A letter written by Nicholas II. to President Poincaré in the Spring of
1916 has recently been made public. Its interest lies in its expression
of absolute loyalty to the Allies. It is as follows:
DEAR AND EXALTED FRIEND: At a moment when France and Russia are
more closely bound than ever in the unprecedented struggle of
which they are supporting the weight with their faithful allies,
it has been a great pleasure to me to see the arrival of members
of the French Government in Russia. I have had much pleasure in
once again meeting M. Viviani, whom I already know, and in
recalling the last interview that I had with you. At the time
our one idea was to insure the peaceful development of our two
countries, while the enemy was already preparing his attack
against the peace of Europe in the hope of securing the hegemony
of the world. It also gives me great pleasure to meet M. Albert
Thomas, the Minister of Munitions, whose talents have rendered
such great services to his country and to the cause of the
Allies.
Having always attached great importance to an intimate
collaboration between the two Governments, I attach even greater
importance to this collaboration at the present time, now that
we are thoroughly determined only to disarm by common agreement
after gaining the final victory. It is therefore more necessary
to co-ordinate our effort in order that our common action may be
more effective. It is unquestionable that each of the Allies is
animated by a single desire--that of placing its fullest effort
at the disposal of the common cause.
It is with this desire that my Government and my officers have
devotedly studied, in association with members of the French
Government, the methods that should be taken to insure that the
greatest possible assistance should be given to our various
allies. I hope, consequently, that M. Viviani and M. Thomas will
leave here with the absolute conviction that so far as it is
materially possible Russia will hesitate before no sacrifice to
insure the triumph of the allied cause at the earliest possible
moment. My warmest wishes are that our united efforts may soon
be crowned with the most striking success, and I am anxious to
express to you my admiration of France, which has covered itself
with fresh glory in the heroic defense of Verdun.
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