ä 150-ãÖíàû ìëíäçéçãöçàü ÑàèãéåÄíàóÖëäàï éíçéòöçàâ åöüñì êéëëàöâ à ÅÖãúÉàÖâ THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND BELGIUM

Transcription

1 ä 150-ãÖíàû ìëíäçéçãöçàü ÑàèãéåÄíàóÖëäàï éíçéòöçàâ åöüñì êéëëàöâ à ÅÖãúÉàÖâ THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND BELGIUM

2 ééãäçãöçàö ÇëíìèãÖçàÖ 5 éí 1830 ÉéÑÄ Ñé éäíüåêúëäéâ êöçéãûñàà 9 åâê ÛÌ appleó Ì fl ÔÓÎËÚËÍ 11 íappleû ÌÓÂ Ì ÎÓ 13 éòó  ÍÓÌÓÏË ÂÒÍË ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌËfl 16 ç Ë ÍÛÎ ÚÛappleÌÂ Ó ÏÂÌ 19 ÅÂÎ Ëfl, ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌ fl ÒÚapple Ì... Îfl Ó ÌËý 21 ëåìíçéö ÇêÖåü: ÇéâçÄ à êöçéãûñàü 23 ùôóôâfl Ò appleóìâ ËÍ ÏË 25 ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ÍÒÔ ÚappleË ÌÚ ÓÚ flììóï ÔÓÎÓÊÂÌËË 28 ÑËÔÎÓÏ ÚËfl appleâá ÈÌÓ Ó appleâïâìë 30 ÅÂÎ Ëfl, ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌ fl ÒÚapple Ì... Îfl appleû Ëý. 33 íëìúëì ÒÚapple Ì ëó ÂÚÓ 35 ëéçöíëäàö ÉéÑõ 1935 ÇéáéÅçéÇãÖçàÖ éíçéòöçàâ 37 ïóîó Ì fl ÓÈÌ Ë ÓÒÎ ÎÂÌËÂ Ì ÔappleflÊÂÌÌÓÒÚË 39 íâôîó ÒÂapple ˆ Ó Î ý ÄÌÚ appleíúë 40 åûáí fláí, ÔÓÌflÚÌÈ ÒÂÏÛ ÏËappleÛ 42 éëçéåéüñöçàö éí äéååìçàáåä ÇéáÇêÄôÖçàÖ Ç ÖÇêéèì 45 êóòòëfl ÏÛÁÂÈÌý ÒÓ apple ÌËflý ÅÂÎ ËË 47 ÇÓÁ apple ÂÌË appleýë Ó 48 à ÒÌÓ ÏÛÁÍ : ÌÓ È Í appleëî ÓÌ Îfl ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple 49 ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍ fl ÒÍÛÎ ÔÚÛapple ˆÂÌÚapple åóòí 51 ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍË Çapple Ë ÂÁ Éapple Ìˈ êóòòëë 52 çó fl appleë Ë ÂÒÍ fl Á 54 èóòóî ÒÚ Ó Ì ÒÎÛÊ Â ÒÚapple Ì 55 íóapple Ó Îfl, ÔÓÒÚÓflÌÌ fl Á ÓÚ 57 ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ËÌ ÂÒÚˈËË êóòòëë 58 êóòòëèòíó- ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÂ Ó ÂÒÚ Ó appleûê 59 ÇÏÂÒÚ ÍÓÒÏÓÒ 60 áääãûóöçàö 62

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 7 FROM 1830 TO THE REVOLUTION 9 International policy 11 A difficult start 13 Exceptional economic ties 16 Our cultural exchanges 19 Belgium, land of welcome for some 21 THE TIME OF TROUBLES: WAR AND REVOLUTION 23 The epic tale of self-propelled guns 25 The Belgian expatriates in dire straits 28 A diplomacy of 'first things first' 30 Belgium, land of welcome for others 33 Tintin in the land of the Soviets 35 THE SOVIET ERA RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS 37 Cold War and détente 39 Human warmth in the Antarctic 40 Music: the universal language 42 LIBERATION FROM COMMUNISM - EUROPE REGAINED 45 Russia in our museums 47 The return of archives 48 And once again music: a new carillon in Saint Petersburg 49 A Belgian statue in Moscow 51 Médecins sans Frontières Belgium (Doctors Without Borders) in Russia 52 A new framework of international law 54 An embassy serving the country 55 Business my top priority 57 Belgian investments in Russia 58 The Belgo-Russian Friendship Society 59 Together in space 60 CONCLUSION 62

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5 ÇëíìèãÖçàÖ 5 ëúó ÔflÚ ÂÒflÚ ÎÂÚ ÔappleÓ ÎÓ Ò ÏÓÏÂÌÚ ÔappleË ÚËfl êóòòë ÔÂapple Ó Ó Î ÏËÒ- ÒËË äóappleóîâ ÒÚ ÅÂÎ ËË ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple- Ûapple Â, ÚÓ ÌÂÈ ÒÚÓÎˈ êóòòëèòíóè ËÏ- ÔÂappleËË. ç ËÌ fl Ò Ï appleú 1853 Ó, Ó Â Ì - Ë ÒÚapple Ì ÔÂappleÂÊËÎË ÔÓÚappleflÒÂÌËfl, Ë ÅÓ ÁÌ ÂÚ, ÒÍÓÎ ÍÓ Ëý ÎÓ, Ë Ì ÒÍÓÎ ÍÓ Úfl- ÊÂÎ ÓÌË ÎË. Ç ÚÓ Ê appleâïfl, êóòòëfl, Í Í Ë ÅÂÎ Ëfl, ÔÓÒÚÓflÌÌÓ ÌÓÒËÎ ˆË- ËÎËÁ ˆË Ö appleóô Ò ÓÈ ÓÒÓ È ÁÌ Ë- ÚÂÎ ÌÈ ÍÎ. ÖÂ Ì Û Ì fl, ÍÓÌÓÏË Â- ÒÍ fl Ë ÚÓapple Ó fl ÂflÚÂÎ ÌÓÒÚ ÌË ÂÏ Ì ÛÒÚÛÔ Î ÔappleÓËÁ  ÂÌËflÏ Â ÏÛÁÍ ÌÚÓ, ýû ÓÊÌËÍÓ Ë ÔËÒ ÚÂÎÂÈ. ÇÒ ÚÓ ÂÚ Ì Ï Á ÍÓÌÌ ÓÒÌÓ ÌËfl Îfl Óapple ÓÒÚË. Ç ÚÓÈ appleó appleâ, ËÁ ÌÌÓÈ ÔÓ ÒÎÛ ËÎÂfl, Ï ýóúâîë Ì ÔÓÏÌËÚ, Í ÍËÏ Ó - apple ÁÓÏ ÅÂÎ Ëfl Ë êóòòëfl Á ËÏÌÓ Ó Ó - ÎËÒ Î Ó applefl ÍÓÌÚ ÍÚ Ï, ÍÓÚÓappleÂ, ÌÂ- ÒÏÓÚapplefl Ì ÂÓ apple ÙË ÂÒÍÛ apple ÁÓ ÂÌ- ÌÓÒÚ, ÒÚÓ Ú ÓappleËÎË Ó Û ËÒÚÓappleË. èappleó ÎÓ ÂÒflÚËÎÂÚË ÔÓÁ ÓÎËÎÓ Ì - ËÏ ÛÏ ÒÚapple Ì Ï ÌÓ Ó appleâòúë appleû appleû. éúíappleúëâ êóòòëë ÎÓ ÂÎ ËȈ Ï ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓÒÚ ÌÂÔÓÒapple ÒÚ ÂÌÌÓ, Ì ÔappleflÏÛ ÁÌ ÍÓÏËÚ Òfl Ò ÊÌÓÈ Â appleóôâèòíóè ÒÓÒÚ - ÎflÂÈ. Ç ÔÓÎËÚË ÂÒÍÓÏ Ë Ó Â ÂÎÓ Â ÂÒÍÓÏ ÍÓÌÚÂÍÒÚÂ, ÚÓ ÓÎ ÓÊ ÌÌÓÂ Ó Â- ËÌÂÌË ÏÓÊÂÚ ÚÓÎ ÍÓ ÒÔÓÒÓ ÒÚ Ó Ú Ó Ó ÂÌË ÌÌ ÌÂ Ó Ë Û ÛÂ Ó ÔÓÍÓ- ÎÂÌËÈ, ÔÂapple ÍÓÚÓappleÏË ÒÚÓËÚ Á ÔÓ ÔappleÓ ÓÎÊÂÌË Ë Û ÎÛ ÎÂÌË ÚÓ Ó ÒÓÁË - ÚÂÎ ÌÓ Ó ÔappleÓˆÂÒÒ. àá ÔappleÓ ÎÓ Ó appleó ËÎÓÒ Ì ÒÚÓflÂÂ Ì - Ëý ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌËÈ, ÍÓÚÓappleÂ, Ò Ó Ó ÂappleÂ, fl ÎflÚÒfl Á ÎÓ ÓÏ Û Û Ó. à Ó ÚÓÏ Ë Ó appleû- ÓÏ Ï ýóúâîë apple ÒÒÍ Á Ú ÒÂ Ó Ìfl. ãûë åë ÂÎ åëìëòúapple ËÌÓÒÚapple ÌÌý ÂÎ äóappleóîâ ÒÚ ÅÂÎ Ëfl

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7 INTRODUCTION 7 One hundred and fifty years have passed since the first Head of Legation of the Kingdom of Belgium arrived in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at that time the imperial capital of the Tsar of All the Russias. Since that March of 1853, our two countries have experienced the upheavals of European history, which have certainly been numerous and often painful. At the same time, both Russia and Belgium have made a valuable, profound and ongoing contribution to Europe's civilisation. Their scientific, economic and commercial activity has been fully commensurate with that of their musicians, painters and writers. In both countries, we are justly proud of this legacy. The purpose of this brochure, written on the occasion of this anniversary, is to recall the ways in which contacts between Belgium and Russia have enriched both countries. From the starting point of their shared geography, such contacts have often resulted in a shared history. The latest decade we have been going through has given both sides an opportunity to rediscover themselves. To the Belgians the opening-up of Russia has meant a direct and spontaneous access to one of the essential components of the European identity. On the political and human level this long awaited reunification can only be an enrichment for our and the next generation. It is up to them to continue and strengthen the cause that has thus been launched. This past has given rise to the present state of our relations. Our intention here is to furnish an overview of both of these, thereby also offering a pledge for the future. Louis Michel Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium

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9 9 éí 1830 ÉéÑÄ Ñé éäíüåêúëäéâ êöçéãûñàà FROM 1830 TO THE REVOLUTION

