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firmation to my words at Halle, when I said that some yellow trade union leaders (both Severing and Richter happen to be old trade union bureaucrats) are far more noxious and meaner than even the White Guards of the "Orgesch." I did not want to be indebted to them, and consider that by my expression of thanks we have fully repaid all that "Comrades" Severing and Richter have done for us. …
The first steamer that was leaving Stettin for Russia was to sail on October 23. The German authorities were perforce obliged to reconcile themselves to our stay in Germany until that date. The "comrades" of the police presidium, however, continued to manifest increased nervousness on that account. In October 21 at 6 a.m. I was awakened in my room by a stout and very respectable looking gentleman. He turned out to be a new police commissary, hitherto unknown to me, and he was also of "social democratic" extraction. This respectable "comrade" told me briefly that orders had been received to send me by the first train—at 9 a.m.—to Stettin, contrary to the promise made by "comrade" Severing, the Prussian Minister for Home Affairs. This was too much. Our comrades were especially indignant at the fact that Comrade Losovsky and I were to travel in a slow train, stopping at every little station. Our comrades saw in this (I don't know whether they were justified or not) an attempt to create the chance for all sorts of nasty tricks being perpetrated against us at some little station. Thanks to the intervention of Rosenfeld, this order was withdrawn, and I was graciously allowed to remain in Berlin until October 23 and then proceed to Stettin (of course under the vigilant escort of detectives) by a fast train. "Comrade" Severing complained at the same time that the measures adopted by the detectives were taken without consulting him, and against his wishes. Early on the 23rd my comrades and I left Berlin. The station was filled with detectives. The old inhabitants of Berlin who had seen sights assured me that the detectives have never before been mobilised in such numbers. The same at the Stettin station, soldiers everywhere, detectives walking among them and pointing out to them myself and Losovsky, obviously desirous of making themselves as unpleasant to us. as possible. Thanks to Comrades Adolf Hoffmann
