A SENSATIONAL STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13498, 27 May 1907, Page 7

A SENSATIONAL STORY.

ASSERTED INTENDED ABDICATION OF TSAR. , A RECORD IN " SCARE LINES." [FROM 008 OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ;. London, April 12. On the morning following the departure of the last New Zealand mail, a story of singular " steepness" was sprung on the British public. The Daily Mirror, evidently confident of having secured a really good, "scoop," came out with a truly tremendous tale about the impending abdication of the Tsar and its sequel as arranged by the Dowager Empress of Russia. This wonderful romance was spread over one whole page and four part-pages. It was adorned with no fewer than fifty-six "scare line" headings and twelve illustrations, ineluding a whole-page one of the Tsar himself. The "scare" headings included such lines as "The Tsar's Mind Give Way," "The Empress' Plan," "Both in Tears," King Edward's Position," " Princess' Noble Carriage'-'- so on, and so on! s. Of course there wasn't a word of truth in the "yarn." it was presented with amazing convincingness and even emotion, to. say nothing of its immense voluminousness. It is a very funny affair. 'The unknown writer started thus portentously:—"The Daily Mirror is in a position to announce on excellent authority the ' imminent abdication of the Tsar, Nicholas 11. of Russia. ■ This will take effect within a month, according; to* present plans, .and the Grand Duke Michael, the Tsar's only surviving brother, will be appointed Regent during the infancy of the little Tsarevitch, the heir to the throne, who is now two years and eight months old. During the past three* or four weeks events have proceeded with -lightning rapidity in St, Petersburg, but so well litis the secret been kept that this is the firstpublished intimation of a scheme which is of supreme political moment. For months ,past, ever since the terrible bloodshed of the reign of terror early in 1905, the Tsar's mind has been, affected. . Constitutionally incapable of grappling with a revolution, he exhibited the most distressing vacillation and weakness, and at a moment when He might have emerged as the saviour of his people his courage melted away. He hid himself in the Winter Palace, and tacitly permitted the massacre of an unarmed populace that had come to him as a child to its father. Of late His Majesty's mind has even more completely given way, and he has shown himself incapable of performing the smallest duties of his rank. At times he is unable to sign his name, and whenevr any State matter is broached to him he trembles like a child. Something like panic has reigned in the Royal household, and the Tsaritsa is almost heart-broken at the pitiable plight of her ; husband. It is patent to all observers that Russia, is, meanwhile, drifting towards ' worse : anarchy than she has yet known, v and the situation imperatively demands a man of strong will and purpose. • The Tsar's forced abdication, the certainty of which has long been dawning upon him, has been hastened by the drift of circumstances and by his own breakdown. Now, tired of. it all, he. is willing enough to sink into obscurity, and to yield the reins of office to a stronger man. ■ The Grand Duke Michael, grief-stricken-at his brother's condition, has shrunk from the 'responsibility of taking over the control of the great empire; but as a result of a Serieapof family conclaves, in which the Dowager Empress Marie has taken the leading part, he has been convinced of the necessity of sacrificing himself for the sake of/Russia." ■ Next comes the marriage tale, which is as follows: — visit of the Dowager. Empress to England arose out of the Russian political situation. Her Majesty came to England- to negotiate a marriage between the Grand Duke Michael and an English Princess, who is singularly well qualified to help him with her counsel, and to fill"'adequately in every sense -of" the word the position of Tsaritsa. We .are now able to state that Princes Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein has considered favourably the proposal of marriage made to her on behalf of the Grand Duke Michael. The fact that the marriage may take place during the present month .or in the first week of May, will come on the world like a thunderbolt. But so it is—that- is, of course, if nothing happens to upset the present arrangements. • Although the wedding may take place in England, it is more likely to be .celebrated in the Riviera. The ceremony... w ill be one entirely lacking in pomp "and circumstance, although possibly a second and grander function will be.- performed in St. Peterburg later'on." • }-.'_'' .

At this stage King Edward is introduced thus: "It is important to note that King Edward's position throughout these delicate negotiations has been one of strict aloofness. When approached on the matter, the King positively declined to have anything to do with it. He> would express neither approval nor disapproval, and declared that it. should; rest entiiely with the Princess herself. His 'Majesty will not even listen to any further reference to the matter, although he may possibly attend the wedding ceYemony." ■ ■ '-•-*'

But the religious difficulty had to be faced. The bride must become an Orthodox Greek Churchite. "At first the Princess ; would hear nothing on the subject. While admitting that she liked the Grand Duke, she declared that she had no wish to marry, and that*she could not become a member of the Creek Orthodox Church. Many discussions took plaice, in which Queen Alexandra, following the example of King Edward, absolutely declined to take part. Queen Alexandra, indeed, expressly declared that she would not feel the slightest displeasure if the Princess declined the proposal, although it was a project dear to the heart of. her sister, the Dowager Empress. The religious question proved the most difficult. Princess Victoria expressed her willingness to do much for the sake of Russia, and to please the Queen's sister. Again and again the. Empress urged that a similar sacrifice was made by herself when she married the late Tsar, and had, necessarily, to forsake Protestantism. At times the discussion took so pathetic a turn that the Princess wept, and even the Dowager, drilled as she is to Self-command by the etiquette of an v intriguing Court, shed tears. - , ' After . all, there is only one God,' the Empress said a I few days before Easter., The church we worship Him in does not matter. To show you how little I think that matters, I will myself attend an English church on Easter Sunday.' And so the Empress' visit to Sandringham— which was to have been delayed in order that she might take Easter Communion at the Greek, Church" attached to the Russian" Embassy—took place easlier than was expected, and the Tsaritsa attended the church at Sandringham with.her Royal sister. Then her attempts at persuasion ceased. 'It is too cruel,' she said. ; 'You will think it over for a day or two alone, and then decide.' The Princess consulted Prince Christian, her father, and doubtless took deep counsel with herself, with the result which is made known to all the world to-day. I understand that the wedding will take place at a very early date, and that the Grand Duke's bride will be formally received into the Greek Orthodox Church before that event. But the wedding ceremony will be a quiet, almost secret affair." .Just so! Exactly ! Isn't it a truly complete tale? And isn't it sad to have to add there's not a word of truth in the whole yarn? When the Russian ConsulGeneral in London was sought to obtain, if possible,_ some confirmation, he could hardly retain either patience or politeness, but replied contemptuously, " All rubbish ! I have not heard a word of it." At the Russian Embassy one of the. officials observed soothingly that lie did 'not think the report had the slightest foundation. Then the Russian Ambassador himself declared, "There is absolutely no truth in the report that the Tsar's abdication is imminent," , ...