The sun., 1917-03-17
Prominent Russians in NY.
Form Committee to
Aid Duma.
EIGHT PARTICIPATE
IN SECRET COUNCIL
Plan Is to Marshal Intellec-
tual Forces to Advocate
Republic.
COMMITTEE FORMED
TO LINE UP NATIONALS
1t Declares Present Am
bassadOr Must Go With
in a Month.

Initial steps In the formation Of an
organization to represent the new Rus
Sian Government in America were taken
last night when eight expatriates met,
despatched a message oongratulating
Premier Lvoff and Foreign Minister
Mlyukoff and Offering to perform any
possible services which might serve the
cause of democracy in the empire.
BY Services ivan Narodny. who
presided at the meeting. explained was
meant the seizure OF the Russian EN-
bassy in Washington and the consulates
in this and other cities. should inhu-
entail members of the Ministry and the
Duma consider such action advisable
and necessary.
The meeting was held in the Office of
Prof. Nicolas Kouznetzoff. engineer and
writer in the Longacre Building. and
most of those attending are prominent
in the local Russian colony. Among
them were Ivan Okuntsoff, editor Of the
Russky GoIos; p. Petron. who formerly
represented q. department Of the Inn
periai Government Elias l.. Dourmash-
kin. city editor OF the RiIssky GOIos ;
John w. Matthews Of another Russo
' American Journal, and Joseph Dalinda,
stan correspondent in New York or q
Petrograd newspaper.
Leader In the Council.
A tall, smooth shaven man OF de-
cidediy military bearing. whose name
everybody seemed to have been charsen
TO keep secret, took an active part IN the
council and appeared TO be looked upon
by the others as possessing consiueraple
authority II was stated that he former-
~ was a Colonel In the Cars army who
however, has long sympathized win the
revolutionary movement
The conferees made no secret or the
fact that news of the overthrow OF the
Golitzine Cabinet had come as no sur
prise to them. They would not deny that
the first suggestion for the formation OF
the Russian committee in New YORK han
been made several days ago. news or the
progress OF events IN Fetrograd and Mos
COW having been received from sources
| which are closed to the general PUBIC
"Of course we received secret informa-
| ton" said Mr.. Narody, who, by the way.
| is a refugee I'VE have our own little
system of news gathering which We are
| not prepared to reveal We knew the
revolution was coming and We deter
mined 10 do our part to disseminate its
good effects throughout the world"
After despatChing the message to Pc
| trograd the eight constituted themselves
! the Preliminary Committee Of American
| Russians, which is intended to serve as
the nucleus OF nationwide organiza-
| ton.
To Enlist Writers.
| I'VE probably shall not invite all the
| Russians in this country to Join with ais,
said Mr. Dourmashkin. though the vast
majority of them are revolutionists heart
and soul In the beginning at least we
/ shall enlist principally the writers-men
VINO have made a special study OF Rus
! sia's governmental problem and are
I pioneers in the movement. II might be
called an organizat ton of Russian Ameri-
can intellectuals We expect member
! ship Of at least 700 in this city and many
( others in every section of the country
Pending the receipt of definite instruc'
! tions from Petrograd the committee
will act voluntarily in an advisory ca
pacity in the purchase OF munitions and
| war equipment for the motherland.
More than ever. the eight declared Rus
sian refugees In this country are now
| determined to further in every possible
way the cause Of the Allies.
In a preliminary statement issued be-
fore the meeting was called to order
hope was expressed that the present
movement in Russia may extend until
a republic is established Questioned
later the conferees said they believed
that amplfcation Of this expression OF
hope at this time would be ''prema ture."
SiRniacant Section.
That particular section OF the state
nent was as follows.
"rhe view OF the Russian Committee
of America with respect To the presen,
political situation is that ultimately
Russia will be not a monarchy but the
United States OF Russia. This also j.
the view OF the leading Russian states
men at present. The army and the
Government functionaries have, so far
given their oath only TO the Duma, tht
Council ~ the Empire and the Cabinet.
"The old officials. especially the Am
bassador in Washington. the consuls
heads OF various departments, &C.. will
be dismissed within a month and new
and able men appointed.
THE new Russian regime will worA
hand in hand with England and
France. II will make special efforts tc
bring about closer relations with the
United States This summer will see
n terrific drive OF the Russian armies
and the collapse of Germany and Aus
tria will begin from the east. The rev.
olution will not AFFECT the economic oil
financial situation OF Russia In the least
Russia will be more wealthy In fv,
years than she has been under the Ole