The Durnovo Memorandum is outlined on pages 207 ff in the chapter on the Military Doomsday Machine. In his Notes Kissinger names as source: Frank A. Golder, Documents of Russian History 1914-1917, translated by Emanuel Aronsberg (New York Century, 1927) pp9-10.
"The main burden of the war will undoubtedly fall on us, since England is hardly capable of taking a considerable part in a continantal war, while France, poor in manpower, will probably adhere to strictly defensive tactics, in view of the enormous losses by which war will be attended under present conditions of military technique. The part of a battering-ram, making a breach in the very thick of the German defense will be ours ..."
Kissingers interpretation:
"In Durnovo's judgment, these sacrifices would be wasted because Russia would not be able to make permanent territorial gains by fighting on the side of Great Britain, its traditional geopolitical opponent. Though Great Britain would concede gains to Russia in Central Europe, an additional slice of Poland would only magnify the already strong centrifugal tendencies within the Russian Empire. Adding to the Ukrainian population, said Durnovo would spur demands for an independant Ukraine. Therefore, victory might have the ironic result of fostering enough ethnic turmoil to reduce the Tsar's empire to Little Russia"
Hear, hear, ... I find this statement incredibly wise.
... and about the historical goal of overcoming the Dardanelles ... another wise conclusion:
"(It) would not give us an outlet to the open sea, however, since on the other side of them there lies a sea consisting almost wholly of territorial waters, a sea dotted with numerous islands where the British navy, for instance , would have no trouble whatever in closing to us every inlet and outlet, irrespective of the Straits."
Additionally Durnovo comments on the economic profit and loss account. Again very realistic:
"... But even victory promises us extremely unfavorable financial prospects; a totally ruined Germany will not be in a position to compensate us for the cost involved ..."
On the spread of social revolution:
"It is our firm conviction, based upon a long and careful study of all contemporary subversive tendencies, that there must inevitably break out in the defeated country a social revolution which, by the very nature of things, will spread to the country of the victor."
All in all Diplomacy is really an excellent read, easy to understand even for people with other mother tongues. Sometimes however, I thought that this or that fact might have been ill interpreted. Kissinger not only quotes and retells, but likes to give his opinion on the events. At least this was my impression. I enjoyed his Notes giving me further reference material. You know, I am a mental magpie: information here, gossip there, tidbits everywhere.
And yes, I love discussions based on facts (an accountants philosophy I guess). That's what made the interchange on this forum so attractive to me.
Finding English or American books in our libary is usually difficult in particular when it comes to this kind of material ... a small town in Germany with some 13 000 residents has other needs. Shall try to find an inexpensive version of Massie's book on EBAY. Thank you so much for the hint.
My main interests? The last 300 years, focus on Wars and Personalities, not only Russian, also e.g. Marlborough and Prinz Eugen and their fight against a french tyrant. When it comes to Russian I find it interesting how much interaction between the German Culture and Russian one has existed over the centuries. How much crossing over starting with Peter the Great and than Katharina. The change which was incited by blending foreigners such as Katharina into the existing system. She is such an astonishing personality, not only a true leader with vision. She offered thousands of German farmers the possibility to move to Russian soil including in her offer Freedom of Religion, Freedom of taxation and the right to dispose of the land. ... That's what I call headway. Not to talk about all her other achievements ... but I get probably carried away and this was supposed to be on Rasputin. My apologies to everyone who feels this is too much. Will try to stay focused.
that we equally look at the problem of “an impartial narration of historical events”. 
