But neither would the Russian ultimatum have taken effect if Roumania had not consciously and willingly placed herself in a position in regard to military and political matters that gave her into Russia's power.

Bratianu said to me in one of our last interviews: "Russia is exactly like a blackcock dancing before the hens." In admitting the truth of this appropriate comparison, it must be added that the female of the simile, longing to be embraced, directly provoked violence.
For two years Bratianu had stirred up public opinion against us in his own country.

Had he not done so, and had he not finally bared his Russian frontier of all troops, the Russian ultimatum would have had no effect.
In Roumania the Avarescu Ministry was in power.

On February 24 Kuehlmann and I had our first interview alone with Avarescu at the castle of Prince Stirbey, at Buftia.

At this interview, which was very short, the sole topic was the Dobrudsha question.