speak for the first time. There was little chance of personal intercourse, though we had a number of mutual friends. After the war, not long before his death, he sent me the full programme of a lecturing tour which he intended to carry out in Europe, and it was his intention to deliver a whole series of political addresses in Bohemia.
In my work I had, as personal assistants, Mr. Pergler who had met me at Vancouver; and, as I soon needed a literary secretary, Mr. Cisař who had received mathematical, scientific and literary training. Together with Pergler he did much useful propaganda. Everywhere in the vast country we made friends and gained well-wishers of whom I must mention, at least, one—Mr. Townsend, a young naval officer and son of a former First Secretary of the American Embassy in Paris. Notwithstanding fatal illness—influenza killed him—he worked for us to the last.
Diplomatic Relations.
The democratic character of our propaganda did not by any means exclude active relations with Ambassadors and Ministers. Through them I had to second the work of Beneš and Štefánik in Europe, and all of them rendered me valuable service. It is fitting to give the first place to the French Ambassador, M. Jusserand, who had been many years at Washington, knew everybody, was known to everybody and, of all the Ambassadors, had the greatest influence on American statesmen and President Wilson. Both by reason of his political experience and literary culture—he wrote in English as well as in French—he had become a recognized authority in diplomatic circles and in Washington society. We had besides to negotiate with the French Military Mission and with Frenchmen who came to America on special service.
With the British I had frequent and very pleasant intercourse. At that time Mr. Hohler, the Counsellor of Embassy, who knew Constantinople and Petrograd, was representing the Ambassador; and when Lord Reading came to Washington he gave us generous support. Sir William Wiseman, whom I had known in England, was also helpful in many matters as head of the British Intelligence Service. Count Cellere, the Italian Ambassador, understood our position, realized the moral and political significance of our endeavour to form a Legion among our prisoners in Italy for the fight against Austria, and therefore did all he could for us. In Baron Cartier,
