The Washington herald., 1916-02-20

been separate peace between Germany
and Russia. Whether the intrigue was
attempted by the princess upon her own
Initiative, whether it was suggested by
high personages at the court of the Gar
or whether the Germans or Austrians APP
preached her as a person who could
bring the proper influence to bear in
Petrograd, the facts at present attain
able do not explain.
Princess Wassilchikoff next appears at
the Russian Embassy at The Hague.
Her great name procured her a recep-
ton BETTING her position, and when she
announced that she had received per-
mission from the enemy to return to
her beloved Russia the necessary pass
ports for herself and her servants were
at once prepared s,i.I u few days later
she reached TilbuTy by the boat from
Flushing. The princess cut quite a dash
I in the highest British society for three
days, and at her visits in the West End
to friends she had formerly known in
the continental capitals and on the
Riviera she described to spellbound audi
ences the despair of the highest circles
in the enemy capitals, and prophesied
speedy victory for the entente. She was
unab to accept the many invitations
sent her, for, as she explained, she could
not delay her trip home, and she left
England as soon as her arrangements
NOAAN DG COAlplcAtu, QGpdIIlIlE from nun
and travelling through Norway. Sweden.
and Finland to Petrograd. In view of
the later developments at the Russian
capital. attempts have been made to trace
her movements while in London. and to
ind out vino she saw here and why, but
With the results of this inquiry I am
naturally not conversaut.
Princess Room RaIded.
When she reached Petrograd, the
princess lost no time in setting to
work Attention was drawn to her
activities in a short time, and. after
various efforts to get the authorities
to take action had failed, a deputation
OF liberal members of the Duma called
upon NJ. KhyestOf. the minister OF
the interior. and demanded her ar
rest. khvOstOff. known in Russia
as the strong man of the reaction"
is attempting the difficult feat of
trimming between the reactionary
party and the progressive block in the
Duma. He could not ignore such a
visit without apparently allying him
self with the peace party. and, to the
surprise and CONSERVATION OF the
court plotters. the establishment OF the
princess was raIded and all her papers
seized. She was ordered to withdraw
to her estates in central Russia, where
she remains at present. She has not
been arrested.
Russia is well known as the land
where there are not only spies, but
spies who spy upon spies. and it may
be presumed that the war party is
served by secret agents no less able
than those of the intriguers of the
court. How the Princess wassilchi-
koff was betrayed may some day be
told. Two weeks aga, the date of
my information from Russia, the agi-
tation in political circles over the
scandal was increa sing. and from
various indications the leaders of the
Duma and those ministers who are
allied with the representatives OF the
people believe that the facts which
have become more or less public, and
which l have given above, do not tell
the whole truth, and that the govern
ment declined to arrest the princess
because even greater names are in
vOlved in the case, and is suppressing
the most important documents discov-
cred. Even the newspapers are taking
hand and demanding. in veiled Ian
guage, to escape the censor, that the
whole plot be brought to light.
speech Considered Answer.
The recent speech before the English
Club in Petrograd by Sir George Blu
chanan, the British ambassador, in
which he denounced those who try
to stir up mischief between Britain
and Russia, is widely regarded as an
answer to the German charges spread
throughout the court by Princess Was
silchikoff that England is betraying
her allies.
Some weeks ago, I outlined the silent
struggle, still in progress. between the
bureaucrats and the people. which CEN
tiers around the Magma Charta" de-
manded by the Duma conceding political
and religious liberty. control of the army
finances by the Duma and general re-
form as a preliminary to the vigorous
prosecution OF the war. The Car, who
first promised when he dismissed the
duma for presenting these demands to
recall 1t November II, put the session
off at that time on the pretext that the
budget committee had not completed its
work. The committee finished January
5, and still the imperial rescript has not
been Issued, but it Is generally under
stood that the Car has compromised
the demand Of the reactionaries that the
duma be abolished, and the liberal claims
outlined above. and will summon his
parliament this month. but forbid 1t to
discuss anything excepting the budget
and unimportant administrative details |
An informant concerning Russian condi- |
curate details tells me that. this course |
will be adopted. but that the Duma will !
refuse to be hamstrung and will prob /
ably meet only to renew its demands and !
either win a peaceful victory over the |
government, or be dissolved for the du- |
ration Of the war. Such brief cable dis |
patches concerning the duma as reach |
America must be read as dictated by the |
government, and cannot be understood |
unless the real elements of the situation |
be borne in mind.
Leader of Peace Party.
The leader of the peace party in Rus
STA at present is Gen. Count de Fred |
ericks, minister of the imperial house
hold. This powerful bureaucrat is in |
attendance upon the Car, and |
the duties OF his office compel him, by |
a curious irony, to countersign every |
ukase of his imperial master, SO that the |
signature Of Count Fredericks appears |
upon the rescripts of the Car pledging |
Russia to fight on until victory is finally |
achieved.
The influence of the empress over her
consort before the war was known to be |
great. She Is a German-was the Prin-
cess Alix Of Hesse before she married I
Ntrh al