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19X73 MY INTERVIEW WITH RIZOV 461
political relations with the Scandinavian countries than
have existed up to now; also at the present time we
are in need of many commodities which Sweden alone
can supply; I am going from here to Christiania; I
have just come from Copenhagen ; I am travelling under
an assumed name and they do not even know my
address at the German Legation." I looked at the
speaker with such an obviously incredulous expression
on my face that he began to stammer and to become
confused; then he resumed his political thesis.
He said absolutely nothing definite; his opinion was
that the present war between Bulgaria and Russia
was an absolutely abnormal thing which ought to
end as quickly as possible. The Bulgarians had had
(I am still quoting Rizov) plausible reasons to bear
malice against official Russia; but in their hearts they
nursed unalterable sympathy for the Russian people;
it was a question of both sides facilitating a
reconciliation; would not this be the moment to begin
entirely confidential conversations which might end in
actual negotiations?
While Rizov was retailing all this I kept completely
silent, always in expectation of some concrete
suggestion which did not come. At last, disconcerted by my
silence and my expression, Rizov stopped and after a
short pause said: "Could I hope, Monsieur, that you
will transmit to Petrograd all that I have just told you ? "
"Listen to me, M. Rizov," was my reply; "you have
been in the diplomatic service long enough to understand
that it is my duty to inform M. Pokrovsky of your
visit and of all that I have heard from you; only I wish
to warn you that I shall not add any personal opinion
thereto." " But may I hope that in Petrograd they will
attach to my proceeding the significance it deserves, and
that they will send me an answer through you ? " " Ah !
as to that," I replied, " I can make no promises
whatever. You yourself informed me that this proceeding
of yours is a personal one. Now, however interesting
the opinions and words of M. Rizov may be, it is
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