summer (I acted as translator during Radek's conversations
with the American Ambassador and Mr. Lindley). Eliava is
a fine, honest fellow, and had a very difficult time in
Vologda where the large colony of foreign embassies and
missions naturally became the centre of disaffection in a
district which at the time was full of inflammable material. I
remember when we parted from him, Radek said to me that
he hardly thought he would see him alive again. He told me
he had left Vologda some three months ago and was now
going to Turkestan. He did not disguise the resentment
he felt towards M. Noulens (the French Ambassador) who,
he thought, had stood in the way of agreement last year, but
said that he had nothing whatever to say against Lindley.


At last there was a little stir in the raised presidium, and the
meeting began. When I saw the lean, long-haired Avanesov
take his place as secretary, and Sverdlov, the president, lean
forward a little, ring his bell, and announce that the meeting
was open and that "Comrade Chicherin has the word," I
could hardly believe that I had been away six months.


Chicherin's speech took the form of a general report on the
international situation. He spoke a little more clearly than he
was used to do, but even so I had to walk round to a place
close under the tribune before I could hear him. He
sketched the history of the various steps the Soviet
Government has taken in trying to secure peace, even
including such minor "peace offensives" as Litvinov's