Evening star., 1923-03-05
BY THE MARQUIsE DE FONTENO1

By THE MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.
Gen. Alexander Trepoff. who was
the most powerful. loyal and useful
OF the ministers Of Nicholas II during
the great war, who drove the pro-
German Prime Minister Stuermer and
confederate of Rasputin out of Office
and supplanted the former in the pre-
miership, which he then held until
the outbreak of the revolutions
man who. moreover. is looked upon in
leader of the monarchist party Of
Russia, as president of the Russian
Monarchists' Union-haS just issued
a noteworthy statement to the lead
ing jewelers. and precious stone con-
Germs of Great Britain. France, Hol-
tive syndical chambers and unions.
In it he places on record and enters
formal protest against the steps
which are now being taken by the
dispose of the principal jewels of the
Russian crown. which, in spite OF
their having been sought within the
last few weeks in the grave OF an
American sailor in the naval ceme-
terry on Cypress Hill. Long Island, still
remain as yet unsold at MOSCOW.
The Muscovite authorities have re-
Gently opened negotiations with a big
London concern with a view TO the
sale of the historic Orion diamond.
one Of the most famous In the world
and weighing 1874 carats, which fig
the latter part Of the eighteenth CEN
Gen. Trepoff declares, in the name
of the Russian Monarchists' Union
and in that of the Romanoff dynasty.
that the real Russia will never rec
ognize in future any rights or claims
that may be set up by those who
secure by purchase possession of the
Orloff diamond and of the other So
called Russian Jewels of the crown,
which are the private property OF the
imperial house of Romanoff and of
That is to say, that in the event of
a monarchial restoration in Russia,
which is far from being beyond the
bounds of probability. the imperial
to recover these jewels from their
purchasers as stolen property.
X X *&
In one word, Gen. Trepoff insists
that none of these jewels can be ac-
ouired by purchase with clear title,
and inasmuch as the Trotsky-Lenin
junta at Moscow has never been rec
opnized by the United States, Great
britain or France, there Is nothing in
the law of these countries to distinguish
the bolshevist leaders from any other
robbers, thieves, bandits and inter-
national outlaws. endeavoring to get
the best possible terms for their
plunder.
warned, will render themselves
amenable to the laws provided for
the punishment of fences They
will be called upon to surrender the
stolen property without compensa-
tion, II fortunately, indeed, they do
not suffer a worse fate.
The Orloff diamond was stolen by
q French soldier in India from the
eve OF an idol in a Brahnan temple
stolen again from him by the captain
of a sailing ship. from whom it was
purchased for the sum of 100000 by
Prince Orloff. the favorite Of Empress
Catherine the Great, and presented
by him to her. IT is of a somewhat
yellow tinge, and is obviously too
large in it's present shape to be COM
mercially exploitable. The danger is
that 1t will be cut up before being
put upon the market, as was done in
the case of the Grand Mogul, the enor-
+uaousA .stops- Of -7Sz carats. which. van,
ishsd from India hundreds OF years