from Russia, and if his revolution succeeded he would force Europe to follow him, whether we would or not.  But meanwhile there was a great deal of scepticism about, and I pointed out to him that we should not ourselves undertake any imitation of the Russian methods, and did not wish for any interference with our own internal affairs:  this we must strictly forbid.  If he persisted in endeavouring to carry out this Utopian plan of grafting his ideas on ourselves, he had better go back home by the next train, for there could be no question of making peace.  Hr.  Joffe looked at me in astonishment with his soft eyes, was silent for a while, and then, in a kindly, almost imploring tone that I shall never forget, he said:  ’Still, I hope we may yet be able to raise the revolution in your country too.’

“We shall hardly need any assistance from the good Joffe, I fancy, in bringing about a revolution among ourselves; the people will manage that, if the Entente persist in refusing to come to terms.

“They are strange creatures, these Bolsheviks.  They talk of freedom and the reconciliation of the peoples of the world, of peace and unity, and withal they are said to be the most cruel tyrants history has ever known.  They are simply exterminating the bourgeoisie, and their arguments are machine guns and the gallows.  My talk to-day with Joffe has shown me that these people are not honest, and in falsity surpass all that cunning diplomacy has been accused of, for to oppress decent citizens in this fashion and then talk at the same time of the universal blessing of freedom—­it is sheer lying.

“December 21, 1917.—­I went with all my party to lunch at noon with the Prince of Bavaria.  He lives in a little bit of a palace half an hour by car from Brest.  He seems to be much occupied with military matters, and is very busy.

“I spent the first night in the train, and while we were at breakfast our people moved in with the luggage to our residence.  We are in a small house, where I live with all the Austro-Hungarian party, quite close to the officers’ casino, and there is every comfort that could be wished for here.  I spent the afternoon at work with my people, and in the evening there was a meeting of the delegates of the three Powers.  This evening I had the first talk with Kuehlmann alone, and at once declared positively that the Russians would propose a general peace, and that we must accept it.  Kuehlmann is half disposed to take my view himself; the formula, of course, will be ’no party to demand annexations or indemnities’; then, if the Entente agree, we shall have an end of all this suffering.  But, alas! it is hardly likely that they will.