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We're on good terms with them because of course we've been spending any amount of money on that railroad.”
The progress on that railroad and the work on that railroad was well known to the Cabinet. He had spoken of it a number of times and people who had been out on investigating tours had reported on it and on the life of the people on that railroad. It had all been talked about, and Roosevelt was anxious to see that. He wasn't allowed to go near it. They just thought it was part of both Russian and Persian eccentricity to make so much fuss about security. But I think our own Secret Service was jolly well alarmed too about what they knew about the situation.
Anyhow, he slept one night in the American Embassy, and the next morning the Russians came in a great state of mind and said that it was absolutely essential that he move to the Russian Embassy which was in a compound with walls, and could be defended. The American Embassy was an open residence and couldn't be defended. They made it very firm that they were convinced there was a plot against Roosevelt's life, and that they, and they only, could make him safe. He said he would go to the British Embassy, then.
“No. you have to come. The Russian Embassy has got super-guards.”
“This had been guarded for years. Even in the Czar's day, this Embassy was especially guarded because it was very important. We can take care of you.”
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