Moscow State Conference

The Moscow State Conference, held in August 1917, was convened by Alexander Kerensky to bolster his authority with a representative body. It included members of the Duma, soviets, local authorities, trade unions, and business interests. The conference highlighted a significant division regarding the ongoing war. Left-leaning parties advocated for peace without annexations but stressed the need for defense until peace was achieved, emphasizing army democratization. The Bolsheviks, absent from the conference, called for immediate peace and accused other parties of being warmongers. Conversely, a growing right-wing faction pushed for the restoration of traditional military discipline, believing national defense was paramount for internal reforms.1