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11 11 åâê ÛÌ appleó Ì fl ÔÓÎËÚËÍ International policy ÅÂÎ Ëfl ÒÚ ÌÓ ËÚÒfl ÌÂÁ ËÒËÏÓÈ 1830 Ó Û, ÓÚ ÂÎË ËÒ ÓÚ äóappleóîâ ÒÚ çë ÂappleÎ Ì Ó, ÒÓÁ ÌÌÓ Ó ÌÓ ÓÈ Ö appleóôóè, appleóê fiììóè Ì ÔÓÎÂÓÌÓ ÒÍËÏË ÓÈÌ ÏË. á 15 ÎÂÚ Ó ÚÓ Ó ÒÓ ÚËfl, êóòòëfl, ÍÓÚÓapple fl fl ÎflÎ Ò Î ÌÓÈ ÒËÎÓÈ ÔÓ Â Ë ÂÈ ÍÓ - ÎˈËË, ÔÓ ÔËÒ Î ÇÂÌ ÒÓ Î ÂÌËÂ Ó ÒÓ- Á ÌËË ÚÓ Ó Ì ÓÎ Ó Â ÌÓ Ó ÍÓappleÓΠÒÚ. ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍ fl appleâ ÓΈËfl ÌÓ Ôapple ÓÒÚ - ÎflÂÚ ÂÈ ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓÒÚ ÒÍ Á Ú Ò Ó ÒÎÓ Ó ÓÔappleÓÒÂ Ó ÒÛ Â Â flúë ÊÌý ÔappleÓ Ë̈ËÈ ÚÓ Ó ÎÓÔÌÛ Â Ó ÓÒÛ appleòú. à ÚÓ ÒÎÓ- Ó Ó Ó appleëúâî ÌÓÂ, ÔÓÚÓÏÛ ÚÓ ÓÌ ÔÓ ÔË- Ò ÂÚ 1831 Ë 1839 ÒÓ Î ÂÌËfl, ËÁ ÍÓ- ÚÓappleý appleóê ÂÚÒfl ÌÓ äóappleóîâ ÒÚ Ó ÅÂÎ - Ëfl. ä Í Á fl ËÎ 1853 Ó Û åëìëòúapple ËÌÓ- ÒÚapple ÌÌý ÂÎ Â ÅappleÛÍÂapple «ÚÓ ÔappleÂÒ ÎÓÊÌ Ôapple ÔÓÎÓÊÂÌËfl Ë ÌÂ Ó appleóêâî - ÚÂÎ Ì ÔÂappleÂÒÛ... êóòòëfl ÔappleËÁÌ Î ÌÂÁ - ËÒËÏÓÒÚ ÅÂÎ ËË Ë Â ÌÂÈÚapple ÎËÚÂÚ; ÓÌ Ëý ÔappleËÁÌ Î Ë apple ÌÚËappleÛÂÚ Ò ÏÓÏÂÌÚ apple ÚË- ÙËÍ ˆËË ÒÓ Î ÂÌËÈ, ÔÓ ÔËÒ ÌÌý Ì ãóì ÓÌÒÍÓÈ äóìùâappleâìˆëë...» á ÂÏ, ÚÓ ÌÛÊÌÓ ÎÓ Ê Ú Ó 1853 Ó, ÚÓ Ó ÏÂÌflÚ Òfl ÔÓÒÎ ÏË? çâíóúóappleâ Ó flòìâìëfl, ÚÂÍ Ë ËÁ  appleóôâè- ÒÍÓ Ó ÍÓÌÚÂÍÒÚ ÔÓýË Ë ÓÒÓ ÂÌÌÓÒÚÂÈ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÈ appleâ ÓΈËË, Á ÒÎÛÊË Ú ÌË- Ï ÌËfl. Ç 1830 Ó Û Ö appleóô ÔÓÚappleflÒÂÌ ÚappleÂ- Ïfl appleâ ÓΈËflÏË: Ó îapple ̈ËË, ÅÂÎ ËË Ë èóî Â. ùú ÓÎÌ ÊÂÒÚÓÍËý ÂÒÔÓapplefl - ÍÓ Î Ì ÚË ÌÓ ÓÒÔappleËÌflÚ àïôâapple - Belgium gained its independence in 1830, splitting off from the Kingdom of the Netherlands created by the new post- Napoleonic Europe. Fifteen years earlier, Russia, a leading power of the victorious coalition, had signed in Vienna the founding treaties of this short-lived Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Belgian revolution once again gave Russia a role in the fate of the nine southern provinces of the fragmented Kingdom. This role was a positive one, since Russia's signature was found in 1831 and 1839 at the bottom of the treaties creating the newborn Kingdom of Belgium. Consequently, as Minister of Foreign Affairs de Brouckère stated in 1853, " to cut short any erroneous suppositions and malicious comments Russia has recognised the independence of Belgium and its neutrality; it recognised and guaranteed them the day it ratified the treaties drawn up by the London Conference " Why, therefore, were ambassadors not exchanged until 1853? Several explanations are worth noting, relating to the European climate of the time and the characteristics of the Belgian revolution. In 1830, Europe was in fact shaken by three revolutions: in France, Belgium and Poland. The Saint Petersburg court was inimical to this wave of violent protests, seeing it as an attack on both political stability and the principle of ãâóôóî ë ÍÒÂÌ-äÓ Ûapple ÒÍËÈ, ÉÂÌÂapple Î appleûòòíóè appleïëë 1813 ëú Î ÔÂapple Ï äóappleóîâï ÅÂÎ ËË 1831 Leopold de Saxe-Cobourg Gotha General in the Russian army in 1813 Will become Belgian King in 1831

12 12 ÚÓappleÒÍËÏ Ñ ÓappleÓÏ ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple Â, ÍÓÚÓappleÈ Û Ë ÂÎ ÚÓÏ ÔÓÒfl ÚÂÎ ÒÚ Ó Ì ÔÓÎË- ÚË ÂÒÍÛ ÒÚ ËÎ ÌÓÒÚ Ë Ì ÔappleË̈ËÔ ÏÓ- Ì appleýëáï Ö appleóôâ. íâï ÓÎÂÂ, ÚÓ èóî fl ÎflÎ Ò ÒÚ êóòòëèòíóè àïôâappleëë, Ë ÒÛÂÒÚ Ó ÎË ÚÂÒÌ appleó ÒÚ ÂÌÌÂ Ò fláë Ò ÍÓappleÓΠÒÍÓÈ ÒÂÏ ÂÈ çë ÂappleÎ Ì Ó, ÒÍappleÂÔ- ÎÂÌÌÂ Ó ËÏ Á Îfl ÓÏ Ì ÔÓ ýó flëè Îfl Ö appleóô ÔÓÎËÚË ÂÒÍËÈ appleâêëï. ÅÂÎ ËÈ- ÒÍ fl appleâ ÓΈËfl, apple ÁappleÛ fl äóappleóîâ ÒÚ Ó çë ÂappleÎ Ì Ó, ÙÓappleÏ ÍÓÚÓappleÓ Ó Î ÓÔappleÂ- ÂÎÂÌ ÇÂÌÒÍËÏ ÍÓÌ appleâòòóï, ÒÓÁ Î ÓÔ Ò- ÌÓÒÚ Îfl ÛÒÚÓfl  ÓÒfl ÏÓÌ appleýë ÂÒÍÓ Ó ÔÓapplefl Í. éì apple ÒÒÏ ÚappleË Î Ò Ú ÍÊÂ Í Í ÚflÊfiÎ fl ÒÂÏÂÈÌ fl apple Ï, ÓÚÌËÏ fl Û äóappleóîfl çë ÂappleÎ Ì Ó, appleó ÒÚ ÂÌÌËÍ ÇËÎ - ÂÎ Ï, ÁÌ ËÚÂÎ ÌÛ ÒÚ Â Ó äóappleóîâ ÒÚ-. ñ apple ýî ÌÓÍappleÓ ÌÓ ÔÓ ÎflÂÚ ÔÓÎ ÒÍÛ appleâ ÓΈË, ÌÓ ÓÎÊÂÌ, ÚÂÏ Ì ÏÂÌÂÂ, ÔÓ ÔappleËÏÂappleÛ ÄÌ ÎËË Ë îapple ̈ËË, ÔappleËÒÔÓÒÓ- ËÚ Òfl Í appleâ ÓΈËË ÅÂÎ ËË Ë Í Âfi ÌÂÁ - ËÒËÏÓÒÚË. éúìó ÂÌËfl ÏÂÊ Û ÅappleÒÒÂÎÂÏ Ë ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple ÓÏ ÛÒÎÓÊÌflÚÒfl Ú ÍÊ ËÁ-Á ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌÓ Ó ÔappleËÂÏ, ÓÍ Á ÌÌÓ Ó ÅappleÒÒÂΠÔÓÎ ÒÍËÏ ÏË apple ÌÚ Ï Ë ÓÒÓ- ÂÌÌÓ Ò fláë Ò ÔappleËÌflÚËÂÏ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÛ appleïë ÓÎ Ó Ó ËÒÎ ÔÓÎ ÒÍËý ÓÙˈÂappleÓ. ç ýó flò Ì ÒÎÛÊ Â appleóòòëèòíóè apple- ÏËË, ÏÌÓ Ë ËÁ ÌËý ÔappleËÌflÎË ÍÚË ÌÓÂ Û - ÒÚË ÓÒÒÚ ÌËË. ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple Û ÚÓ Ì ÔÓÌapple ËÎÓÒ. monarchy in Europe. This was especially true given that at that time, Poland was part of the Russian Empire, and there were close ties of kinship between the royal family of the Netherlands and the Russian imperial family, reinforced by a shared vision of the appropriate political regime for Europe. In destroying the Kingdom of the Netherlands as conceived by the Congress of Vienna, the Belgian revolution was seen as a danger to the established monarchical order, and also a painful family affair since it deprived the kinsman William, King of the Netherlands, of a substantial part of his Kingdom. The Tsar unhesitatingly repressed the Polish revolution but was forced to tolerate the Belgian revolution and independence as best he could, thereby aligning himself with England and France. Relations between Brussels and Saint Petersburg soured further due to the warm welcome extended to Polish émigrés in Belgium, and especially the integration of numerous Polish officers into the Belgian army. Serving in the Russian army until the Polish revolt, many of them had participated in it actively. Saint Petersburg did not appreciate Belgium's gesture.

13 13 íappleû ÌÓÂ Ì ÎÓ A difficult start Ç Î ÓÏ ÒÎÛ Â, ÒËÚÛ ˆËfl ÔÓÒÚÂÔÂÌÌÓ ÛÎÛ ÂÚÒfl. Ñ Óapple ÉÓÎÎ Ì ËË, ÍÓÌ ÌÓ, Ì ýó ËÎÒfl appleó ÒÚ Â Ò Ñ ÓappleÓÏ ë ÌÍÚ-èÂ- ÚÂapple Ûapple, ÌÓ Ë äóappleóî ÅÂÎ ËË, ãâóôóî I, fl fl äóappleóîâ ÇËÍÚÓappleËË, ÏÓ Á fl ËÚ Ó Ò ÓËý appleó ÒÚ ÂÌÌý Ò fláflý Ò ÓÎ ËÌÒÚ- ÓÏ Ôapple flëý ËÌ ÒÚËÈ. äappleóïâ ÚÓ Ó, ÓÌ Ó Πappleûòòíóè appleïëë ÔappleÓÚË ç ÔÓÎÂÓ- Ì. ùúó ÎÓ ÂÏÛ, ÔÓÏËÏÓ ÓÔapple ÂÎÂÌÌÓ Ó Ó ÂappleËfl ÒÓ ÒÚÓappleÓÌ ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple, Ú ÍÓ ÁÌ ÌË appleûòòíó Ó ÏÂÌÚ ÎËÚÂÚ Ë ÔÓ- ÎËÚËÍË, Í ÍËÏ Ó Î ÎË ÌÂÏÌÓ Ë ËÁ ÒÓ - appleâïâììý ÂÏÛ ÏÓÌ appleýó. çó ËÏÂÌÌÓ 1848 Ó Û, ÍÓ ÓÎ fl ÒÚ Ö appleóô Ó Î ÂÌ ÌÓ Ó ÓÒÒÚ - ÌËÂ, ÅÂÎ Ëfl Ë Â ÏÓÌ appleý Á ÓÂ Ú Ó- ÂappleË ñ applefl, ÓÍ Á fl Ò Ó ÒÚ ËÎ ÌÓÒÚ. ë ÚÓ Ó ÏÓÏÂÌÚ, ýó ÒÓ ÚËÈ ÛÒÍÓappleflÂÚÒfl. Ñ Â ÒÚapple Ì ÔÓ ÔËÒ Ú ÚÓapple Ó Ó ÒÓ Î - ÂÌË Ù apple Π1850, Ë ËÍÓÌÚ Â âóì Ì ÁÌ ÂÚÒfl ÉÂÌÂapple Î ÌÏ äóìòûîóï ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple Â. àòíî ËÚÂÎ ÌÏ Îfl ÚÓ Ó appleâïâìë fl ÎflÂÚÒfl ÚÓ, ÚÓ äóìòûî Î ÔappleËÌflÚ Ò ÏËÏ ñ appleâï. Ç 1853 Ó Û, Ì ÍÓ̈, ÛÒÚ Ì ÎË Ú- Òfl Ì ÒÚÓflË ËÔÎÓÏ ÚË ÂÒÍË ÓÚÌÓ Â- ÌËfl. á Ó Ó ÚÓ Ó, Û ÓÎ ÌÂÌË ÔÓÎ - ÒÍËý ÓÙˈÂappleÓ, ÒÎÛÊË Ëý ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÈ appleïëë, ÒÌflÎÓ ÔÓÒÎÂ Ì Ôapple apple Û Ì ÔÛ- ÚË ÌÓappleÏ ÎËÁ ˆËË. 23 Ù apple Îfl 1853 Ó, è Î Ú Ôapple ÒÚ - ËÚÂÎÂÈ ÔÓ ÚË Â ËÌÓ Î ÒÌÓ ÔappleÓ ÓÎÓÒÓ Î Á ÓÚÍappleÚË ÏËÒÒËË ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple Â, Ò fláë Ò ÂÏ Î Û ÂÎË ÂÌ ÊÂÚ åëìë- ÒÚÂappleÒÚ ËÌÓÒÚapple ÌÌý ÂÎ. 10 Ï appleú 1853 Ó äóappleóî ÔÓ ÔËÒ Î ÛÍ Á Ó Ì ÁÌ ÂÌËË Éapple Ù ä ÏËÎfl  ÅappleË- ÂÈfl èóîìóïó ÌÏ åëìëòúappleóï Ë óappleâá ÈÌÏ èóòî ÌÌËÍÓÏ. Despite this, the situation gradually improved. Although the courts of Holland and Saint Petersburg were related, the King of the Belgians, Leopold I, uncle of Queen Victoria, could also call on family ties with most of the ruling families. Moreover, he had served in the Russian army against Napoleon. Besides lending him a certain esteem in Saint Petersburg, this gave him a knowledge of Russian thinking and politics possessed by few sovereigns of his time. But Belgium, and with it its sovereign, gained the trust of the Tsar in particular by demonstrating its stability in 1848 when a large part of Europe once again plunged into revolt. From that point on, events gathered speed. In February 1850, the two countries signed a trade agreement and Viscount de Jongue was appointed Consul General to Saint Petersburg. He was received by the Tsar, a rare exception for a consular agent at that time. In 1853, genuine diplomatic relations were finally established. A year earlier, the final release of the Polish officers still serving in the Belgian army had removed the last obstacle to restoring the situation to normal. On 23 February 1853, the Chamber voted, almost unanimously, to open a Legation in Saint Petersburg and correspondingly increase the budget of the foreign affairs ministry. On 10 March 1853, the King finally signed a decree appointing Count Camille de Briey as Minister Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary Envoy. Count de Briey was a man of strong personality and lengthy worldly experience. An officer in the French army, then an Éapple Ù ä ÏËÎ Â ÅappleËÂÈ èâapple È ÉÎ ÑËÔÎÓÏ ÚË ÂÒÍÓÈ åëòòëë ÅÂÎ ËË ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple  Count Camille de Briey First Head of the Belgian Delegation in Saint-Petersburg -1853

