Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-07
The POSITION
OF TREPOFF.
So Called Dictator of Russia H.
tervieWed Last Night DOuma
a Revolutionary Center.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 7.-General
Trepoff, commandant of the imperial
palace, was interviewed at Peterhof
last night regarding the situation in
Russia. The train on which the cor
respondent went to Peterhof was full
of troops, and the little town swarmed
with soldiers. General Trepoff's house
was guarded by armed police, a neces-
sary precautlon, inasmuch as the gen
.eral is the best hated man by the rev.
dictionary extremists, who make no
secret of their intention of a~ssassinat-
ing him at the first opportunity.
Asked concerning the allegations that
he was virtually dictator and that the
minister's hands were tied, General
Trepoff said the revolutionaries al
ways were harping Oh this note in or
der to discredit the ministry and to try
to prove that the ministers were weak
lings possessing no authority. 1t was,
ne said, a fable spread by enemies of
the countrywide same enemies who
are filling the ears of the peasants with
lies.
The land question:" General Trepoff
said, sis the question of questions.
Personally | consider the governments
land proposals quite acceptable. Pos
sibly further concessions might be
made after reasonable discussion by
parliament. l consider it impossible to
introduce the principle of expropria-
ton. If that is admitted no tenure,
even Dy peasants, is safe"
Talking of the general position of
affairs, General Trepoff deplored the
lack of energy displayed in combating
the revolutionary movement. 1t was
easy to deduce from his remarks that
he considered that Premier Goremy-
kin's place was on the ministerial
bench in the lower house of parlia-
ment and that he should be there daily,
ever watchful and ever ready to reply
to his political opponents.
Discussing parliament, General Ire
poff said that at present it was simply
being utilized as a revolutionary cen
ter. Look at the immunity allowed
M. Aladdin and persons of his stamp"
said the general. THE labor group is
given practically a free hand.
1T seems to me the best solution is
a ministry from the Center party as
being the strongest party. ! admit that
the appointment of such n ministry
would be a great risk, but the risk
would be justified by the urgency of
pacifying the country. Everything
reasonable should be done to restore
order and secure stability by pacific
means. If all these are exhausted
then some other measures may have to
"a devised.
%Ht must not be forgotten that of.
'Geials in the provinces have been driv-
sto q stata4Q desperation by FIRE;
quGut murders and other crimes, OF
whose instigators they were perfectly
aware. However one reprobates them
can one wonder that reprisals should
sometimes be. made? To talk of grant
ing complete amnesty now, when the
papens are full of lists of murdered Of
hcials and when no one in authority is
safe from the bomb. the knife and the
pistol, is sheer nonsense.
Regarding the death penalty, out of
which much political capital is being
made, l personally do not attach much
Importance to it. 1t could, in my opin-
ion. be quickly and easily disposed of"
Turning to the question of disaffec-
ton in the army. General Trepoff de-
clared positively his conviction that the
overwhelming proportion Of the troops
are implicitly loyal and never will turn
against their sovereign. He asserted
that the revolutionary propaganda in
the army is far less than has been al
legged. The revolutionarles. he said,
must be opposed by sound common
sense and. above all, with energy, and
again energy.
1.-The great power of the revolutions
aries,'' General Trepoff declared, lies
In their control Of the press. Political
passions + such that the most prudent
of men have lost their heads and are
raving like lunatics over Utopian
schemes which can only result in blood
and flame"