New-York tribune., 1909-03-17
PRISON FOR WITTE
Dgred Government to Execute Order
for His arrest.

copyright. 1909. by the Brentwood Company.l
t1ox intense the enmity toward Count Witte re-
tins IN certain high quarters of St. Petersburg
tes been recently shown once more in connection
s-b the amazing revelations concerning the rela-
f,ns Of the secret political police with the Mill
ssrs and revolutionary leaders. Several very high
rove-rr.ent officials are now imprisoned, accused
- having held intercourse with the Terrorists,
,5e- the plea Of police duty. and an attempt has
+nsr made 10 involve Witte IL charges OF an
-slorous character. In fact-in the early part OF
1ss-rb-it las been virtually decided that he. too
.ro,fd be arrested in his palace the Kamenos-
rovsl Prospekt. and lodged in She prison fortress
II Sis Peter and Paul. along with Lapouchn
I'D others Fortunately for Witte, he was warned
N tine by a friend, the member of the Imperial
~ouncn Kowalewski and WitJe able to con-
.uf- with a number of his influential friends
and 70 intimate to the government that it would
ta fr1,s-udent for them 10 venture 70 detain him
Tho effect Of this was. that while attempt was
made to interfere with Whites liberty, he sum
-ocned 10 appear before a sort of star chamber
committee Of the Council of the Empire, nominated
a. is said, by the Gar. presided over by Of
the grand dukes, and in which Premier Stolypin
,he Minister Of Finance the Minister of the In
,e-ior and several other high dignitaries of the
s1lrsre were comprised Witte appeared before the
committee and. after being subjected to number
n questions was directed 10 furnish within three
6svs documentary proof that he innocent of
she offence Of having held relations with the revo-
l,,-ionists and Of having in any way encouraged
t.erl in ther aggressive attitude toward the gov
eminent
1yitte at first declared his readiness to furnish
the proofs But when the three days had elapsed
he notified the Committee Of the Empire that he
declined 10 produce any sort OF evidence IN PROOF
NJ his loyalty 10 the state; that he declined to
recognize the competence Of any such star chamber
proceedings; that II he held TO have done
T-ro7e he was perfectly ready TO answer in open
9ourt and IN a public trial; that if when Prime
Minister in 1876 after his return nom America, he
bad neeotiated with advanced Radicals and Revo-
1,,-icnists he had possessed full authority and
every right as Premier TO do so, since his only
of77 was 10 bring the revolutionary movement
n an end and restore peace and confidence
a home after having won peace for the en-
rire abroad He added that he dared the govern
mont 10 order his arrest. and that he had SO little
ssar Of The latter that he would not even attempt
"a leave the country, but would remain at MS
home in ST Petersburg. This bcldness on the part
of Viyte seems 10 have proved eThcacious- FOR
,ai-,er the Committee of the Council OF the En-
ri-e nor vet the government, has made any at
+e-n- 70 uloest him. realizing full well the dlsas-
,-o7-s impression which would result therefroTn
eb-oad especially IN the money markets OF Lon
don Paris Berlin, Franfort and Amsterdam. where
il would suffice 20 practically destroy all the pros
meets Of the 81 Petersburg Treasury OF obtaining
on ACCEPTABLE terms the loans OF which it stands In
immediate need.