14 14 Éapple Ù Â ÅappleËÂÈ Î flappleíóè ÎË ÌÓÒÚ Ë Ó Î Î ÓÎ ËÏ ÓÔÚÓÏ. ë 1830 Ó-, ÔÓÒΠÂÒflÚË ÎÂÚ ÒÎÛÊ Ó Ùapple ̈ÛÁ- ÒÍÓÈ appleïëë, Ë apple ÓÚ ËÌ ÛÒÚappleËË, ÓÒÓ- ÂÌÌÓ ÏÂÚ ÎÎÛapple Ë ÂÒÍÓÈ ÓÚapple ÒÎË ûê- ÌÓ Ó ãíòâï Ûapple, ÓÌ Ì Î Á ÌËÏ Ú Òfl ÔÓÎËÚËÍÓÈ ÅÂÎ ËË, Ë 1841 Ó Û ÒÚ Î ÏËÌËÒÚappleÓÏ ËÌÓÒÚapple ÌÌý ÂÎ. äóappleóî - apple Î ÓÔÚÌÓ Ó ÂÎÓ ÂÍ Îfl «...ÚÓÈ ÏËÒ- ÒËË, Ó ÌÓÈ ËÁ Ò Ïý ÁÌ ËÚÂÎ Ìý ÔÓ ÔÓ- ÒÚ ÎÂÌÌÏ Á Ï, Ó ÌÓÈ ËÁ ÚÂý, ÍÓÚÓappleÏ Ó ÂÒÚ ÂÌÌÓ ÏÌÂÌË ÔappleË ÂÚ Ì Ë- ÓΠ ÁÌ ÂÌËÂ...» èappleëâï, ÓÍ Á ÌÌÈ ÂÏÛ ñ appleâï, Î «ËÁ Ò Ïý ÏËÎÓÒÚË ý». éì ÒÚapple ÂÚ Ú Í- Ê ÏÌÓ Ó ËÒÎÂÌÌý appleó ÒÚ ÂÌÌËÍÓ Ë appleû- ÁÂÈ ÍappleÛ Û ËÔÎÓÏ ÚÓ. èóòóî Ä ÒÚappleËË, ÄÎÂÍÒ Ì apple  åâìò ÓappleÙÙ-èÛÎË - Â Ó ÍÛ- ÁÂÌ, èóòóî îapple ̈ËË, å appleíëá  ä ÒÚÂÎ - ÈflÍ Î Â Ó ÍÓÏ Ì ËappleÓÏ Ó Ùapple ̈ÛÁ- ÒÍÓÈ appleïëë, èóòóî ÇÂÎËÍÓ appleëú ÌËË É - ÏËÎ ÚÓÌ ëâèïóapple Î ÏËÌËÒÚappleÓÏ ÅappleÒ- ÒÂÎÂ, ÍÓ Ò Ï ä ÏËÎ Â ÅappleËÂÈ Á ÌËÏ Î ÔÓÒÚ ÏËÌËÒÚapple ËÌÓÒÚapple ÌÌý ÂÎ. í ÍÓÈ ÌÂÓ ýó ËÏÈ ÍappleÛ appleûáâè Ë ÁÌ ÍÓÏÒÚ Ó ÂÌ ÔappleË Ó ËÚÒfl Ì ÂÏÛ ÔÂapple ÓÏÛ Ôapple - ÒÚ ËÚÂÎ ë ÌÍÚ-èÂÚÂapple Ûapple Â; ÔappleÂÊ Â ÒÂ Ó ÚÓ ÔÓÏÓÊÂÚ ÂÏÛ ÒÏfl ËÚ ÎÛ ÓÍÛ ÌÂÔappleËflÁÌ àïôâapple ÚÓappleÒÍÓ Ó Ñ Óapple Í ÂÎ - ËÈÒÍÓÈ ÂÏÓÍapple ÚËË, Á ÚÂÏ ÚË ÁÌ ÍÓÏÒÚ- ÓÍ ÊÛÚÒfl ÔÓÎÂÁÌÏË ÚflÊÂΠappleâïâ- Ì äappleïòíóè ÓÈÌ. Ç ÚÓÏ ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌËË, ÅappleÒÒÂÎ Â ÂÚ Ò fl ÏÛ appleó Ë ÂappleÊËÚÒfl Ì ÍÓÌÙÎËÍÚ, Ë Ê Ôapple ΠÂÚ Ò ÓË Ó appleâ ÛÒÎÛ Ë Îfl ÔappleÂÍapple ÂÌËfl ÓÂ. ÑÎfl ÌÂÒÂ- ÌËfl flòìóòúë, Ì Â Ôapple ËÚÂÎ ÒÚ Ó ÒÚÛ- Ô ÂÚ ëâì ÚÂ Ï Â 1854 Ó Ò ÂÍÎ apple ˆË- ÂÈ Ó ÌÂÈÚapple ÎËÚÂÚÂ, ÓÒÓ ÂÌÌÓ ýóappleó Ó ÓÒ- ÔappleËÌflÚÓÈ êóòòëë. industrialist in the metallurgical industry in southern Luxembourg, he entered Belgian politics in 1830 and became Minister of Foreign Affairs in The King therefore appointed a man of experience for " this mission which, by the nature of the interests entrusted to it, is one of great significance and one to which public opinion attaches the greatest importance ". The welcome accorded him by the Tsar was "most amiable." He also had numerous relatives or friends in the diplomatic corps: the Austrian ambassador, Alexandre de Mensdorff-Pouilly, was his cousin; the French ambassador, the Marquis de Castelbajac, had been his superior officer in the French army; and the ambassador of Great Britain, Hamilton Seymour, had been head of legation in Brussels when Camille de Briey was minister of foreign affairs. This useful network of friendships and influence greatly aided our first representative in Saint Petersburg in mollifying the imperial court's strong distaste for the Belgian democratic regime, and also helped him during the difficult periods of the Crimean War. Belgium sensibly stayed out of that conflict, and even offered its good offices to end the fighting. In the interests of clarity, in May 1854 our government issued a statement of neutrality in the Senate that was particularly welcome in Russia. Relations between the ruling families were both official and familial. Prince Albert, the future King Albert I, led the official Belgian delegation to the coronation of Nicholas II in He wrote an account of the event, which, looking back,

15 15 éúìó ÂÌËfl ÏÂÊ Û Ôapple flëïë ÓÏ - ÏË ÎË ÓÙËˆË Î ÌÏË Ë ÚÓ Ê appleâïfl ÒÂÏÂÈÌÏË. èappleëìˆ ÄÎ ÂappleÚ, Û ÛËÈ äóappleóî ÄÎ ÂappleÚ I, ÓÁ Î ÎflÎ ÓÙËˆË Î ÌÛ ÂΠˆË Ì ÍÓappleÓÌ ˆËË çëíóî fl II 1896 Ó Û. ÇappleÂÏfl ÔÓÍ Á ÎÓ, ÚÓ ÓÌ Ò ÂÎ Î ÔÓapple ÁËÚÂÎ ÌÓ ÚÓ ÌÓÂ Ì Î ÂÌËÂ: «ˆ apple Ï ÎÂÌ ÍÓ Ó appleóòú, ýappleûôíëè, Í Í Û ÚÓ ÔappleË ÎÂÌÌÈ Ò ÓÂÈ ËÏÔÂapple ÚÓappleÒÍÓÈ Ï Ì- ÚËÂÈ; ˆ appleëˆ «appleâá ÈÌÓ Ïfl Í fl, Ò ÒÓ- Òapple ÓÚÓ ÂÌÌÏ, ÔÓ ÚË ÒÚapple Î ÂÒÍËÏ Á Îfl ÓÏ, ÓÎ Ë ΠÁ Âfi ÒÏÓÚappleflÚ ÒÂapple - ÂÁÌÓ, ÌÂÓÚapple ÌÓ, ÂÁ ÛÎ ÍË». is striking: "The tsar is quite small, somewhat slightly built, as if crushed under his imperial mantle. The tsarina is very gentle, with a look of focused, almost sorrowful gravity, her large eyes unblinking, serious, unsmiling."

