I was told that the delegates from the soviets had the authority to vouch for them in this regard, for they say unofficially that the matter had been previously taken up by Russian and German diplomacy.  So a telegram was sent by Joffe to Lenine, who answered, “measures taken.”  Then the Brest-Litovsk sale commenced.

This evidently was not fulfilled, although I have heard that there is certain movement on the part of Germans, especially amongst the war prisoners.  I consider it impracticable.  At present the military situation is as follows:  the Czechs are nearing the Samara-Zlatoust line; in Siberia—­there is a very big movement of Czech war prisoners and Russians—­to assist the Czechs in their task of reaching the Pacific.  Battles are raging on the Volga front.  It is evident that the salvation of the Family cannot come from Germany, for there would not be any place and way to take the Emperor out of Tobolsk, but by way of the Trans-Siberian,—­a long journey with no possibilities of getting out of this country.  The local Bolsheviki are beyond the control of the centers.  They want to “govern” themselves—­evidently with no orders and particularly confidential (I think this one would be such) would not be executed.

The Ekaterinburg organization is weak as I already wrote you.  First because the organization is in Ekaterinburg and the Emperor in Tobolsk.

Who are these people?  They want first of all, and altogether, restitution for the sake of getting good positions for valuable services rendered the Family.  They all see that the restitution is problematic,—­so their desire is not strong.  They act weakly, they think lazily, they move with an agony of indifference.  All that they have done is certainly known to Kobylinsky and—­to the Commissaries.  And if they are not yet all arrested—­it is because the sovietists want to know their actions.  If the damned lack of organization, that we all are suffering from, can be noticed in our present life—­it is ideally clearly seen in the Ekaterinburg circles.  The Princess G. and others are of the same sort; dully thinking, believing in and hoping for marvels and miracles, trying to look busy and tired.  They gossip about each other, they are ready to sink each other in a spoonful of water.  Now what is their plan?  They haven’t any,—­at least, nothing definite.  They all say vaguely “we are going to buy out Col.  Kobylinsky and the sentinels and the Bolsheviki.”  All right.  Supposing there were someone among them who would go and try this buying proposition?  Supposing they were to buy Kobylinsky, and the sentinels and the Bolsheviki.  What will they do with the Emperor?  Against them there would be the whole world.  There is no way for the Ekaterinburg people to get him out, just as there is no way for the Germans.  All is closed for them, except a crazy scheme of taking the Family into the interior, which I do not consider feasible.  It is impossible.  I was told to watch all that I could in connection with the move in Tumen; I was instructed to watch the Ekaterinburg organization and the Princess.  I hope I am not considered a member of this organization as it is a failure, and I hate to participate in deadborn adventures.