called on him as usual and towards noon accompanied him to the office of Národní Listy. He told me that he was expecting his arrest very soon and that perhaps it would take place on the very next day. Three days later, on July 12, 1915, he was arrested and taken to Vienna.
(c) My Escape
19
The first period of the activity of the “Maffia,” which was perhaps the most important as far as our movement abroad was concerned, may be regarded as culminating with the arrest of these three members. I had arranged with Rašín what was to be done after the arrest of Kramář and Scheiner, and we had previously decided by an agreement with Šámal and Scheiner how things were to proceed in the case of Scheiner’s arrest, which we were expecting. For this eventuality Scheiner had indicated that V. Štěpánek was to replace him as a representative of the Sokol organization. Šámal, therefore, at once took steps for Štěpánek to be informed so that he could take part in the further work of the “Maffia.”
After the arrest of Kramář and Scheiner we had several further important meetings of the “Maffia” at which I communicated the reports received from Geneva after Masaryk’s return from Paris and London in May 1915, together with his requests that somebody should join him and that he should receive permission to take open action.
Masaryk’s message, after his return from Paris and London, was worded in more emphatic terms than before. He said that it would be a mistake to wait for the Russians. They had no political plan, there was disorder and obvious treachery in their army, chaos in their administration, and they were completely indifferent to our cause. Count Benckendorff, the Russian Ambassador in London, whom Masaryk visited, had never seen a racial map of Austria-Hungary before Masaryk showed him one. Such was the ignorance of those in high places. It was clear that the war would be a long one, decisive action was necessary, and we must come out into the open. Masaryk further stated that he had discussed matters with the entourage of Delcassé and Grey and had handed them his memoranda, but that he had not spoken with the Ministers themselves.