16 16 éòó  ÍÓÌÓÏË ÂÒÍË ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌËfl Exceptional economic ties èóîëúë ÂÒÍË ÒÓÁ ÌÌ fl ÔÂapple ÓÈ ÔÓ- ÎÓ ËÌ XIX ÂÍ, ÅÂÎ Ëfl ËÏÂÎ ÚflÊfiÎÛ ÔappleÓÏ ÎÂÌÌÓÒÚ Ë ÂÎ ÍÚË ÌÛ ÚÓapple Ó - Î ÂÂ Ó ÔÓÎÛ ÂÌËfl ÌÂÁ ËÒËÏÓÒÚË. ëú ÌÂÁ ËÒËÏÓÈ Ë ÔÓ ÎËflÌËÂÏ Ò ÓÂ Ó ÔÂapple- Ó Ó äóappleóîfl ãâóôóî I, ÓÌ ÒÏÓ Î ÔappleÓfl ËÚ Ò fl ÔÓÎÌÓÈ ÏÂappleÂ. é Î fl ÛÒÚÓÈ ÒÂÚ appleâ ÌÓ Ó Úapple ÌÒÔÓappleÚ Ë ÔÓappleÚÓÏ ÏËappleÓ- Ó Ó ÁÌ ÂÌËfl, ÅÂÎ Ëfl apple Á Ë Î Ò ÏÛ ÒÓ appleâïâììû ÔappleÓÏ ÎÂÌÌÓÒÚ Î Ó applefl ÒÓ ÒÚ ÂÌÌÓÈ ÏÂÚ ÎÎÛapple ËË Ë Á Ô Ò Ï Û Îfl. ÑËÌ ÏË Ì ÛÌË ÂappleÒËÚÂÚ ÎË ÒÚapple Ì ÔappleÂÍapple ÒÌý ËÌÊÂÌÂappleÓ, ÍÓÚÓapple ÒÓ ÂÈÒÚ- Ó ÎË ÛÒÔÂýÛ ÏÓÎÓ Ó Ó ÓÒÛ appleòú. ìáóòú Ì ˆËÓÌ Î ÌÓ Ó appleìí Á ÒÚ Ë- Î ÂÎ ËȈ ÔÓÒÚ ÎflÚ Á apple ÌËˆÛ ÔappleÓ- Û͈Ë, ËÁ ÓÚÓ ËÚ ÍÓÚÓappleÛ ÎË ÒÔÓÒÓ - Ì ÌÂÏÌÓ ËÂ Ì Ë ÓΠËÌ ÛÒÚappleË ÎËÁÓ Ì- Ì ÂappleÊ. Ç Ò Ó Ó ÂappleÂ, êóòòëfl Ó Î ÂÚ Ó - appleóïìïë appleâòûappleò ÏË Ë Ì ÏÂÌ ËÏË ÔÓ- Úapple ÌÓÒÚflÏË. Ç ËÁÓ ËÎËË ËÏÂÚÒfl Ò Ï apple ÁÌÓÓ apple ÁÌ ÔappleËappleÓ ÌÂ Ó ÚÒÚ : ÎÂÒ, ÎÏ Á, ÌÂÙÚ, Á. éòú ÂÚÒfl Ëý Ó Ú, ÔÂapple ÂÁÚË Ë ÔÂappleÂapple ÓÚ Ú. ùúëï Á ÌËÏ ÂÚÒfl ÍÚË ÌÈ ÍÎ ÒÒ ÍÓÏ- ÏÂappleÒ ÌÚÓ, Ë Ê ÓappleflÌÒÚ Ó Á ËÌÚÂappleÂÒÓ- ÌÓ, ÒΠÁ èâúappleóï èâapple Ï, ÏÓ ÂappleÌË- Á ˆËË Ò ÓÂÈ ÒÚapple Ì, ËÎË, ýóúfl, ÔappleÂ- Ó ÓÎÂÌËË ÓÚÒÚ ÌËfl ÓÚ á Ô ÌÓÈ Ö appleóô. ÅÂÎ Ëfl, apple ÁÛÏÂÂÚÒfl, ÒÚappleÂÏËÚÒfl ÔappleË- ÌflÚ Û ÒÚË ÚÓÏ ÔappleÓˆÂÒÒÂ. ìêâ 1850 Ó Û, Ì Í ÌÛÌ ÌÓappleÏ ÎËÁ ˆËË ÔÓÎËÚË Â- ÒÍËý Ë ËÔÎÓÏ ÚË ÂÒÍËý ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌËÈ, Ó Â ÒÚapple Ì ÔÓ ÔËÒ Ú ÚÓapple Ó Ó ÒÓ Î Â- ÌËÂ, ÍÓÚÓappleÓÂ, Ó ÂÌ ÒÍÓappleÓ, 1858 Ó Û, Û ÂÚ ÔÂappleÂÒÏÓÚappleÂÌÓ Ë ÔÓÒÚ ËÚ ÂÎ ËÈ- ˆÂ Ó ËÌ applefl Ò ÚÓapple Ó ˆ ÏË ËÁ appleû Ëý Á - Ô Ìý ÒÚapple Ì. Even before existing as an independent state, Belgium, a political creation of the first half of the 19th century, had long possessed a basic industry and lively commerce. With independence, it developed its full potential thanks to the impetus given by its first king, Leopold I. With an excellent network of river transport and a world-class port, it also developed an advanced industry for the time thanks to its metallurgy and coal. Dynamic universities provided the country with first-rate engineers who played a leading role in the success of the young nation. Their small national market forced the Belgians to look beyond their borders to offer products abroad that only a handful of industrial nations were capable of producing. Russia, in turn, had immense resources and needs to match, along with an abundance of all types of raw materials, including wood, iron, diamonds, oil and gas. What it needed was to exploit, process and transport them. A class of merchants, and even nobles, busily set to work. In the tradition of Peter the Great, they wanted to modernise their country, or at least have it catch up with Western Europe. It was inevitable that Belgium would join in this effort. In 1850, on the eve of the establishment of political and diplomatic relations, the two countries had signed a treaty of commerce which was very quickly amended in 1858 to give the Belgians treatment equal to that enjoyed by the merchants of other Western nations. The scale, diversity and continuity of the activity and presence of the Belgians were Ä͈Ëfl - íapple Ï Ë ÄÒÚapple ý ÌË Astrakhan Tramway. Share

17 17 èappleëòûúòú Ë ÂÎ ËÈˆÂ Ë Ëý ÍÚË - ÌÓÒÚ, ÌÂÒÓÏÌÂÌÌÓ, ÔappleËÏ ÚÂÎ Ì ÔÓ Ó - ÂÏÛ, apple ÁÌÓÓ apple ÁË Ë ÎËÚÂÎ ÌÓÒÚË. á ÂÒ Ì ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓ Ú ÔÓÎÌÈ Ó ÁÓapple ÂÎ ËÈ- ÒÍËý Ôapple ÔappleËflÚËÈ ˆ appleòíóè êóòòëë. çó ÌÂÍÓÚÓapple ˆËÙapple, ÚÂÏ Ì ÏÂÌÂÂ, Ó ÓappleflÚ Ò ÏË Á Ò fl. Ç 1900 Ó Û, ÅÂÎ Ëfl ËÌ ÂÒÚËappleÓ Î êóòòë 831 ÏËÎÎËÓÌ ÁÓÎÓÚý Ùapple ÌÍÓ, îapple ̈Ëfl - 692, ÉÂappleÏ ÌËfl ÇÒ ÓÚapple ÒÎË ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÈ ÔappleÓÏ ÎÂÌ- ÌÓÒÚË ÚÓ Ó appleâïâìë ÎË Ôapple ÒÚ ÎÂÌ. ä ÔappleËÏÂappleÛ, Ì ÂappleÙflý ÙËappleÏ äóíâappleëî ÎÓ ÔÓÒÚappleÓÂÌÓ Ì ÏÂÌ 190 Ô appleóýó- Ó Îfl ÓÎ Ëý appleóòòëèòíëý appleâí Ë 17 ÍÓapple ÎÂÈ Îfl ÚÓapple Ó Ó Ó Ë ÓÂÌÌÓ Ó ÙÎÓÚÓ. ü ÎflflÒ ÔÂapple ÓÔappleÓýÓ ˆÂÏ ÊÂÎÂÁÌÓÈ ÓappleÓ Ë Ì ÍÓÌÚËÌÂÌÚÂ, ÅÂÎ Ëfl ÒÚappleÂÏËÚÒfl ÔappleËÌflÚ Û ÒÚË Á ÔÓÁ ÎÓÏ, ÌÓ ÒÚappleÓÏ ÒÚappleÓËÚÂÎ ÒÚ Â ÒÂÚË appleóòòëèòíëý ÊÂÎÂÁÌý ÓappleÓ. çâòïóúapplefl Ì ÒÂÓ Â ÌÂ Ó ÂappleËÂ, ÊÂÎÂÁÌ ÓappleÓ Ë ÓýÓ flú Ó çëêìâ Ó çó - ÓappleÓ ÔappleË Û ÒÚËË ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËý ËÌÊÂÌÂappleÓ. Ç ÚÓÈ Ó Î ÒÚË ÁÌ ÏÂÌËÚ fl «åâê ÛÌ - appleó Ì fl äóïô ÌËfl ëô Î Ìý Ç ÓÌÓ» Ì ÏÓ Î ÓÒÚ Ú Òfl ÒÚÓappleÓÌÂ. ÄÍÚË ÌÓ Á ÂÈÒÚ- Ó ÌÌ fl Ì ÚÓÎ ÍÓ ÊÂÎÂÁÌÓ ÓappleÓÊÌÓÏ ÒÂÍÚÓapple ÍÎ ÒÒ ÎÍÒ, ÌÓ Ë ˆ ÂÚÌÓÈ ÏÂ- Ú ÎÎÛapple ËË Ë ÙËÌ ÌÒÓ ÓÈ ÒÙÂappleÂ, ÒÂÏ fl ç ÂÎ Ï ÍÂappleÒ ËÁ ÓappleÓ ã ÂÊ, ËÏÂÎ Ò ÓË ËÌÚÂappleÂÒ ˆ ÂÚÌÓÈ ÏÂÚ ÎÎÛapple ËË ÑÓ̈Í, Ú ÍÊ «êûòòíó- ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÏ Ó ÂÒÚ Â é ÓappleÛ Ó ÌËfl ÜÂÎÂÁÌý ÑÓappleÓ ÇÂappleýÌÂÈ ÇÓÎ Ë», ÙËÎË Î «å ÒÚÂappleÒÍË ÑËÎ Ë Å - Í Î Ì». ùúó appleûòòíó- ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÂ Ó ÂÒÚ- Ó, Ì ýó fl ÂÂÒfl í ÂappleË, Ì ËÌ ÂÚ ÒÚappleÓ ÔappleÓËÁ Ó ËÚ ÓÌ ÍÎ ÒÒ ÎÍÒ, ÍÓ- ÚÓappleý ÓÒÓ ÂÌÌÓ ÌÛÊ Î Ò êóòòëfl, Ë åâê- ÛÌ appleó Ì fl äóïô ÌËfl ëô Î Ìý Ç ÓÌÓ ÒÚ ÌÓ ËÚÒfl Â Ó ÍÎËÂÌÚÓÏ. quite remarkable. It is impossible to give a full overview here of Belgian industry in tsarist Russia, but certain figures speak for themselves: in 1900, Belgium invested 831 million gold francs in Russia, compared to 692 million by France and 261 million by Germany. All sectors of Belgian industry, of which there were many at that time, were involved. For example, the Cockerill shipyards built no fewer than 190 steamers for the major Russian rivers and 17 ships for the merchant fleet and navy. As a railway pioneer on the Continent, Belgium sought to participate in the belated but rapid development of the Russian rail network. Confounding the sceptics on all sides, the network was extended to Nizhny Novgorod with the participation of Belgian engineers. In this field, the famous Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits could not fail to take an interest. The Nagelmaeckers family of Liège, active not only in luxury railways but also in banking and the iron and steel industry, had openings in Russia not only through the Belgian presence in the Donets basin iron and steel industry, but also through la Société belgo-russe de Matériel de Chemin de Fer du Haut Volga, a subsidiary of Ateliers de la Dyle et Bacalan. This Belgian-Russian firm, established in Tver, quickly produced the luxury coaches that Russia badly needed and that were bought by Internationale des Wagons- Lits itself. Georges Nagelmaeckers was extraordinarily active in promoting his projects. At the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, he successfully organised the exhibition of a simulated Ä͈Ëfl - É Á Ë ùîâíúappleë ÂÒÚ Ó ÓappleÓ ä Á ÌË Gas and Electricity of Kazan. Share

