New "Tsar"

At that decadent court of little and weak men, of whom the weakest was perhaps Nicholas II, another and a towering Nicholas always strode with head erect. Too late (1914) Nicholas II placed all the armies of all the Russias under command of his tall, big-boned second cousin, the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich, grandson of the Tsar Nicholas I. The German pre-War penetration of Russia had been too deadly for any Russian commander to succeed. Too late the Grand Duke proved himself fit to rank with Ludendorff, Joffre, Mackensen, Foch, by his masterly "retreat without destruction" along the Narew-Vistula-San-Carpathians front (1915) to lines so well chosen that they held for two years longer. During that time many an Allied commander thanked God that the Grand Duke was keeping several German armies so busy that they could not be transferred to the Western front.

One day, during the great retreat, Nicholas II asked of Nikolai whether peace should not be made with Germany at once.

"Never, Sire! Your people would not endure it. They would revolt!"

"Why who . . . who would lead them?" wondered Nicholas the Last.

"I would, Sire and Cousin!" cried the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich.

Appeal. Since this quite extraordinary man still lives, residing quietly at the Chateau de Choigny near Paris, it was not surprising that the Russian Congress of Emigres which met at Paris last week should have chosen him as their expatriated Tsar.

They despatched to his Chateau an urgent appeal:

"Monseigneur: The Russian Congress, which unites all the patriots aspiring to the re-establishment of the Russian nation, acclaims in the person of your Imperial Highness the foreordained representative of the nationalist idea as well as the glorious supreme chief of the army and defender of the fatherland since the first days of our Calvary. . . .

"Upon the issuance of your appeal all Russians without exception will take up unhesitatingly the glorious task of liberating the fatherland

"May the Most High sustain you."

Reply. The Grand Duke Nikolai, now 70 and prudently aware of his impotence, answered:

"I appreciate keenly the sentiments expressed by the Congress and its affirmation that the Russian emigres are ready to second my efforts to save the fatherland.

"Our plans must not now anticipate the future destiny of Russia. . . . Our people deprived today of all liberties, alone have the right to establish the bases of their existence It is they who will found the wealth, glory and greatness of Russian power.

"I await the speedy coming of the hour of the safety of our country."

Vexed. At Coburg, where the Grand Duke Cyril (TiME, Dec. 10, 1923) has openly proclaimed himself "Tsar of all the Russias" and reigns over a mimic court, both the action of the emigres in disregarding Cyril's claims and the reply of the Grand Duke Nikolai, likewise ignoring him, touched off sulphurous words of scorn.

Amnesty, Gift. The Congress "granted" amnesty to all Soviet Russian soldiers and "confirmed" to the Russian peasants the ownership of all lands granted them by the Soviet government, in hopes of winning their onetime subjects' gratitude and support.