On this day, 108 years ago, June 16, 1917 (April 27, 1917 in the lunar calendar), the Soviets held their first meeting. Soldiers, workers and farmers gathered to discuss Russia's future On June 16, 1917, the All-Russian Congress, composed of workers 'committees and soldiers' representatives, rejected Austria's unilateral peace proposal. Two spokespersons, War Minister Alexander Kerensky and Representative Freiro-I-Lenin, were the main figures in the entire debate. Kerensky, who had just returned from the front, strongly advocated continuing the attack, but Lenin favoured reconciliation and described getting involved in the war as "a betrayal of the victory of international socialism." Kerensky said Lenin had misinterpreted Marxism and believed that reconciliation would "be good will to the enemy."