18 18 Ç 1900 Ó Û, ÜÓappleÊ ç ÂÎ Ï ÍÂappleÒ apple Á- Ë ÂÚ Ì ÂappleÓflÚÌÛ ÍÚË ÌÓÒÚ, ÔappleÓÔ Ì- ËappleÛfl Ò ÓË ÔappleÓÂÍÚ, Ó appleâïfl ÒÂÏËappleÌÓÈ ÒÚ ÍË è appleëêâ,  ÓÌ Ò ÛÒÔÂýÓÏ Â- ÏÓÌÒÚappleËappleÛÂÚ Ï ÍÂÚ «íapple ÌÒÒË». Ç 1903 Ó- Û ÓÌ ÔÓÒÚ ËÎ Ì appleâî Ò íapple ÌÒÒË ËappleÒÍÓÈ Ï ËÒÚapple ÎË 59 ÔÓÂÁ Ó Ò ÓÂÈ ÒÚÌÓÈ ÍÓÏ- Ô ÌËË, Ë Ó ËÌ Óapple ÌËÁÛÂÚ è appleëêâ ÏÂappleÓ- ÔappleËflÚËÂ, ÍÓÚÓappleÓ ÔÂappleÂapple ÒÚÂÚ Ì ÒÚÓflÛ ÏÂÊ ÛÌ appleó ÌÛ ÍÓÌÙÂappleÂÌˆË ÔÓ íapple ÌÒ- ÒË Û. çó Â Ó ÛÒÔÂýË ÒÚ ÌÓ flúòfl ÔappleË ËÌÓÈ Â Ó Íapple ý. ÇÓÁapple ÒÚ fl ÔÓÔÛÎflappleÌÓÒÚ íapple ÌÒÒË ÂÎ ÂÚ Â Ó ÒËÏ ÓÎÓÏ êóòòëë, ÍÓÚÓappleÏ ÓÒÔÓÎ ÁÛÚÒfl Ì ˆËÓÌ ÎËÒÚ Îfl ÚÂÒÌÂÌËfl ËÌÓÒÚapple ̈Â. êâ ÓΈËfl 1917 Ó ÔÓÒÚ ËÚ ÚÓ ÍÛ ÚÓÈ ÔÓÔÂÂ. ä ÍËÏ ÎÂÒÚflËÏ ÌË Î ÚÓÚ ÔappleË- ÏÂapple, ÌÂÎ Áfl Á Ú Ó ÔÓ ÒÂÏÂÒÚÌÓÏ ÂÎ - ËÈÒÍÓÏ ËÌ ÛÒÚappleË Î ÌÓÏ ÔappleËÒÛÚÒÚ ËË ñ apple- ÒÍÓÈ êóòòëë; ÚÓ Ë ÎÂÍÚappleËÙËÍ ˆËfl ë ÌÍÚèÂÚÂapple Ûapple, ä Á ÌË Ë é ÂÒÒ, Úapple Ï Ë äëâ-, í ÍÂÌÚ Ë ÄÒÚapple ý ÌË, ÏÂÒÚÓappleÓÊ ÂÌËfl ÁÓ- ÎÓÚ Ë Û Îfl, ÓappleÛÊÂÈÌ ÔappleÓËÁ Ó ÒÚ ç Ì... ì Ë ËÚÂÎ ÌÓ, ÚÓ ÒÚapple Ì Ò ÒÂÏËÏËÎÎËÓÌÌÏ Ì ÒÂÎÂÌËÂÏ Ú Í ÏÌÓ Ó ËÌ ÂÒÚËappleÓ Î. èappleëïâ ÚÂÎ ÌÓ Ú ÍÊ ËÒÎÓ ÂÎ ËÈ- ˆÂ, ÔÂappleÂÒÂÎË ËýÒfl, ÔÛÒÚ Ì appleâïfl, êóò- ÒË. Ç ÔÓýÛ ÌÂÒÓ Âapple ÂÌÌý Òapple ÒÚ Ò fláë, ÎË ÌÓ ÔappleËÒÛÚÒÚ ËÂ Ì ÏÂÒÚ ËÌÊÂÌÂappleÓ, ÚÂýÌËÍÓ, Ë Ê apple Ó Ëý ÒÔÂˆË ÎËÒÚÓ - ÎÓ ÌÂÓ ýó ËÏÓ. ÅÂÎ Ëfl apple Á Ë Î ÒÓ appleâ- ÏÂÌÌ ÚÂýÌÓÎÓ ËË Ó Î ÒÚË ÏÂÚ ÎÎÛapple ËË Ë ýëïëë, ÒÚÂÍÓÎ ÌÓÈ Ë ÚÂÍÒÚËÎ ÌÓÈ ÔappleÓÏ - ÎÂÌÌÓÒÚË, ÔÂappleÂ Ú ÍÓÚÓappleÂ Ë ÛÔapple ÎflÚ ÍÓÚÓappleÏË ÏÓÊÌÓ ÎÓ, ÚÓ appleâïfl, Ì ýó flò ÌÂÔÓÒapple ÒÚ ÂÌÌÓ Ì ÏÂÒÚÂ. Ç 1913 Ó Û êóòòëë Ì Ò ËÚ ÎÓÒ : ÂÎ ËȈÂ, ËÔÎÓÏ ÚË ÂÒÍ fl ÏËÒÒËfl, ÂÌÂapple Î Ìý ÍÓÌÒÛÎ ÒÚ Ë 28 ÔÓ ÂÚÌý ÍÓÌÒÛÎ ÒÚ. 'Trans-Siberian express'. In 1903, he ran 59 trains of his private company over the Trans-Siberian and single-handedly organised what became a veritable International Conference on the Trans-Siberian in Paris. These very successes led to his ruin, since the growing visibility of the Trans-Siberian turned it into a symbol for Russia and it was quickly taken over by nationalism that left no room for foreigners. The 1917 revolution brought this epic tale to a close. As outstanding as it was, this individual venture must not obscure the presence of Belgian industry throughout tsarist Russia: the electrification of Saint Petersburg, Kazan and Odessa; the tramways of Kiev, Tashkent and Astrakhan; gold and coalmines, weapon production Nagant The list of investments is long, and astonishing for a country that at the time had fewer than seven million inhabitants. A great many Belgians also emigrated to Russia, if only temporarily. In an era of difficult communications, the physical presence of engineers, technicians, and even semiskilled workers was indispensable. In metallurgy, chemicals, glass and textiles, Belgium developed advanced techniques that at that time could only be passed on and managed by being on site. In 1913, Russia had 22,500 Belgians, one legation, two consulates general and 28 honorary consulates.

19 19 ç Ë ÍÛÎ ÚÛappleÌÂ Ó ÏÂÌ Our cultural exchanges ÇÓ appleâïfl Ò ÓÂÈ ÔÓÂÁ ÍË ÔÓ Ö appleóôâ 1861 Ó Û ãâ íóîòúóè ÓÒÚ ÌÓ ËÎÒfl Ì ÌÂ- ÒÍÓÎ ÍÓ Ì ÂÎ ÅappleÒÒÂÎÂ, ÊËÁÌ ÍÓÚÓappleÓÏ ÔÓÍ Á Î Ò ÂÏÛ «ÚËýÓÈ Ë ÓÏ ÌÂÈ». éì Î ÔappleËÌflÚ ÓÏ ÍÌflÁfl ÑÓÌ ÛÍÓ - äóappleò ÍÓ, Ó ÂappleË ÍÓÚÓappleÓ Ó Ì ÒÏÓ ÎË ÔÓÍÓappleËÚ Ò Â ýóîóòúó Ó ÔËÒ ÚÂÎfl, ÓÌ Ò ÂÎ Î ÒΠÛËÈ ÔÓÎÛ- ÛÚÎË È, ÔÓÎÛ-apple ÁÓ appleó ÌÌÈ Ó «ËÏÂÌ Á ÂÒ ÂÎ Ú Ì  ӻ. èappleâ ÌË ÅappleÒÒÂΠÓÒÚ ÌÂÚÒfl Îfl ÌÂ Ó ÌÂÁ ÂÏÏ ÔÓ ÌÂÒÍÓÎ ÍËÏ ÔappleË Ë- Ì Ï. èappleâê  Ò Ó, ÔÓÚÓÏÛ ÚÓ ËÏÂÌÌÓ ÅÂÎ ËË ÓÌ ÛÁÌ ÂÚ Ó ýó  ˆ appleòíó Ó Ï - ÌËÙÂÒÚ Ó ÓÚÏÂÌ ÍappleÂÔÓÒÚÌÓ Ó Ôapple êóòòëë (3 Ï appleú 1861), Ó ÌÓ ËÁ Â Ó ÌËý flìëè Ó ÛÒÚ ÌÓ ÎÂÌËË ÒÓˆË Î ÌÓÈ ÒÔapple -  ÎË ÓÒÚË. Ä Ú ÍÊÂ, àíòâîâ ÓÌ ÒÚappleÂ- ÚËÚÒfl Ò Ùapple ̈ÛÁÒÍËÏ ÒÓˆË Î- Ì appleýëòúóï èappleû ÓÌÓÏ, Ò ÍÓÚÓappleÏ Â Ó Ó Â ËÌflÎË ÒÛ- Ê ÂÌËfl Ó ÁÂÏÂÎ ÌÓÈ ÒÓ ÒÚ ÂÌÌÓÒÚË, ÔÓÎ - ÁÂ Ë appleâ Â Í ÔËÚ ÎËÁÏ. ÇÓ appleâïfl ÚÓÈ ÒÚappleÂ Ë èappleû ÓÌ Î ÔÓ ËÚ Ú íóîòúóïû ÒÒÂ Ó ÓÈÌ ý ÏÂÊ Û Ì appleó- ÏË, ÙËÎÓÒÓÙÒÍÓ ËÁ ÌËÂ, ÓÁ Î ÎÂÌÌÓÂ: «ÇÓÈÌ Ë ÏËapple». èappleóòúóú Ì Á ÌËfl ÔÓapple Ê - ÂÚ ÓÓ apple ÊÂÌË ÏÓÎÓ Ó Ó ÔËÒ ÚÂÎfl. à Í Í Ï ÁÌ ÂÏ, ÓÌ Ò ÛÒÔÂýÓÏ ËÒÔÓÎ ÁÛÂÚ Â Ó Îfl Ò ÓÂ Ó appleóï Ì Ó ÓÈÌÂ Ò ç ÔÓÎÂÓÌÓÏ. When Leo Tolstoy travelled through Europe in 1861 he stayed for several weeks in Brussels, where the life struck him as "gentle and familial". He was received there by the family of Prince Dondukov- Korsakov, whose three daughters failed to captivate the bachelor writer. In his correspondence he concluded, half-piqued and half-joking, that "there is no cause for marriage here". This stay in Brussels was memorable for him in several respects. First of all, because Belgium was where he learned of the publication of the imperial manifesto abolishing serfdom in Russia (3 March 1861), one of his longstanding dreams and goals of social justice. It was also in Ixelles that he met the French socialist-anarchist Proudhon, with whom he shared many analyses of property ownership, credit and the misdeeds of capitalism. At that meeting, Proudhon had him read an essay on wars between peoples, a philosophical work entitled War and Peace. The young writer's imagination was struck by the simplicity of the title, which he reused with famous success for his panorama of the Napoleonic wars. But the main purpose of Leo Tolstoy's è ÏflÚÌËÍ åóappleëòû åâúâappleîëìíû åóòí  Statue of Maurice Maeterlinck in Moscow

20 20 çó ÓÒÌÓ ÌÓÈ ˆÂÎ Ôapple ÌËfl ã íóîòúó Ó ÅÂÎ ËË ÎÓ ËÁÛ ÂÌË ÒËÒÚÂ- Ï Ó apple ÁÓ ÌËfl. éì ÔÓÒ ÂÚ ÏÌÓ Ó ËÒ- ÎÂÌÌ ÍÓÎ,  ÂÚ Á ÔËÒË, ÂÒ ÛÂÚ ÒÓ ÒÂÏË, ÍÚÓ ÏÓÊÂÚ apple ÒÒÍ Á Ú Ó ËÌÚÂappleÂÒÛ- ÂÏ Â Ó Ôapple ÏÂÚÂ. èó ÚÓÏÛ Ï ÚÂappleË ÎÛ ÓÌ Ì ÔË ÂÚ ÌÓ Û ÒÚ Ú Ó Ó apple ÁÓ ÌËË. àá ÎÂÍ fl ÔÓÎ ÁÛ ËÁ Ò Ó, ÓÌ Ì ËÌ ÂÚ ÔËÒ Ú apple ÒÒÍ Á «èóîëíû Í», ËÒÔÓÎ ÁÛfl apple ÒÒÍ Á Ó ÂappleË ÍÌflÁfl ÑÓÌ ÛÍÓ -äóappleò ÍÓ Ó Ó ÌÓÏ ÔappleÓËÒ ÂÒÚ ËË appleûòòíóè Âapple ÌÂ. éúïâúëï Ú ÍÊÂ, ÚÓ ËÏÂÌÌÓ ÅappleÒ- ÒÂÎÂ, ãâ íóîòúóè ÛÁÌ Î Ó ÚÓÏ, ÚÓ Û Âapple- Ì ÚÓapple íûî Ì ÁÌ ËÎ Â Ó ÏËappleÓ Ï ÒÛ ÂÈ ÔÓ apple ÒÒÏÓÚappleÂÌË ÚflÊ ÏÂÊ Û ÔÓÏÂËÍ - ÏË Ë ÍappleÂÒÚ flì ÏË äapple ÔË Ì. í Ï ÓÌ ÒÏÓ ÓÔÎÓÚËÚ ÊËÁÌ ÌÂÍÓÚÓapple ÔappleË̈ËÔ ÒÓˆË Î ÌÓÈ ÒÔapple  ÎË ÓÒÚË, ËÌÓ Á- fl Ì ÏÂÒÚÌÓ Ó ÓappleflÌÒÚ. èó Ó fl ËÚÓ, ÏÓÊÌÓ ÒÍ Á Ú, ÚÓ ÔÓ- ÂÁ Í Î Îfl ã íóîòúó Ó ÔappleÓ ÛÍÚË ÌÓÈ. ë appleû ÓÈ ÒÚÓappleÓÌ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ÎËÚÂapple - ÚÓapple, ò appleî Ñ äóòúâapple Ë åóappleëò åâúâapple- ÎËÌÍ, Î ÛappleÂ Ú çó ÂΠÒÍÓÈ ÔappleÂÏËË 1911 Ó, ÔÓÎ ÁÛÚÒfl ÛÒÔÂýÓÏ êóòòëë. ÖÂ Ó ËÌ ÔËÒ ÚÂÎ, ùïëî ÇÂappleý appleâì, ÒÓ Âapple ËÚ ÚappleËÛÏÙ Î ÌÛ ÔÓÂÁ ÍÛ ÔÓ êóòòëë. çâíó- ÚÓappleÂ Â Ó ÔappleÓËÁ  ÂÌËfl Û ÛÚ ÎÂÒÚfl ÔÂapple  ÂÌ Ì appleûòòíëè fláí è ÒÚÂappleÌ ÍÓÏ. stay in Belgium was to study the education system. He visited numerous schools, took note of all that he saw, and questioned everyone willing to give him an answer on this subject that fascinated him. The result was a new article on education. Turning everything to good use, he began his story 'Polikushka', based on a story from the Russian countryside related to him by one of the daughters of Prince Dondukov-Korsakov. It was in Brussels, too, that Leo Tolstoy learned of his appointment by the governor of Tula to the position of magistrate to rule on disputes between landowners and peasants in the fourth district of the Krapivna region. There he would be able to apply certain principles of social justice, sometimes greatly angering the region's notable figures. At the very least, we can say that this stay was profitable for Leo Tolstoy. In turn, the Belgian writers Charles De Coster and Maurice Maeterlinck, the 1911 Nobel Prize laureate, enjoyed great success in Russia. Another literary figure, Emile Verhaeren, made a triumphant tour there. Some of his work was translated into Russian superbly by none other than Pasternak

