tion of the Ukraine from Russia and its evident subordination to Germany and Austria-Hungary; and, finally—as it appeared in Western Europe—in the systematic exertion of political influence upon the Bolshevik Government in Russia, formed the greatest and indeed the decisive factor in convincing the Allies that there must now be no wavering whatever, that all reservations and illusions must be abandoned, and there must be a concerted effort for victory on the military fronts. We saw how the Eastern events and the peace negotiations with Russia were reflected in the speeches of Lloyd George, Wilson, and Pichon, in which they emphasized their own war aims, and made it quite clear that the Allies would not recognize the results which threatened to emerge from the negotiations at Brest-Litovsk.
In April and May 1918 the two Anglo-Saxon powers definitely associated themselves with Clemenceau’s policy. The decisive factor in bringing about this change consisted of all these events; but our own political and military movement, as we shall soon see, helped to a large extent in bringing about this decision.
(b) The Decree for the Establishment of our Army in France
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Towards the end of the first half of October I returned from Rome to Paris, and then proceeded to London on October 20th, as I had received an urgent summons from those in charge of our interests there. After Masaryk’s departure to Russia our movement in England centred in a Press Bureau, directed as a branch of the National Council by Vladimir Nosek, in accordance with my instructions from Paris. Olga Masaryk acted as a direct link between Professor Masaryk and our London representatives, and the London colony, under the leadership of Sýkora, Kopecký, and Pochobradský, helped us in our work.
The progress made by our movement in France, Italy, and Russia, taken into conjunction with the state of affairs in England, demanded a more active procedure on the part of the National Council in London. Messages from Wickham Steed and Dr. Seton Watson had repeatedly urged me to take steps in this direction. My negotiations for an army in France
