- Project Runeberg -  Diplomatic Reminiscences before and during the World War, 1911-1917 /
509

(1920) [MARC] Author: Anatolij Nekljudov - Tema: Russia, War
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MY COLLEAGUES

509

The Court left Madrid for La-Granja immediately
after my reception. I stayed in town for another three
weeks in order to become thoroughly acquainted with
the duties (as few in number as they were simple) of my
new post and with my colleagues, I mean more
especially my allied colleagues. France’s Ambassador was
M. Geoffray, a very distinguished and clever man, who,
during a period of extreme difficulty for the
representation of the Republic in Spain, managed to uphold the
French flag while not offending Spanish susceptibilities,
which the Germans would have been ready to enflame
at any favourable opportunity. Great Britain’s
Ambassador, Sir Arthur Hardinge, had been a colleague of
mine in Constantinople, where we had both been
Secretaries to the Embassies; he had an original and
quick mind, so that my association with him was as
pleasant as it was useful. At San Sebastian I became
very intimate with my Italian colleague, Count
Bonin-Longare, a true diplomat, whose great tact and broad
views I have always admired. Mr. Willard, United
States Ambassador, with his sound, upright and serious
mind,completed the quartette of my congenial colleagues.
All these colleagues hesitated to start for the summer
season at San Sebastian, for revolutionary movements
were expected in Barcelona, Bilbao and even Madrid,
and so the Government remained in the capital. But at
last we had to flee from the terrific heat of Castile,
quite torrid in summer, and to go to San Sebastian
about the 20th July. And a few weeks later, when
the Court and the Government were in Santander and
the Diplomatic Corps at San Sebastian, the dreaded
disorders did indeed break out. Dato’s Government
opposed a bold front, displayed much energy, but did
not resort to useless reprisals, so that order was soon
restored, except in Catalonia, where political unrest has
become chronic.

But I will refrain from formulating judgments on
the political situation of a country to which I paid but
a fleeting visit.

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