21 21 ÅÂÎ Ëfl, ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌ fl ÒÚapple Ì... Îfl Ó ÌËý. Belgium, land of welcome for some èappleë Ï ÎÂÌÌÓÏ apple Á ËÚËË ÂÏÓÍapple ÚËË êóòòëèòíóè ËÏÔÂappleËË ÌÂ Ó Ó ÎÓÒ ÂÁ Ì ÒËÎËfl Ë ÓÎÌÂÌËÈ. Ç Ò ÏÓÈ êóòòëë ÚÓÚ ÔappleÓˆÂÒÒ Î ÓÚÏ ÂÌ ÏÌÓ Ó ËÒÎÂÌÌÏË ÍÚ ÏË ÚÂappleappleÓappleËÁÏ, ÊÂappleÚ ÏË ÍÓÚÓappleý ÒÚ ÎË ñ apple ÄÎÂÍÒ Ì apple II 1878 Ó Û Ë èappleâ Ò ÚÂÎ ëó ÂÚ ÏËÌËÒÚappleÓ ëúóî- ÔËÌ 1911 Ó Û. á ÚËÏ ÔÓÒÎÂ Ó ÎË appleâ ËÚÂÎ ÌÂ Ë ÔÓÒÎÂ Ó ÚÂÎ Ì ÂÈÒÚ Ëfl appleûòòíóè ÔÓ- ÎˈËË, ÍÓÚÓapple ÌÛ ËÎË ÏÌÓ Ëý ÔÂappleÂ- Ó ý Î ÂÈ ÛÂý Ú Á apple ÌˈÛ,  ÓÌË ÏÓ ÎË Ò ÓÎ ÂÈ Ò Ó Ó ÓÈ Á ÌËÏ Ú Òfl appleâ ÓΈËÓÌÌÓÈ ÂflÚÂÎ ÌÓÒÚ. äóìòúë- ÚÛˆËÓÌÌ fl ÏÓÌ appleýëfl ÅÂÎ ËË Î ÓÒÓ- ÂÌÌÓ ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌÓÈ Îfl ÚÂý, ÍÓ Ó Ï Ì ÒÓ ÒÂÏ Ôapple ËÎ ÌÓ Ì Á ÂÏ «ÌË ËÎË- ÒÚ ÏË». åìó Ë ÂflÚÂÎË appleóòòëèòíóè ÓÔ- ÔÓÁˈËË Ó ÎË ÎÂÚÓÔËÒ äóappleóîâ ÒÚ, ÔappleÓ Ó fl Á ÂÒ ÁÌ ÏÂÌ ÚÂÎ Ì Îfl Ë- ÊÂÌËfl ÒÓ Â ÌËfl. ç ÔappleËÏÂapple, 1877 Ó Û ÍÌflÁ äappleóôóú- ÍËÌ, Ó ËÌ ËÁ appleûíó Ó ËÚÂÎÂÈ appleûòòíëý Ì appleýëòúó, ÒÓ apple Î ÇÂapple Â Ò Ïý flappleý Ò ÓËý ÒÚÓappleÓÌÌËÍÓ. éì ýóúâî ÌÂÈÚapple ÎËÁÓ Ú ÒÓ- ˆË Î- ÂÏÓÍapple ÚÓ Ì Ôapple ÒÚÓflÂÏ ÒÓ apple - ÌËË èâapple Ó Ó àìúâappleì ˆÓÌ Î, ÍÓÚÓappleÓ ÒÓ- ÒÚÓflÎÓÒ ÚÓÏ ÊÂ Ó Û ÉÂÌÚÂ, Ë ÍÒÚ ÚË Á ÍÓÌ ËÎÓÒ Â Ó appleóòôûòíóï. Ç 1900 ÅappleÓ ëóˆë ÎËÒÚË ÂÒÍÓ Ó àì- ÚÂappleÌ ˆËÓÌ Î apple ÁÏ ÂÚÒfl ÅappleÒÒÂÎÂ. ä ÏËÎ ïfièòï ÌÒ ËÁ apple Ì 1905 Ó Û Â Ó ÂÌÂapple Î ÌÏ ÒÂÍappleÂÚ appleâï Ì Í ÌÛÌ apple Áapple- Ò ÓÎ Â ËÍ ÏË. í ÍÊ ÅappleÒÒÂÎÂ, 1903 Ó Û, ÒÓ Ëapple ÂÚÒfl ÇÚÓappleÓÈ äóì appleâòò appleóòòëèòíóè ÒÓˆË- Î- ÂÏÓÍapple ÚË ÂÒÍÓÈ apple Ó ÂÈ Ô appleúëë. ãâ- The slow democratic evolution of imperial Russia did not come about without impatience and violence. In Russia itself, the process was marked by numerous dramatic assassinations, including those of Tsar Alexander II in 1878 and President of the Council of Ministers Stolypin in These were followed by firm and ongoing action by the Russian police that led many progressives to go into exile to conduct their revolutionary activity with greater freedom. As a constitutional monarchy, Belgium seemed particularly hospitable to those referred to, somewhat incorrectly, as 'nihilists'. Several figures of the Russian opposition thus gained renown in the Kingdom by organising major meetings there that played a prominent role in the history of the movement. In 1877, for example, Prince Kropotkin, one of the leaders of Russian anarchism, gathered his most ardent supporters in Verviers. His goal was to counter the social democrats in the impending meeting of the First International, which was held in Ghent the same year and also marked its dissolution. In 1900, the International Socialist Bureau met in Brussels. Camille Huysmans became its secretary general in 1905, before his break with the Bolsheviks shortly thereafter. The second Congress of the Russian Workers' Social Democratic Party was also held in Brussels in Lenin's radical positions prevailed there, but here again caused a final split that was a major factor èëò ÏÓ ãâìëì ä ÏËÎ ïfièòï ÌÒÛ Letter from Lenin to Camille Huysmans

22 22 ÌËÌ Á ÈÏÂÚ apple ËÍ Î ÌÛ ÔÓÁˈË, ÚÓ ÔÓ- ΠÂÚ Á ÒÓ ÓÈ ÓÍÓÌ ÚÂÎ ÌÈ apple ÒÍÓÎ, ÍÓÚÓappleÓÈ Û ÂÚ ËÏÂÚ ÚflÊÂΠÔÓÒΠÒÚ Ëfl Îfl ËÒÚÓappleËË êóòòëë Ì Î ˆ ÚÓ Ó Â- Í, ÓÚÍapple fl ÔÓΠÂflÚÂÎ ÌÓÒÚË ÓÎ Â- ËÒÚÒÍËÏ ÍÒÚappleÂÏËÒÚ Ï. èappleëòûúòú Ë ÅÂÎ ËË å appleíò Ë ùì- ÂÎ Ò, ÓÔÛ ÎËÍÓ Ëý ÅappleÒÒÂÎÂ Ò ÓÈ «å ÌËÙÂÒÚ ÍÓÏÏÛÌËÒÚË ÂÒÍÓÈ Ô appleúëë», ÔappleËÚfl Ë ÎÓ appleâ ÓΈËÓÌÂappleÓ. êûòòí fl ÏÓ- ÎÓ ÂÊ ËÌÚÂappleÂÒÛÂÚÒfl ÒÓˆË ÎËÒÚË ÂÒÍËÏ ËÊÂÌËÂÏ ÅÂÎ ËË, Ì ÍÓÚÓappleÓÂ Ò Ó Ó ÂappleÂ, ÔÓ ÎËflÚ ÌÂÍÓÚÓappleÂ Ë ÂË appleûò- ÒÍÓÈ ÓÔÔÓÁˈËË. äóappleóîâ ÒÍÓ Ôapple ËÚÂÎ - ÒÚ Ó ÚÂappleÔËÏÓ ÓÚÌÓÒËÚÒfl Í ÚÓÏÛ appleóêâ- ÌË, ÂÒÎË ÓÌÓ Ì ÒÓÔappleÓ ÓÊ ÂÚÒfl Ì ÒË- ÎËÂÏ. ÑÂÎÓ É Ì ÓappleÂÌ (ÒÎÛ ÈÌÈ Áapple ÓÏ, Û Ë ÂÈ Â ΠÂÎ ˆ ) Ë ÚÂappleappleÓappleË- ÒÚË ÂÒÍË ÍÚ, ËÏ Ë ÏÂÒÚÓ 1894 Ó- Û ã ÂÊÂ, Û Óapple Ê Ú Ó ÂÒÚ ÂÌÌÓ ÏÌÂ- ÌËÂ. èóúóïû ÂÎ ËÈÒÍ fl ÒÎÛÊ ÂÁÓ- Ô ÒÌÓÒÚË ÌËÏ ÚÂÎ ÌÓ ÒΠËÚ Á ÚËÏË ÔÓ- ÚÂÌˆË Î ÌÏË Ì appleû ËÚÂÎflÏË ÒÔÓÍÓÈÒÚ- Ëfl Ë ÍÚË ÌÓ ÒÓÚappleÛ ÌË ÂÚ Ò ˆ appleòíóè ÔÓ- ÎˈËÂÈ Ë Â ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËÏË appleâáë ÂÌÚ ÏË. íâï Ì ÏÂÌÂÂ, ÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ΠÒÚË ÒÂ Û ÛÚ ÓÒÚÂÔappleËËÏÌ ÔÓ ÓÚÌÓ ÂÌË Í ËÌÓ- ÒÚapple ̈ Ï «...ÍÓÚÓapple Ì ÏÂ Ë ÚÒfl ÔÓÎËÚËÍÛ ÅÂÎ ËË Ë ÌÂ Ì appleû Ú Ó ÂÒÚ- ÂÌÌÈ ÔÓapplefl ÓÍ». çâ ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓ Á Âapple ËÚ ÚÛ ÚÂÏÛ, Ì ÛÔÓÏflÌÛ Ó ÁÌ ËÚÂÎ ÌÓÏ ËÒΠappleûòòíëý  appleââ Ë ÔÓÎflÍÓ, ÒÓÒÚ Îfl Ëý Ó appleâ Ó- ΈËË «appleûòòíû» ÏË apple ˆË ÅÂÎ ËË. åìó Ë Ëý ÌËý ÔÛÒÚflÚ Á ÂÒ Ò ÓË ÍÓappleÌË, ÓÒÓ ÂÌÌÓ ÄÌÚ ÂappleÔÂÌÂ, ˆÂÌÚapple ÎÏ Á- ÌÓ Ó ÒÂÍÚÓapple, Ë ËÌ ÛÒÚappleË Î ÌÓÏ ã ÂÊÂ. in the Russian history of the beginning of the century by leaving the field open to the most extreme Bolshevism. The presence in Belgium of Marx and Engels, who published their Communist Manifesto in Brussels, served as a magnet for revolutionaries. Young Russians were keenly interested in the Belgian social movement, which in turn was receptive to some ideas of the Russian opposition. This hotbed of activity was tolerated rather well by the Kingdom's government, except when it became violent. The Ganshoren affair (when a bomb exploded accidentally, killing the person carrying it) and the attacks in Liège in 1894 understandably upset public opinion. In addition, the Belgian public safety authorities (Sureté publique), keeping a close eye on these potential agitators, actively collaborated with the Tsar's police and nationals in Belgium. That being said, the Belgian authorities always respected the laws of hospitality to any foreigner "who does not become involved in Belgian politics and does not disturb public order". We cannot leave this subject without highlighting the important role played by Russian Jews and Poles who comprised the 'Russian' emigration in Belgium before the revolution. Many of them put down roots there, notably in Antwerp, the diamond centre, and Liège, the leading industrial centre. èâapple Ó ËÁ ÌË ÅappleÒÒÂΠå ÌËÙÂÒÚ ÍÓÏÏÛÌËÒÚË ÂÒÍÓÈ Ô appleúëë First edition of the Communist Party Manifesto by Karl Marx in Brussels

