“I have dispatched a trustworthy agent to the outer provinces in order to ascertain the exact state of feeling there.  He reports that all are against the Bolsheviks except the Bolsheviks themselves.  The entire body of citizens, peasants—­in a word, everyone with any possessions at all—­trembles at the thought of these red robbers, and wishes to go over to Germany.  The terrorism of Lenin is said to be indescribable, and in Petersburg all are absolutely longing for the entry of the German troops to deliver them.

“January 3, 1918.—­Return to Brest.

“On the way, at 6 P.M., I received, at a station, the following telegram, in code, from Baron Gautsch, who had remained at Brest: 

“’Russian delegation received following telegram from Petersburg this morning:  To General Hoffmann.  For the representatives of the German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish delegations.  The Government of the Russian Republic considers it necessary to carry on the further negotiations on neutral ground, and proposes removing to Stockholm.  Regarding attitude to the proposals as formulated by the German and Austro-Hungarian delegation in Points 1 and 2, the Government of the Russian Republic and the Pan-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Councils of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’ Deputies consider, in entire agreement with the view expressed by our delegation, that the proposals are contrary to the principle of national self-determination, even in the restricted form in which it appears in Point 3 of the reply given by the Four Powers on the 12th ult.  President of the Russian Delegation, A. Joffe.”  Major Brinkmann has communicated this by telephone to the German delegation, already on the way here.  Herr von Kuehlmann has sent a telephone message in return that he is continuing the journey, and will arrive at Brest this evening.’

“I also went on of course, considering this manoeuvre on the part of the Russians as rather in the nature of bluffing.  If they do not come, then we can treat with the Ukrainians, who should be in Brest by now.

“In Vienna I saw, among politicians, Baernreither, Hauser, Wekerle, Seidler, and some few others.  The opinion of almost all may be summed up as follows:  ’Peace must be arranged, but a separate peace without Germany is impossible.’

“No one has told me how I am to manage it if neither Germany nor Russia will listen to reason.

“January 4, 1918.—­Fearful snowstorm in the night; the heating apparatus in the train was frozen, and the journey consequently far from pleasant.  On awaking early at Brest the trains of the Bulgarians and Turks were standing on adjacent sidings.  Weather magnificent now:  cold, and the air as at St. Moritz.  I went across to Kuehlmann, had breakfast with him, and talked over events in Berlin.  There seems to have been desperate excitement there.  Kuehlmann suggested to Ludendorff