7. Another Russian of high yank, a member of the Duma and a good friend of Sazonoff, told me later about the secret Crown Council held; with the Tsar presiding, in February, 1914; moreover, I obtained' corroboration from other Russian sources mentioned in my "Historical Tables," of the following: At this Crown! Council Sazonoff made an address wherein he suggested to the Tsar to seize Constantinople, which, since the Triple Alliance would not acquiesce in it, would cause a wat against Germany and Aus-trio. He added that Italy would break away from these two, in the natural course of events; that France was to be trusted absolute ly and England probably.
The Tsar had agreed, it was said, and given orders to take the necessary preliminary steps. The Russian Finance Minister Count Kokovzeff, wrote to the Tsar advising against this course—I was informed of this by Count Mirbach after the peace of Brest-Litovsk—recommending a firm union with Germany, and warning aguinst war, which, he—said, would be unfavourable to Russia and lead to revolution and thy fall of the dynasty, The Tsar did not follow this advice, but pushed toward war.
The same gentleman told me this: Z'wo days after the outbreak of war he had been invited by Sazonofft to breakfast. The latter came up to him, beaming with joy, and, rubbing his hands together, asked: "Come now, my. dear Baron, you must admit that I have chosen the moment for war excel lently, haven't I?" When the Baron, rather worried, asked him what stand England would take the Minister smote his pocket and, with a sly wink, whispered have something in my pocket which, within the next few weeks, will bring joy to all Russia and astound the entire world; I have received the English promise that England will go with Russia against Germany 9. Russian prisoners belonging to the Siberian Corps, who were taken in East Prussia, said that they had been transported by rail in the Summer of 1913, to the vicinity of Moscow, since manceuvres were to be held there by the Tsar. The manceuvres did not take place, but the troops were not taken back. They were stationed for the winter in the vicinity of Moscow. In the summer of 1914 they were brought forward to the vicinity of Vilna. since big manceuvres were to be held there by the Tsar; at and near Vilna they were deployed and then, suddenly, the sharp cartridges (war ammunition) were distributed and they were informed that there was a war against Germany; they were unable to say why and wherefore.
10. In a report, made public in the press, dewing the winter of 1914-1915, by an American, concerning his trip through the Caucasus in the Spring of 1914, the following was stated: When he arrived in the Caucasus, at the beginning of May, 1914, he met while on his way to Tiflis, long columns of troops of all arms, in war equipment. He had feared that a revolt had broken out in the Caucasus. When he made inquiries of the authorities at Tiflis, while having his passport inspect ed, he received the quieting news peaceful, at he might travel that the Feira ce quite wheresoever he wished, that what he had seen had to do only with practice marching and maneuvres At the close of his trip at the end of May, 1914, he wished to embark at a Caucasian port, but all the vessels there-were s0 filled with troops that only after much
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.