Bark, Ex-Finance Minister, with a group of fol-
lowers, had wished early to re-establish some sort
of security in the economic world, and he had
formed an independent financial committee, for
Crimean interests. He was elected its president,
and was then asked to hold out a hand through his
association to the new effort of government. Gladly
this was done, for now, as in old days, Bark is both
liberal and patriotic, always quite ready to offer
the strength of his own personal power and his
association's resources in the country's service.
Sazonoff, equally brave, enthusiastic, and broad in
his views, consented to go to Paris and represent to
the Allies Russia's needs and miseries; he would



148 RUSSIAN PEOPLE

plead for their help, so sorely needed to keep this
new effort alive.
At its birth the young government called upon
the inhabitants of the province to uphold it, by a
proclamation which, freely translated, read:

** According to the resolution of the cotmtry,
state, and municipal cotmcils, the Crimean Govern-
ment comes into office at a critical moment- The
war is nearing its end, but ottr immense, united
Russia no longer exists, though it had lived for more
than a thousand years. Scattered over the present
tom-up divisions of the land, bodies of evil-minded
conspirators are bringing into existence sentiments
of hatred, smallness, and selfishness. They are de-
stroying what we had of culture and of law, of right
and civilization.
