that all other arrangements with him should be made by Dr. Šámal and Dr. Scheiner. Dr. Kramář carried out these arrangements, but the instructions which he gave Dürich were in accordance with his own personal views of Russian affairs.
As Dürich already had some experience of Slavonic affairs and could speak Russian and French, we readily approved of him as being suitable for the mission proposed, especially if it involved work in Russia. He left Prague and went first to Vienna, from where, on May 9, 1915, he reached Zurich. Here he was awaited by Dr. Sychrava.
As far as I remember, it was during the discussions on Dürich’s mission and on our troops in Russia that the “Maffia” started its first debate on the Russian and Slavonic bearings of our policy.(12)
There was one detail in the discussion which caused me much concern. In the opinion of Dr. Kramář and, at that time, of Dr. Rašín, the future relations of our State to Russia would be so close that our soldiers would be able to perform their military service in some Russian garrison, while Russian soldiers would come to Bohemia for a similar purpose. I tried to imagine our troops joining the army in Siberia and I felt many misgivings. I therefore opposed the idea and, being the youngest member of the “Maffia” and a non-politician at that, I expressed my reservations in a very moderate and cautious manner. Finally, we agreed that at the moment there was no urgent necessity for the “Maffia” to discuss these points and that we should see later what could be done.
We left this meeting of the “Maffia” after having taken a number of decisions, all extremely important. We had agreed upon the wording of Masaryk’s proclamation; we had given our consent to his plan of taking open action at a date to be fixed; we had detailed Dürich for work abroad. We had also seriously considered the departure of Dr. Kramář and the question of sending journalists to co-operate with Masaryk. I at once transmitted the results of this meeting to Switzerland.
17
At that time I began to make a closer search for more political and journalistic helpers who would escape to Switzerland. I must admit that in this, just as in the money question, I met with a number of disappointments. I spent a long time looking for suitable persons. The men I wanted would have to
