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1917] I AM TRANSFERRED TO MADRID 493
too near Russia, too much overrun by the most extreme
Russian elements; he was aware of my irreconcilability
on certain principles, and he feared a clash of opinions
which might create difficulties for the Foreign Office.
My appointment as Ambassador to Spain constituted
undeniable promotion, and at the same time it afforded
me a haven till happier days should dawn. Moreover,
the post in Madrid might become a most important one
in the event of negotiations for universal peace. I fully
appreciated these friendly intentions. As to the post in
Stockholm, Miliukoff was giving that to an intimate
friend, our Minister to Christiania, who had a shrewd
and adaptable mind quite capable of coming to terms
with all the Russian elements who had, or thought they
had, a voice in the matter of our relations with Sweden.
I had only just accepted the appointment, and
thanked Miliukoff, when sad news arrived from
Petrograd, the taking up of arms of the Soviet of Petrograd—
the first taking up of arms of the Bolsheviks we can
now say—directed against the moderate elements of the
Provisional Government and especially against their
patriotic point of view on the questions and the objects
of the war. The garrison of Petrograd—already called
" the Red Guard "—held an armed demonstration against
certain Ministers to the watchword of " peace without
annexations or indemnities." The movement was
directed more particularly against Miliukoff, who on
that day displayed admirable personal courage and
went down to the Square to harangue the soldiery,
loudly upholding his principles about the objects of the
war—and first and foremost the necessity for Russia to
possess the Straits. The demonstration continued
throughout the night, and the next day the Council of
Ministers of the Provisional Government broke up.
The majority, with Kerensky at the head, consented to
subordinate their policy to the needs of the " people."
Thus Miliukoff and his friends were turned out. General
Korniloff—a hero sans peur et sans reproche, and a
proficient upholder of the most advanced political views
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