A German farmer welcomes the Peace Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia to the home he shares with Germania and their son who bears toy weapons. The Tsar is backed by France and Great Britain, joined by Serbia and Montenegro. King Nicholas of Montenegro has his pistol at the ready, while King Peter hides behind the Tsar and conceals a smoking bomb. While the other figures are caricatures, the faces of these two kings are accurately rendered. Britain's ships are in the background. Despite the agreement of the Entente Allies to not seek a separate peace, some in Russia supported a peace agreement as early at November, 1914.
Der Friedenszar! 'Lieber Michel: Mein Ehrenwort. Der Friede sei mit Dir.Herzlich wilkommenzum Deutschen HausRenovirt 1871Ultimatum an Russland.Tag on the French soldier: à BerlinThe Peace Tsar! 'Dear Michel: My word of honor. Peace be with you.warm welcomethe German HouseRenovated 1871Ultimatum to Russia.Publisher: Andr. Jos wedge, Frankfurt am MainReverse:Postmarked November 2, 1914Verlag: Andr. Jos Keil, Frankfurt a. M.Publisher: Andr. Jos Keil, Frankfurt am. Main
"It doesn't matter! We shall go through with it. If we have to retreat further we shall retreat, but I'll promise you we shall continue the war to victory. As a matter of fact, I'm only repeating to you what the Emperor and Empress said to me the day before yesterday. They're fortitude itself, both of them. Not a word of complaint or discouragement. They simply help each other to bear up. Not a soul about them, not a soul, I tell you, ever dares mention peace now!"
Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, for Thursday, February 18, 1915. The Ambassador dined with Russian Grand Duke Paul, who lived at Tsarskoïe-Selo, the palace of Tsar Nicholas II outside St. Petersburg. Defeated in the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, the Russians were retreating with heavy losses including 50,000 prisoners. Many in Russia thought the Tsar's German-born wife was pro-German, and influenced the Tsar to seek a separate peace with Germany.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, pp. 288, 289, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925
Paléologue, 1915, 1915-02-18, February, peace, Peace Tsar