The bloody nightmare we have lived in these last three years has deprived us not only of ours senses but even our humanity.
In a woman suffering from hopeless love there is something comic, unworthy. What kind of woman is it who gives up hope? And even the woman who idolizes her man also presents something of a sorry sight. Were Dante and Beatrice to have switched their roles, we would never have had the Divine Comedy.
Forgive me for disturbing you, but I don't know, how we are going to live further. We would live a little bit togetger. Maybe that's a weakness, but if this war continues, I will be able to take revenge on them. I know that I'm calling you into a terrible life, but I can not help calling out, only because of you I'm holding on. I need you as air, without you there is nothing to breathe.
I am deeply concerned by this Russian fickleness, especially at such a fateful moment. I believe it is their exclusively psychological intelligence, their critical irony, which has made their characters so malleable. They take pleasure from strange, difficult and confusing situations, thriving on the risk and romance and enjoying their victories over others, who they mercilessly ridicule and play with like a marionette pulling at strings. See more
The weather is dreadful; the cold penetrates our chambers. We are each apportioned a ration of sugar and firewood. The Tsar pretends not to notice the frightful breaches of discipline committed by the soldiers. When he recently passed a guard the latter remained prostrate and continued smoking. On another occasion, an officer, rather than taking the hand offered to him by the Tsar, stepped away from him. See more
It is most upsetting to see Lenin’s riotous faction corrupting the revolution. In Petrograd, Kronstadt and some other cities it seems as if civil war has already begun. Separatist regiments are being formed ad hoc and without authorization in Kiev. What nightmares await us if all the nationalities and peoples of Russia will take such steps in pursuit of their “self-determination”!
May I not say that I should like very much to be excused from the necessity of seeing Mr. Bakhmeteff? I would be very much obliged if you would advise me as to whether it is diplomatically necessary that I should in the circumstances. See more
Since I last wrote we have passed through another crisis, provoked by Miliukoff's note to the Allied Governments on the subject of the war. That note was the result of a compromise between Kerensky's and Miliukoff's supporters. It was accepted and approved by the former in return for the consent of the latter to the communication to the Allies of the Government's proclamation disavowing all ideas of the acquisition of territory by force. Miliukoff has throughout contended that Russia must acquire possession both of Con- stantinople and the Straits, and for this reason, as well as out of regard for the engagements already entered into by Russia with the Allies, has persistently refused to suggest a revision of existing agreements. See more
To my telegram of the 3rd May, Ribot has replied by asking Albert Thomas and myself to give him our respective opinions.
"Draw up your argument," Albert Thomas said to me; I'll then draw up mine and we'll send them as they are to the Government."
These are my views See more
During the night it again got worse; during the day squalls came up, but the sun was shining and there was a wet snow. During the morning I took a walk while Alexei played on the Island. Afterwards, I gave him a lesson in geography. During the day we worked on the ponds. Yesterday the ice successfully melted. The evening went as usual.