The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-05
CAR RESPONSIBLE
FOR WAR IN EAST
Had Japan Waited Another Day
She Would Have Been At
tackled First.
STRANGE r EV Citations
Book Suppressed by Order of
Russian Government is Now
Republished.
BERLIN. March 5.

BERLIN. March 5.
Vladimir Burtzeff, whose name is well
known in connection with the Azeff at
fair, has just published noteworthy
book, containing the most essential docu-
ments Of the famous Orange Book.
After the Russo-Japsnese War the RUS
sian Special COMMITTEES in the Far
East" published volume containing the
most important documents relating to the
opening of hostiiities between both coun-
tries. 1t acquired the name of the Orange
Book. and was only published to the
extent of 200 copies. which were distribute
ed among high officials end members OF
the royal family.
A cony of the book fell into the hands
AZ the foreign minister Count Lamsdorn,
who Immediately submitted report TO
the car showing him the folly OF allow.
ing a publication of this characterize cir-
culate. as II threw a most unfasorapie
light on the cars own participation IN
bringing about the war.
Circulation stopped.
The result OF this report was that the
ozar Immediately stopped the circulation
of the Orange Book and ordered ali
cop,es 10 be returned to the palace, where
thew lfaye since been guarded In the ar
chiyes containing secret documents. III
il this book. together with Count Lams-
dorfrs report, that Burtzeff has now puo-
, hshed.
tah,,shss beyond a doubt the cars per-
| sonsl relation to the three leaders of the
/ vain Timber Company, namely, TO Al
r,,ral Abasa, State Secretary Besoorason,
and Admiral Alexeieff, the three men who
| rea,lv brought about the war In the
! interests of a company bent upon ex-
ploitinz the forests of Mancnuria.
| 1t Is only too evident that ~hiie tne
czar openly proclaimed to the woria ina.
= would maintain peace at any cost, ne
| MA. secretly giving his favorites--the
three sSove-named individuals-power to
bring about the war when they thought
latest ~
/ Further, while ministers like Kuropat-
| kin, Lamsdorff and White were opposed
I TO the war and n9f obtained their sover-
eign's adhesion to their plans for avoiding
II. he was dispatching orders of quite a
different nature TO Besoa~asoff and
Afexeieff: and, again. whilst Lanlsdorff
| was comforting In the czar's name with
| Kurino, the Japanese ambassador at st
Petersburg Abasa was comforting Ike
| wise with him. and with similar rights,
| though the trend of his negotiations was
| Numerically opposed to those of the
foreign minister. who was, Of course. kept
| in the dark as to his rivals doings.
| Lucky for Japan.
| Naturally Kurino. who knew that ths
ministers were only puppet shows. turned
a deaf ear to Lamsdorff's attempts al
| peace. listened only to the czar's favorites
| and broke off negotiations as soon as he
saw that Russia was really bent on war
| Then came Japan's sudden attack
sharply criticised by the world at the
time as blow in the dark" Now II
| transpires that had Japan waited one day
longer she would, according to Burtzen
have been suddenly attacked Documeni
| 800 by express order of his imperial
! ma jesty. the GEAR of Russia.