Evening star., 1924-05-05
GRAND DUKE SEES
/ SOVIET FALL NEAR
Former Head of Russian Army
@, folds Internal Strife Will
F. Wreck Movement.
WILLING TO LEAD FIGHT
Says Hostility to God Spells Doom
of Communists.

living in Paris are greatly cheered
by reports arriving almost daily from
Moscow of an impending change. The
struggle for power between the Stain
triuievirate, including also Kameneff
and Rykoff. and the moderate groups
is growing more tense, in the opinion
of Russians of distinction here, who
believe that the present regime is
topping and that even a slight push
would throw it over. The hopes of
both monarchists and liberals seem
to unite upon Grand Duke Nicholas
Nicholaievitch, second cousin of the
former emperor and once in command
of the Russian armies.
The grand duke is living quietly in
small country house some twenty
miles from Paris, near Choisy-leRoi.
Situation in Russia.
On being asked to review the
present situation in Russia, the
grand duke remarked:
What is going on in Russia is we'll
known to all who take a real interest
in the subject of arbitrary dealings,
reign of terror. lawlessness, violence,
total disregard for private property,
eXactions and famine All things holy
have been reviled: great numbers of
bishops, priests and monks have been
put to death, and others eXiled in
most appalling conditions. Those VINO
Still remain are subjected to cruel
prosecutions and every moment run
the risk of sharing the same fate.
Try to Kill Souls.
THE Bolshevists are attempting to
destroy the soul of the people; they
want to uproot all moral and religious
foundations However neither perse-
a nrnDlE1n62
godlessness has been able to tear out
from their hearts the faith of the
people. Their religious vitality is
sure to be manifested sooner or later
through the moral bankruptcy of the
communistic power, and prove once
more the peoples fidelity to the
Orthodox Church.
Russia has lived by faith and faith
will save her"
The only addition Grand Duke
Nicholas has made to the rather long
two-storied house, which is owned by
his nephew, is to transform one wing
into a chapel, where candles burn be-
fore the altar The chapel accom-
modates about fifty persons, and an
Orthodox priest comes regularly from
Paris to conduct services for the
grand duke, the grand duchess and
their small household. Hanging near
the altar is a frayed white silk flag
trimmed with gold. which the grand
dukes father carried in the Turkish
was OF 1919, ana Wnlcn -NiCilOIdS hdu
with him always during the last war.
Wage War Against God.
'"The Orthodox Church is not the
only one which is prosecuted by the
Bolshevists." he continued. so are
all other creeds and all those who
have any religion. War is being
waged against God.
1T is very difficult to speak of
the future, and much more so to pre-
dict it," the grand duke continued.
"One thing is clear. To be saved
from destruction Russia and her
many millions must be liberated from
communistic rule. We cannot know
either the time or the conditions
under which this long -hoped-for lib
GRAFTON will be achieved"
Both extremists and moderates in
the Soviet government are endeavor-
ing to control the army, the grand
duke declared, adding:
THE army is flesh Of the flesh of
the Russian people. When the hour
OF liberation strikes, and as soon as
the people have recognized the
necessity of overthrowing the yoke
of the opprGssoIs and of re-esta b.
fishing the national government, the
army will come to the same con-
clusion and will cease to be a red
army All those who, having re-
mained IN Russia, were forced to
enter the red ranks will be only too
happy to atone for their voluntary
or involuntary sins toward their
country. They will be joined by
those who have shed their blood for
the liberation of their country from
the communistic yoke and now are
pining in exile, and there will be
then one valiant powerful Russian
army worthy of the greatness of
Russia, standing guard over her
honor and the peaceful prosperity of
the Russian people"
Proofs of Confidence.
In terminating the conversation the
grand duke said:
You wish to know how T regard
the appeals of my countrymen to
put myself at the head of a move
ment for the liberation of Russia.
] do not seek anything for myself,
and, being an old soldier, l can only
say that L should be happy to give
my lie for the service of my coun-
Try. But L SHAH deem it possible to
head any national movement only
when L shall have acquired the con-
Nict1on that such a decision on NV
part is in accordance with the wishes
OF the Russian people and that the
time Tor decisive action has come"
In course of his conversation. Grand
Duke Nicholas said:
AT the present time Russia is
governed by the party in behalf of
class and international interests. Its
place must be taken by a national
non-party government, free from
class interests. This government
must be firm and strong and at the
same time just and enlightened Jt
must become the guardian of Iepali
ty and the sacred rights of personal
and civil liberty.
Base of Regeneration.
THE cessation of class and national
hatred, the prevention of violence and
every kind of lawlessness. the rieb.
OF Tree development of national life
10 the peoples who compose the Rus
SIAN state-such are the fundamental
principles upon which must be hased
the regeneration of Russia"
Nicholas then outlined his own
political policies, with particular rer-
erence to the distribution of land.
Special attention" he said. 'must
be paid to the agrarian question
which is one of first magnitude, such
land as is not at present held bv the
state Is being cultivated by the peas
ants. 1t cannot of course be taken
from them, but the peasants them
selves will be entirely satisfied only
when their right to full possession
have been ratified by an undisputed
stable government authority
Must Pay Landowners.
II think that a great majority of the
landowners have recognized the
necessity of making a sacrifice in the
interest of the country On the other
hand, the state will have to give com
pensation to those who are deprived
of their property which will have
n9SSpd into the Of he