23 23 ëåìíçéö ÇêÖåü: ÇéâçÄ à êöçéãûñàü THE TIME OF TROUBLES: WAR AND REVOLUTION

24

25 25 ùôóôâfl Ò appleóìâ ËÍ ÏË The epic tale of self-propelled guns èâapple fl ÏËappleÓ fl ÓÈÌ ÒÚ ÌÂÚ Í Ú ÒÚappleÓÙÓÈ, ÔÓ ÎÂÍ ÂÈ Á ÒÓ ÓÈ ÛÌË ÚÓÊÂÌË ÁÌ ËÚÂÎ ÌÓÈ ÒÚË ÏÓÎÓ ÂÊË ÒÚ appleóè Ö - appleóô. ùú ÒÛapple Ì fl ÓÈÌ ÔÓappleÓ ËÚ Ûý ýëïâapple, apple Á apple ÚË Ëý Û Ë Í Í êóòòëë, Ú Í Ë ÉÂappleÏ ÌËË. Ç 1914 Ó Û, ÅÂÎ Ëfl ÒÚ ÌÓ ËÚÒfl ÔappleÂ- apple ÓÈ Ì ÔÛÚË ÔappleÓ ËÊÂÌËfl ÂappleÏ ÌÒÍÓÈ appleïëë. á ËÚÌËÍË ã ÂÊ Ë ç Ïapple, Á - ÚÂÏ Ë ÄÌÚ ÂappleÔÂÌ, ÓÍ Á ÎË apple Û ÏÛÊÂÒÚ- ÂÌÌÓ ÒÓÔappleÓÚË ÎÂÌËÂ, ÂÏ Á ÎË Û ÊÂ- ÌËÂ, Í Í ÒÓÁÌËÍÓ, Ú Í Ë ÔappleÓÚË ÌËÍÓ. ç applefl Û Ò appleìëáóì ÏË ÍappleÂÔÓÒÚÂÈ, ÂÈ- ÒÚ Û fl appleïëfl ÔÓ ÍÓÏ Ì Ó ÌËÂÏ äóappleóîfl ÄÎ ÂappleÚ I Á ÂappleÊË ÂÚ ÓÎ Û ÒÚ ÌÂψÍËý ÓÈÒÍ ÔÓ ÄÌÚ ÂappleÔÂÌÓÏ, ÚÓ Á ÚÂÏ ÓÚÒÚÛÔËÚ Á ÚÓÔÎÂÌÌÛ Ó- ÎËÌÛ àáâapple,  ÓÍÓÌ ÚÂÎ ÌÓ Û fláìâú ÒÂ- ÂappleÌ fl appleûôô apple ÊÂÒÍËý ÓÈÒÍ. ëúóèíóòú ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÈ appleïëë, Ë ÓÒÓ ÂÌÌÓ Â äóappleóîfl, Û ÂÚ Á Ú ÓÒýËÂÌËÂ. àá ÂÒÚÌÈ appleûòòíëè ýû ÓÊÌËÍ êâôëì ÔÓÒ flúëú ÚÓÈ ÚÂ- ÏÂ Ó ÌÓ ËÁ Ò ÓËý ÔÓÎÓÚÂÌ. ë Ï äóappleóî, Í Í Ë Â Ó Ôapple ÓÍ ãâóôóî I, Û ÂÚ Ì apple - Ê ÂÌ ÍappleÂÒÚÓÏ ë flúó Ó ÉÂÓapple Ëfl, Ë ÂÒÚ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓ Ó Ì appleó Û ÂÚ ÓÚÎËÚ Ï Î. èâappleâïââìëâ ÓÈÒÍ ÔappleÂÍapple ÂÚÒfl Ì ÂÚapple Ó. ä ÎÂappleËfl Ë ÔÂapple  appleóìëappleó ÌÌ ÒÚË ÓÒÚ ÎËÒ, ÂÒÎË ÏÓÊÌÓ Ú Í apple ÁËÚ Òfl, ÂÁ apple ÓÚ. à Âfl Ó ÔÂapple appleó- ÒÍ êóòòë ÂÒÔÓÎÂÁÌý Ì Á ÚÓÔÎÂÌ- Ìý apple ÌËÌ ý ÓÈÒÍ, ÓÔÎÓÚËÎ Ò ÊËÁÌ Î Ó applefl ÌÂÍÓÚÓappleÏ Î ËÚÂÎflÏ ÚÓÒÔÓappleÚ, ËÒΠÍÓÚÓappleý èappleëìˆ ÅÓ Û- Ì Â ãëì Ë Å appleóì  äóòúâapple, Ë ÓÒÓ ÂÌ- ÌÓ Î Ó applefl ÂflÚÂÎ ÌÓÒÚË, ÓÂÌÌÓ Ó Ú- Ú Â è appleëêâ, Ï ÈÓapple äóîîóì. àïâììó ÓÌ 1915 Ó Û ÒÓÁ ÂÚ äóappleôûò ÅappleÓÌËappleÓ- ÌÌý ë ÏÓýÓ Ìý èû ÂÍ (äåëè). 15 The First World War was a disaster, sacrificing a large part of old Europe's youth on the altar of a desire for power, death and destruction. This absurd war gave rise to two chimeras that perverted the very soul, in Russia and in Germany. In 1914, Belgium was an obstacle to the advance of the German armies. The fortified cities of Liège, Namur, and later on Antwerp put up a spirited resistance to the enemy that earned them the respect of their allies and adversaries alike. Besides the fortress troops, the army in the field led by King Albert I pinned down the bulk of the German troops at Antwerp, then withdrew to the flooded plain of Yser where the extreme north of the enemy advance was bogged down for good. The conduct of the Belgian army, and in particular its King, won the admiration of contemporaries. The great Russian painter Repin made it the subject of one of his works. The King himself, like his ancestor Leopold I, was decorated with the cross of Saint George and a medal was struck in honour of the Belgian people. The war of movement thus ended for four years and the cavalry units and first armoured units were, so to speak, unemployed. The idea of transferring to Russia these troops that could not be used on the flooded plains was the brainchild of certain motoring enthusiasts, including Prince Baudouin de Ligne and Baron de Coster, and also thanks in particular to the activity of Major Collon, Military Attaché in Paris. It was he who created the self-propelled machine gun corps in The new corps left Brest on 15 September for Arkhangelsk,

26 26 ÒÂÌÚfl applefl ÚÓÚ ÍÓappleÔÛÒ ÓÚÔapple ÎflÂÚÒfl Ì ÍÓapple ΠËÁ ÅappleÂÒÚ Ó Äappleý Ì ÂÎ ÒÍ, ÓÚ- ÚÛ Í Ò ÓÂÏÛ ÔÂapple ÓÏÛ ÏÂÒÚÛ apple ÒÔÓÎÓÊÂ- ÌËfl, èâúâapple ÓÙ. èó ÍÓÏ Ì Ó ÌËÂÏ Ò ÓÂ Ó ÚÓappleÓ Ó ÍÓÏ Ì Ëapple, Ï ÈÓapple ëâïâ- Ú, ÓÌ Û ÂÚ Òapple Ê Ú Òfl Ì appleûòòíóï ÙappleÓÌ- ÚÂ, ÒÚÌÓÒÚË É ÎˈËË, Û ÒÚ Ûfl Ó ÏÌÓ Ëý Óflý. íflêâîâ appleóìëappleó ÌÌÂ Ï ËÌ, ÓÒÌ ÂÌÌÂ Ë ÚÂÎflÏË åë- ÌÂapple (ÔÓÒΠÌ ÒÎÓ Ó ÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓ Ó - ÚÓÏÓ ËÎÂÒÚappleÓÂÌËfl ÚÓ Ó appleâïâìë) apple Á Ë - Ú ÒÍÓappleÓÒÚ Ó ÍÏ Ò. ÅÂÎ ËÈ- ÒÍË appleóìâ ËÍË ÔappleÂÍapple ÒÌÓ ÔappleÓfl ËÎË ÒÂ- fl, ËÒÔÓÎ ÁÛfl appleâòûappleò ÏÓappleÒÍËý 37ÏËÎÎË- ÏÂÚappleÓ ý ÒÍÓappleÓÒÚappleÂÎ Ìý ÓappleÛ ËÈ Ë ÔÛ- ÎÂÏÂÚÓ ÙËappleÏ ïó ÍËÌÒ. ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍÓÏÛ ÍÒÔ ˈËÓÌÌÓÏÛ ÍÓappleÔÛÒÛ, ÓÒÓ Ó ÓÚÎË Ë ÂÏÛÒfl Óflý Û ÇÓappleÓ Â ÍË, á ÓappleÓ, Ë äóìíó, ÌÂÓ ÌÓÍapple ÚÌÓ Ó fl ÎflÎ Ò Î Ó appleìóòú ÔappleËÍ ÁÂ. ä 1917 Ó Û ËÁÏÛ ÂÌÌ fl appleóòòëèòí fl appleïëfl ÛÍ Î ÌÓ apple ÒÒÔ ÂÚÒfl. ñ appleòíëè appleâêëï appleûýìûî, Ë ÔÓÒΠ̠ÓÎ ÓÈ ÂÏÓÍapple - ÚË ÂÒÍÓÈ Ô ÛÁ ÔappleË äâappleâìòíóï, Í Î ÒÚË ÔappleË Î ËÍÚ ÚÛapple ÓÎ Â ËÍÓ, ÔÓ ÔË- Ò Ëý ÅappleÂÒÚ-ãËÚÓ ÒÍËÈ ÏËappleÌÈ Ó Ó Óapple. ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍËÈ ÍÓappleÔÛÒ ÓÚýÓ ËÚ ÓÚ ÎËÌËË ÙappleÓÌÚ. çó ÏËapple ÌÂ Ì ÒÚÛÔËÎ. êóòòëfl Ó - ÌÂ Ë ÍappleÓ Ë, Íapple ÒÌÂ Ë ÂΠ ÛÚ ÓÊÂÒ- ÚÓ ÂÌÌ ÓË îëìîflì ËË, ëë ËappleË, Ì äû ÌË Ë Ì ìíapple ËÌÂ. Ç ÚÓÏ Ëýapple ÏflÚÂ- ÊÂÈ Ë ÍappleÂÒÚ flìòíëý ÓÎÌÂÌËÈ ÂÎ ËÈ- ÒÍËÈ ÍÓappleÔÛÒ ÒÏÓ ÒÔ ÒÚËÒ Î Ó applefl Ò - ÏÓ ËÒˆËÔÎËÌÂ, ÒÔÎÓ ÂÌÌÓÒÚË, Ë Ò ÒÚÎË- ÓÏÛ ÒÎÛ. ùúó ÔappleÓËÁÓ ÎÓ ÒÓ Âapple ÂÌÌÓ ÌÂÓÊË ÌÌÓ. Ç äëâ  Íapple ÒÌ Òapple Ê ÎËÒ Ò ÔÂÚÎappleÓ ˆ ÏË, Ë ÍÓappleÔÛÒ appleóìâ ËÍÓ from where it went to its first encampment at Peterhof. Under the command of Major Semet, its second in command, it fought on the Russian front, in particular in Galicia, taking part in numerous battles. The heavy armoured vehicles were mounted on various chassis and reached speeds of 80 to 90 kilometres an hour thanks to their Minerva engine (the ultimate in Belgian automotive engineering of the day). The Belgian self-propelled gun turned its 37-mm rapid-fire naval guns and its Hotchkins machine-guns to its advantage. Mentioned several times in dispatches of the Russian army, the Belgian expeditionary corps distinguished itself in particular at Vorobievka, Zborov and Koniuki. Yet by 1917 the Russian army, worn out by exhaustion and hardship, crumbled everywhere. The tsarist regime collapsed, and after Kerensky's brief democratic transition gave way to the Bolshevik dictatorship, which signed the Brest-Litovsk treaty ñ apple çëíóî È II ÓÒÏ ÚappleË ÂÚ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍË appleóìâ ËÍË Tsar Nicolas II inspecting the Belgian armoured cars

