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5o4 IN SPAIN AND IN EXILE [chap. xxv.
grow and become worse, and the Government is
powerless to remedy them, for it personifies the tyranny of
an extreme party and only pursues the ends of that
party.
" Under the circumstances I consider it my duty as
an honest man to tell you this openly, and my duty as
a citizen to give up all service to the State until such
time as a lawful state of things is established in Russia,
that is to say until the Soviet is abolished, the Duma
convened and the Provisional Government returns to
power such as it was constituted at the beginning.
" From to-day I no longer consider myself as Russian
Ambassador in Spain. I do not solicit, nor would I
accept any pension from the present Government.
" My decision will be communicated by me to the
Spanish Government, and the contents of this telegram
to the allied Ambassadors.—(Signed) Nekludoff."
Two days after the sending of the above-quoted
telegram, to which of course I received no reply, His
Majesty Alfonso XIII. arrived at San Sebastian from
Santander, and was kind enough to grant me an audience
of farewell. Although he did not conceal his displeasure
at my abrupt decision, the King deigned to be much
interested in me, and to show me much kindness. He
kept me for some time, and I was able to explain to him
all the reasons which had forced me to leave the service.
We discussed what was happening in my unhappy
country, and I had an opportunity of noticing the
fairness of the King’s views, his moderation and great
cleverness. This last audience, incorporating itself with
the recollection of the first, revived my regret at
resigning my appointment to a Sovereign so eminently
congenial to me.
Queen Marie Christina, with whom I had had the
honour of talking at some length not long before, also
wished to receive me before my departure. This time,
as on the first occasion, 1 was charmed by the
conversation of the ex-Regent, by her thorough knowledge of
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