Russia of Consulates and all kinds of Commissions which tried to take along with them also Russian citizens under the pretext that they were German employees. In the meantime the question as to the attitude of new Germany toward Revolutionary Russia had at once bluntly arisen. The new German Government was composed one-half—the Scheidemannists—of our open enemies and the other half of the cowardly Independents, who yielded to the former in everything essential. On November 17 the German Government declared that it refused the bread which we sent for the starving populace of Germany. While the Berlin Soviet resolutely demanded the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with us and the return to Berlin of Comrade Yoffe, the German Government used all means of postponement, in order later definitely to prevent the re-establishment of relations. It made this conditional upon our definite recognition of this government and also upon our return of all German consulates. We declared that we recognized every de facto government, while the German consulates and Commissions would soon be returned to Germany in exchange for our Embassy and our Commissions. Nevertheless, the German Government continued to drag on this question without any definite decision. When we sent a delegation to the All-German Congress of Soviets, the Berlin Soviet and later also other German workers' Soviets greeted its approaching arrival with enthusiasm. But, despite all this, the German Government did not allow the delegation to enter Germany, and the military authorities on the other side of the boundary line forced the delegation back by aiming a machine gun at them, and sent them across the boundary in the most offensive manner. At the joint congress of the German Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, the German Government succeeded in getting recognition of the fact of the absence of our delegation. The reaction in Germany was rapidly advancing and on December 23 the German Government informed us of its refusal to allow us
25
