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t9i6] GENERAL POLIVANOFF ON RUMANIA 387
I thought my chief rather thin and tired, but full of
energy and hope. The black time of 1915 seemed to
be definitely over. The day of my arrival the news
of the capture of Erzerum had come through; every
one was most hopeful about the campaign which
was to open in the summer against Germany and
Austria; the enormous task of the reorganisation of our
military forces was being completed; munitions were
plentiful, and the capital was swarming with troops of
splendid appearance.
M. Sazonoff entirely approved of my point of view on
the questions of the Aland Islands and the agitation of
the Swedish Activists ; there was no immediate or very
grave danger, but it was necessary to make reasonable
concessions to the Swedes.
The next morning I went to see General Polivanoff.
I found, as ever, a charming welcome and a right and
clear comprehension of the questions I came to discuss.
The General approved of all my suggestions and begged
me to confer, as to the details, with General Beliaieff,
Chief of the General Staff, and General Lukomsky,
Director of Ordnance.
When we had thoroughly discussed the Swedish
question, I, relying on my good personal relations with
Polivanoff, put the following question to him: "Tell
me, General, if you think you can do so, what stage
have our parleyings with Rumania reached ? Abroad,
and even here, every one seems to be expecting
Rumania’s immediate entry into the war on our side.
The Emperor’s recent journey to South Russia is
universally looked on as the sign of an approaching alliance
of arms—and possibly of a family one ; how do matters
really stand ? "
" I can tell you quite frankly," said the General,
" that I know nothing; one day every one is for the
alliance; the next day it appears to be out of the
question or postponed sine die. But I will tell you quite as
frankly that for my own part I am not at all keen about
this alliance which every one desires so ardently."
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