United States or China ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It soon became evident that as Premier he was a mere figurehead and that Rasputin and Protopopov held the government in their hands. Protopopov openly defied the Premier and the Duma. In December it began to be rumored in political circles that Sturmer, who was now attached in some not clearly defined capacity to the Foreign Office, was about to be sent to a neutral country as ambassador.
Naglovski and his friends had been preparing a plot either to expose or assassinate the monk, hence the head of the conspiracy was congratulating himself that the plot was unsuspected by anybody. The dinner passed off quite merrily until, of a sudden, Stürmer, addressing his fellow-guest, said: "News has been conveyed to the holy Father that you and your friends have formed a plot against him.
On the day following, Protopopoff, the wily schemer and spy of Germany, who was admitted to all the secrets of the Allies, went to the Emperor and echoed what Rasputin had declared to His Majesty, namely, that God was with Russia and that the Holy Spirit approved of the righteous work accomplished under the guidance of Stürmer and Soukhomlinoff.
In spite of her German sympathies the Czarina had great influence with her husband, and the scheming officials who were secretly plotting the downfall of Russia were able to use this influence in many ways. In 1916, a new prime minister was appointed in Russia a man named Sturmer, of German blood and German sympathies.
Here Sturmer was doing his part to help Germany. Ammunition and troops which were intended to rescue Roumania, never reached her. The Germans had spies in the Roumanian army and before each battle, knew exactly where the Roumanian troops would be and what they were going to do. The German gun factories had sold to Roumania her cannon.
Then, half-an-hour after the last one had departed for the three had remained behind with him for further private instruction and conversation, as was usual the Prime Minister Stürmer was announced. "I have made the speech you suggested," he declared to the monk as he sank into a chair. "Phew! what a smell of perfume, my dear Gregory!" he laughed. "Your sister-disciples have left it behind them.
Open the window, Féodor," he exclaimed, turning to me. "Let us have some fresh air." The monk then explained that while Stürmer had made that public declaration he had told the women that the situation was grave, well knowing that they, in turn, would tell their husbands, and the rumours would quickly be propagated.
I did not blame the Okhrana or the Chief of Police of Kazan. They had both acted in good faith. Yet I remembered that I was the catspaw of Kouropatkine and of Stürmer, either of whom could easily order my release. And that was what I awaited in patience, although in terror. Days went by hopeless, interminable days.
"I am here at Her Imperial Majesty's command," replied the Father, ready for the crowning of the slow and subtle plot which Stürmer had engineered with Kouropatkine. "She desires to speak with me."
Our Czar is the most liberal ruler in Europe and he knows what is good for his children." "And Protopopoff and Stürmer?" I asked. "Protopopoff is a zealous, loyal liberal, but he has been made to see during these last months that Russia is not at this moment ready for freedom. Stürmer well, M. Stürmer is gone." "So you, yourself, Baron," I asked, "would oppose at this moment all reform?"
Word Of The Day