The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-20
THE GEAR OF RUSSIA
wrx1A HE ABDICATE BECAUSE OF
 PRESENT TROUBLES.
His Visit to the Kaiser to Seek Advice on This Crisis-Balks at Making Peace-Regency Under the
 Dowager Empress.

London special 10 NeW 1ork sun
 Interest in the Russian situation will by no means be confined to the peace negotiations. It is not improbable that developments will occur, perhaps with in a few days, which will be of great historic importance and which will ai- ter the whole present aspect of events. It is not possible to forecast what these developments will be, because great antagonistic forces are at work and no man can say what movement or plan will succeed or what fail.
 There are two or three different pol icies represented. For instance. at the Moscow conference one of the aims was to force the present government to grant reforms, including a national legislature and constitution without removing the present sovereign. Another party led by Prince Yaku- skine scarcely concealed its desire and purpose to sweep away the whole Ro- manoff dynasty.
 Again, we are told that the author ities have discovered vast plot, which was expected to culminate today, Tor destroying the Czar and all the reac- tionary leaders. The secret police have been able to learn no details, but the partial knowledge so alarmed the CZar that he determined to flee from the danger on his yacht.
 There is another element in the sit- uation, however, of which no knowt- edge has yet reached the public. It has been assumed that the court party has no program beyond forcible repression of all attempts to restrict or otherwise interfere with the autocracy. Such an idea credits them with as little sense as has been shown by the Czar him. self during the last few months. They are neither blind nor fools. They real ize fully that the Emperor's vacillation has created a situation which requires substantial concession to popular de- mand, a certain amount of genuine re- form, and, above all, a strong adminis- tration at its source. The CZar's weak ness has so exasperated them that they arc almost hopeless of accomplishing anything under his titular sovereignty. The reader can draw his own cQnclu- sions from that situation.
 Doesn't Want to Admit Defeat.
 Curiously enough. 1t happens that at the present moment. the Emperor is fin a most recalcitrant mood. This has been caused by an incessant fire of tel egrams from Manchuria. not from Com mander-i -in- Chief Linevitch and the prominent commanders alone. Colonels of regiments whost titular chiefs are members of the royal family are pour ing in dispatches addressed direct to the Czar, imploring him not to make peace. It need not be inferred that the motives of these telegrams is belief of the possibility of military success against Field Marshal Oyama, but the Emperor himself naturally so interprets them.
 Their effect has been that Nicholas regards every suggested concession for gaining peace as an affront to the honor of the army and the country, and he Is indisposed to agree to any settlement except on the basis of drawn game. k~ I-1 ta.F Fsa rather than make any peace that is pos sible.
 There is a strong party among the Czar's entouragc who favor peace on any reasonable terms. They are led by the Dowager Empress. It was she who secured the appointment of M. Witte. Her views have considerably in the last few months. espe- cially toward the former Minister of Finance. The Czar made the selection how unwillingy is indt- cated by the fact that at his two in- terviews before M. Witte departed the Emperor scarcely spoke civil or ra- tional word to his peace envoy.
 M. Witte has no detailed instructions from the Czar himself. He spent al- most an entire day with the Dowager Empress, and 1t is with her that he has a full understanding. He is even in ignorance of the Emperor's proposed meeting with the Kaiser, as Is evidenced by his emphatic denials to The Suns Paris correspondent this af- ternoon, after his sovereign had actu- ally sailed.
 Does Cxar Contemplate AbdIcatiOn.
 The question which Is being gravely discussed in high Russian circles today Is: will Nicholas be on the Russian throne when Japan makes known her dem ands to M Witte and his associ- ates? Put in another form, the ques- tion of the hour is: Has the Czar gone to seek advice of the Kaiser upon the proposal of his abdication in favor of a regency In the hands of the Dowagar Empress?
 If such be tn eobject of his mission there cannot be the slightest doubt as to how the influence of Emperor William will be directed. The Kaiser will use his utmost efforts for three ends, to induce Mich olas to retain the crown, to make an early peace and to maintain the autoc racy with the fewest possible conces- sions to the popular demands.
 There Is no man living Of more mas terful personality than the German Emperor. Those who know both men have small doubt as to what will be the result of tomorrow's interview, which will certainly be of greater his toric importance than any modern meeting of monarchs. The imagina- ton, indeed. is staggered by its pos elk IA tDk