Robert Bruce Lockhart was born in 1887. He joined the civil service
and in 1912 was appointed as Vice-Counsul in Moscow. Later he was
promoted to Counsul-General and was in Russia
when Nicholas II was overthrown.
Lockhart
was recalled to London but returned to
Russia in January, 1918 as Head of Special Mission. Working with the
British Intelligence agent, Sidney Reilly,
attempts were made to overthrow the Bolshevik
government.
After
Dora Kaplan attempted to assassinate Vladimir
Lenin, Lockhart was arrested by the police. On 2nd October, 1918,
the British government arranged for Lockhart to be exchanged for captive
Soviet officials. Lockhart and Sidney Reilly
were tried and found guilty of espionage and sabotage and were sentenced
to be shot if apprehended.
Lockhart
worked for the Foreign Office until 1922 when he decided to start
a new career in banking. His book, Memoirs
of a British Agent, was published in 1932.
During
the Second World War Lockhart served as Director-General
of the Political Warfare Executive. Robert Bruce Lockhart died in
1970.
(1)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (26th February, 1917)
Revolution
in Moscow. Great scenes in front of Duma. Workmen and Socialists take
the upper hand and encamp in Duma. Troops all come over. No bloodshed
and the crowd on the whole very orderly. No news from Petrograd.
(2)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (8th March, 1917)
Saw Chelnokov
and Oboleshov who has come back from the front. The latter is very
pessimistic about the discipline of the army which is the most important
thing at the present moment.
(3)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, report sent to the British government (13th
March, 1917)
So far
the people of Moscow have behaved with exemplary restraint. For the
moment, only enthusiasm prevails, and the struggle which is almost
bound to ensure between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat has not
yet made its bitterness felt.
The Socialist
Party is at present divided into two groups: the Social Democrats
and Soviet Revolutionaries. The activities of the first named are
employed almost entirely among the work people, while the Social Revolutionaries
work mainly among the peasantry.
The Social
Democrats, who are the largest party, are, however, divided into two
groups known as the Bolsheviki and the Mensheviki. The Bolsheviki
are the more extreme party. They are at heart anti-war. In Moscow
at any rate the Mensheviki represent today the majority and are more
favourable to the war.
(4)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (11th March, 1918)
Went down
to see Trotsky. He is practically dictator of Petrograd. Had a most
interesting talk. He cursed our ignorance bitterly and said we and
France were the only people who did not realize what was happening.
We were accusing him with false documents of Germanophilism, while
his best friends were running him down for having placed too false
hopes on a pre-entente policy.
(5)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (19th April, 1918)
Soviet
decree about women having the right to divorce a man and the latter
not having the right to refuse. Saw Trotsky - fairly satisfactory
but hope is not great. In afternoon had long talk with Chicherin and
Karakhan on subject of agreement. Overwhelmed with work. We have no
staff, and it is impossible to get through half of what we ought to
do.
(6)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (17th July, 1918)
Order out
by Trotsky that no officers belonging to the British or French are
allowed to travel on account of their counter-revolutionary tendencies.
News that the Emperor had been shot at Ekaterinburg.
(7)
After the attempt by Dora Kaplan to assassinate Vladimir
Lenin, Robert Bruce Lockhart was arrested and accused of
being involved in the plot (9th September, 1918)
My prison
here consists of a small hall, a sitting-room, a diminutive bedroom,
a bathroom and a small dressing-room, which I use for my food. The
rooms open on both sides on to corridors so that there is no fresh
air. I have one sentry one side and two on the other. They are changed
every four hours and as each changes, has to come in to see if I am
there. This results in my being woken up at twelve and four in the
middle of the night.
(8)
Robert Bruce Lockhart saw George V after
his return to England, diary entry (23rd October, 1918)
Saw the
King. The King was very nice and showed a surprising grasp of the
situation; he however did most of the talking and during the forty
minutes I was with him I didn't really get much in. He sees pretty
well the need for reforms everywhere, and has a wholesome dread of
Bolshevism.
(9)
Robert Bruce Lockhart, diary entry (25th October, 1918)
After a
week at home it is perfectly obvious that apart from the relief of
having rescued me from the Bolsheviks the Foreign Office is not the
least interested in my account of things. They prefer the reactionaries
who have never even seen Bolshevism. Lord Tyrrell (Head of the Political
Intelligence Department) and Lord Hardinge (Permanent Under-Secretary
at the Foreign Office) are frankly and avowedly hostile and I may
even have difficulty in obtaining another job.
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