CHAPTER III THE GERMAN TREATMENT OF OFFICIALS GERMAN VIOLENCE German violence, once it had been let loose by the declaration of war, forthwith became lost to restraint of every kind. It was not merely in pitched battles and amongst soldiers that it was displayed, but behind the lines, and in matters commonly supposed to be subject to diplomatic regulations. The official representatives of foreign countries had to suffer the consequences. By their conduct towards these distinguished people, German ministers and officials by their deliberate action proved to the civilised world that Germany is the land of cruelty no less than of insolence and rudeness. The ambassadors, consuls, etc., of the powers on which Germany had just declared war were exposed to infamous treatment, perhaps, in its way, worse than the acts of cruelty committed by the heads of the army and by the soldiers. Even people of royal blood, members of the Imperial family of Russia, were the victims of these outbursts of violence. In making this statement we must not exonerate any section of the German people. The members of the Government, no less than officials, are responsible, for none of the latter were censured, and this responsibility must be traced back to the Emperor. On the other hand, the German people, without distinction of class, deliberately associated themselves with these outbursts. HOW THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES BEHAVED TO THE DOWAGER EMPRESS OF RUSSIA The Dowager Empress of Russia, Marie Feodorovna, mother of the Emperor of Russia and sister of Queen Alexandra of England, was travelling through Germany on the day after the declaration of war. She had just left England and was going back to Russia. On the order of the German authorities— (1) Her Majesty was stopped at Berlin, where she was forbidden to continue her journey to Petrograd to meet her family. (2) She was given the choice of going to Copenhagen or of returning to London. The Dowager Empress had to obey. She went to Copenhagen and thence continued her journey. HOW THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES BEHAVED TO THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTIN OF RUSSIA AND HIS FAMILY