was equally silent with regard to the
land question and the socialization of industry.

Evidently the Provisional Government desired to confine itself as closely
as possible to political democracy, and to leave fundamental economic
reform to be attended to by the Constituent Assembly. If that were its
purpose, it would have helped matters to have had the purpose clearly
stated and not merely left to inference. But whatever the shortcomings of
its first official statements, the actual program of the Provisional
Government during the first weeks was far more satisfactory and afforded
room for great hope. On March 21st the constitution of Finland was
restored. On the following day amnesty was granted to all political and
religious offenders. Within a few days freedom and self-government were
granted to Poland, subject to the ratification of the Constituent Assembly.
At the same time all laws discriminating against the Jews were repealed by
the following decree:

All existing legal restrictions upon the rights of Russian citizens, based
upon faith, religious teaching, or nationality, are revoked. In accordance
with this, we hereby repeal all laws existing in Russia as a whole, as well
as for separate localities, concerning:

1. Selection of place of residence and change of residence.

2. Acquiring rights of ownership and other material rights in all
kinds of movable property and real estate, and likewise in the
possession of, the use and managing of all property, or receiving
such for security.

3. Engaging in all kinds of trades, commerce, and industry, not
excepting mining; also equal participation in the bidding for
government contracts, deliveries, and in public auctions.

4. Participation in joint-stock and other commercial or industrial
companies and partnerships, and also employment in these companies
and partnerships in all kinds of positions, either by elections or
by employment.

5. Employment of servants, salesmen, foremen, laborers, and trade
apprentices.

6. Entering the government service, civil as well as military, and
the grade or condition of such service; participation in the
elections for the institutions for local self-government, and all
kinds of public institutions; serving in all kinds of positions of
government and public establishments, as well as the prosecution
of the duties connected with such positions.