of the household, Sestra Effrossina, their nurse, busying themselves, making ‘everything ready for England.’”