In debates on matters of principle, my position was as much superior to that of Kühlmann as, in matters of military fact, General Hoffmann鈥檚 was superior to mine. That is why the General was trying so impatiently to reduce all questions to the comparative strength of our forces, whereas Kühlmann was making futile attempts to make a peace based on the war-map look as if it were based on principle. On one occasion, to soften the impression made by Hoffmann鈥檚 speeches, Kühlmann said that a soldier inevitably expressed himself more pungently than a diplomatist. I replied that we members of the Russian delegation do not belong to the diplomatic school, but consider our selves rather as soldiers of the revolution鈥� and consequently preferred the rough language of the soldier.

So the matter under discussion was no longer the democratic right of asylum, but the right of residence in Germany on an exceptional basis. The lesson in democracy that my opponents were going to accord me was given a restrictive interpretation at the very outset. But this was not the end of it. A few days later I received a new telegraphic inquiry: would I agree to come to Germany only for purposes of medical treatment? I wired in reply: I request that I be given at least the possibility of staying in Germany for a course of treatment absolutely necessary for my health.鈥