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45°
164 RUSSIA IN DECLINE [chap, xxiii.
I have no doubt whatever that this bitter deception,
added to the disastrous memories of 1915, had a great
deal to do with the exasperation of Russian public
opinion. Revolutionary machinations were certainly
increased thereby, especially in the Army.
Whilst all this was going on in the war area, the
internal ferment of Russia and the disorder in the
Government were increasing in a truly alarming manner.
Each day we received grievous news through the
newspapers and from Russian travellers. First there was
Sturmer’s private secretary and factotum, an ex-agent
of the State Police and later on one of the editors of
the Novoye Vremya, who was arraigned for extortion
of a considerable sum from a rich trader. And M.
Sturmer still remained at his post! Then one heard
that the Empress Alexandra received the official reports
of the Ministers and appended her decisions thereto. What
one heard about the "good old man’s" exploits almost
exceeded the bounds of possibility; I feel sure that a
great number of these tales were untrue; but what
were left were enough to make every good Russian
patriot blush. Our Allies soon began to suspect that
Sturmer and his acolytes, whose actions at first sight
appeared to be absolutely disconnected, were in reality
aiming at a definite, though carefully concealed end, that
of leading Russia and the Emperor to a separate peace
with Germany. Were these suspicions well founded,
or did they emanate from the side of the Germans and
of the revolution which was being organised ? I cannot
say. In any case I will not answer for M. Sturmer.
The Duma was agitated by the startling defection
of Protopopoff. Summoned to Mohilev and having
succeeded in captivating the Emperor, he was, two
weeks later, appointed Home Secretary and as such
supreme head of the State Police. He accepted without
even asking the advice of his party; at first he made a
few confused declarations at the Duma, but very soon
revealed himself in his new post as an out-and-out
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