27 27 Î Ô apple ÎËÁÓ Ì. çó ÌÓ È ÓÎ Â ËÒÚ- ÒÍËÈ ýóáflëì ÚÓ Ó ÓappleÓ, Ô ÏflÚ Ó Ò - ÒÚÎË ý Ó ý Û Â ã ÂÊÂ, ÂÎflÂÚ ÔÓÂÁ, ÍÓÚÓappleÈ Û ÓÁËÚ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËÈ ÍÓapple- ÔÛÒ ÔÓ íapple ÌÒÒË Û Ì ÇÓÒÚÓÍ. ùúó Î ÓÚ- ÌÓÒËÚÂÎ ÌÓ ÂÁÓÔ ÒÌÈ ÔÛÚ, Óýapple ÌflÂÏÈ Â ÒÍËÏË Î ËÓÌÂapple ÏË, ÍÓÚÓapple ÌÂÌ Ë- ÂÎË Íapple ÒÌý. èóòîâ ÏÌÓ Ó ËÒÎÂÌÌý ÔÂappleËÔÂÚËÈ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËÈ ÍÓappleÔÛÒ ÔappleË Î Ó ÇÎ Ë Ó- ÒÚÓÍ (í Î ÒÒ! -- åóappleâ!!), ÓÚÍÛ ÔÓ íëýóïû ÓÍ ÌÛ Ì Ôapple ËÎÒfl ëòä, Ë Î - Ì Á Ô ÌÈ ÙappleÓÌÚ. ìˆâîâ ËÏ Ôapple ÒÚ - ËÎ Ò ÌÓ fl ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓÒÚ ÒÓ Âapple Ú ÔÓ Ë Ë Ë appleëòíó Ú ÒÓ ÓÈ Ó appleâïfl ÔÓ-  ÌÓ Ó Ì ÒÚÛÔÎÂÌËfl, ÔÓÎÓÊË Â Ó ÍÓ̈ ÓÎ ÓÈ ÓÈÌÂ. ùúóú ÒÓ appleâïâììè ÄÌ ÒËÒ ÔÓÒÎÛÊËÎ ÔÓ Ó ÓÏ Îfl ÒÓÁ ÌËfl ÁÂÚ apple Ú Â íëappleë, Ó ËÌ ËÁ ÍÓÚÓappleý, å appleòâî, ÒÚ Î ËÁ ÂÒÚÌÏ ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËÏ ÔËÒ ÚÂÎÂÏ. ë ÔÂapple Ó Ó Ë Ó ÔÓ- ÒΠÌÂ Ó Ìfl ÓÌ ÒÎÛÊËÎ appleóìâíóappleôûòâ Ë ÒÚ Î Îfl ÌÂ Ó ÍÂÏ-ÚÓ appleó  äòâìóùóì. with the Central Powers. The Belgian corps retreated from the front, but peace was not an option. Russia was being ransacked and pillaged. The Reds and Whites fought each other fiercely in Finland, Siberia, the Kuban and even in Ukraine. In the chaos of mutinies and peasant revolts, the Belgian corps owed its salvation to its discipline and cohesion. It also had a great deal of luck, which presented itself in unexpected form when the corps found itself paralysed in Kiev where Petlura independence fighters were fighting the Bolsheviks. The new Bolshevik ruler of Kiev, recalling his life as a happy student in Liège, took pity on the Belgians and obtained a train for them that took them eastward on the Trans-Siberian. Fortunately for the corps, the route was more or less protected by the Czech legion hostile to the Reds. After numerous adventures the Belgian corps reached the sea at Vladivostok (Thalassa, Thalassa!!) and made its way back to the Western front via the Pacific Ocean and the United States. The survivors there once again had an opportunity for risk and adventure in the victorious offensive that put an end to the great carnage. This military expedition, a veritable modern 'Anabasis', was the subject of a diary written by the Thiry brothers, of whom Marcel became an esteemed writer in Belgium. He served on the self-propelled guns from the first day to the last, and in his role as narrator, became, as it were, the Xenophon of this tale.

28 28 ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ÍÒÔ ÚappleË ÌÚ ÓÚ flììóï ÔÓÎÓÊÂÌËË The Belgian expatriates in dire straits ÅÂÎ ËÈÒÍË ÒÓÎ Ú ÒÏÓ ÎË ÔappleÂÓ Ó- ÎÂÚ ÓÎ Ë ÚappleÛ ÌÓÒÚË Î Ó applefl Ò ÓÂÈ ÒÔÎÓ ÂÌÌÓÒÚË Ë ÏÓÎÓ ÓÒÚË. çó ËÁÓÎËappleÓ- ÌÌ ÒÂÏ Ë apple Ê ÌÒÍËý ÒÔÂˆË ÎËÒÚÓ, apple ÒÒÂflÌÌ ÔÓ ÒÂÈ ËÏÔÂappleËË, ÂÁ ÓÒÚÓ- ÂappleÌÓÈ ËÌÙÓappleÏ ˆËË, Ì ÔÛ ÌÌ apple ÁÌÓappleÂ Ë ÏË ÒÎÛý ÏË, ÒÚÓ ÓÍ Á ÎËÒ Úfl- ÊÂÎÓÏ ÔÓÎÓÊÂÌËË. èóòóî ÒÚ Ó Ë ÍÓÌÒÛÎ ÒÚ ÂÎ Ú Ò ÓÁÏÓÊÌÓÂ, ÚÓ apple Ú Òfl ËÁ ý ÓÒ Ë ÔÓÏÓ Ò ÓËÏ ÒÓÓÚ ÂÒÚ ÂÌÌËÍ Ï. ÜÎ ÑÂÒÚappleÂ, ÌÓ È ÔÓÒÎ ÌÌËÍ ÅÂÎ ËË, ÔÓÔ- Ú ÎÒfl Âý Ú ÂappleÂÁ îëìîflì Ë. çó ÓË ÔÓÏ ÎË ÂÏÛ, Ë ÓÌ ÏÂÒÚ ÒÓ Ò ÓËÏ ÓÂÌ- ÌÏ ÚÚ Â, ÂÌÂapple ÎÓÏ Â êëíâîâï, ÍÓÌ- ˆÂ ÍÓ̈Ó, ÔÓÔ ÂÚ äëú È. ä ÔËÚ ÌÛ çëíâáû ÎÓ ÔÓappleÛ ÂÌÓ Óapple- ÌËÁÓ Ú ÍÛ ˆË ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËý ÂÊÂÌ- ˆÂ ÂappleÂÁ Äappleý Ì ÂÎ ÒÍ. Ç ÑÓ̈ÍÂ, Â Ì ýó ËÎÓÒ ÏÌÓ Ó ÂÎ ËÈÒÍËý ÔappleÓÏ ÎÂÌÌËÍÓ, apple Ó Ë ÒÚÂÍÓÎ ËÍË ÒÙÓappleÏËappleÓ ÎË ÂÎÓÌ. èó- ÂÁ ËÁ 120 ÓÌÓ Îfl ÒÍÓÚ ÂÁ ËÁ ÓappleÓ ÂÎ ËȈÂ, ÚÓÏ ËÒΠÊÂÌ- Whilst the Belgian soldiers experienced grave difficulties, at least they had cohesion and youth on their side. The civilian expatriates, scattered throughout the Empire and isolated with their families, were often in an appalling situation, lacking credible information and terrified by conflicting rumours. The Legation (embassy) and consulates did what they could to extricate themselves from the chaos and help the expatriates do likewise. Initially, Jules Destrée, Belgium's new envoy, sought to rejoin Finland. The fighting prevented him from doing so, and he ended up retreating to China with his military attaché, General de Rickel. Captain Nicaise, the Legation's deputy, was assigned to organise the travel of Belgian refugees via Arkhangelsk. There were many Belgian industries located in the Donets basin, including a large number of glassworks. The glass workers formed a convoy. A train comprising 120 cattle cars carried 2,000 Belgians,

29 29 ËÌ Ë ÂÚÂÈ. ùúó ÔÛÚ ÂÒÚ Ë ÒÚ ÎÓ Ì - ÒÚÓflËÏ ÍappleÂÒÚÌÏ ÔÛÚÂÏ. èóúappleâ Ó ÎÓÒ ÚappleË Ì ÂÎË Îfl ÚÓ Ó, ÚÓ Ó apple Ú Òfl Ó åûappleï ÌÒÍ. í Ï ÂÊÂ̈ ÔÓÒÂÎËÎË - apple ÍË, ýóîó Ë ÓÎÓ ÒÔÓÒÓ ÒÚ Ó ÎË apple Ò- ÔappleÓÒÚapple ÌÂÌË ÔË ÂÏËÈ. ç ÍÓ̈, ÔÓappleÚ ÓÒ Ó Ó ËÎÒfl ÓÚÓ Î, Ë ÂÎÓÌ ÒÏÓ ÓÚ- Ôapple ËÚ Òfl çóapple  Ë. çâíóúóappleâ Û ÛÚ ÚÂÚÌÓ ÔÚ Ú Òfl ÔÓÍËÌÛÚ êóòòë ÂappleÂÁ û, ÌÓ ÌÂψ Ì ìíapple ËÌÂ Ë ÎÓÍ ÅÓÒÙÓapple ÔÂappleÂÍappleÓÚ ËÏ ÔÛÚ. äóâ-íúó ÔÓÔappleÓ ÛÂÚ ÔÓÔ ÒÚ àapple Ì ÂappleÂÁ ä ÒÔËÈÒÍÓ ÏÓappleÂ, ËÌÓ Û ÌÓ. ä Í Ì ÒÔÓÏÌËÚ, ÔappleË ÛÔÓÏËÌ ÌËË Ó ÚÓÏ ÊÂÒÚÓÍÓÏ appleâïâìë, Ì ÔÓÔ ÄÌappleË ãfi ÑÓÍÚÂ. ùúóú ËÌÊÂÌÂapple- appleóìóï Î ÌÛÊ ÂÌ ÒappleÓ ÌÓ ÔÓÍËÌÛÚ êóòòë. à ÓÌ ÓÂÏ Ò Ò ÓÂÈ ÒÛÔappleÛ ÓÈ, å appleëâè å ÚËÎ - ÓÈ ÉÓÏ Ì, ÔappleÓ ÂÎ Î ÔÛÚ ËÁ ÓappleÓ óâapple- Í ÒÒ Ó ÅÂÎ ËË ÂappleýÓÏ Ì ÎÓ flý. including women and children. The voyage was a true ordeal. It took three weeks to reach Murmansk, where the refugees were packed into shacks in which the cold and hunger fostered epidemics. Finally, the port was freed from the ice and a convoy left for Norway. Others attempted in vain to leave Russia via the south, but the Germans in Ukraine and the blockage of the Bosporus barred their way. Still others tried their luck via the Caspian Sea to Iran, some with success. In recalling these hard times, we are reminded of the epic adventure many years earlier of Henri Le Docte, an agricultural engineer who was forced to hastily leave Russia. He did so with his wife Marie Mathilde Gornand, both of them on horseback from Cherkassy to Belgium. NIL IMPOSSIBILE VOLENTIS. çöí çàóöéé çöçéáåéüçééé Ñãü ÜÖãÄûôÖÉé.