Nicholas II's whereabouts are unknown

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March 16, 1917


The whereabouts of former Russian Emperor Nicholas II are said to be unknown, reports the Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent.

In his telegraph to London, the reporter said the Emperor was stopped about 200 miles from Petrograd on the "direct railway from Moscow."  He remains at Bologoe with a "small neutral guard."

The newspaper also reports that Empress Alexandra is at Tsarkoe-Selo.  The commandment of the palace assured the Duma's representative that Alexandra "would not attempt to escape"

The reports coming out of Petrograd are confusing.  Another dispatch states that Nicholas was "held up by soldiers."  The Empress was said to be in a "hysterical condition," and the young Tsarevitch is suffering from the measles or scarlet fever.

Nicholas' abdication, on behalf of himself and his son, took place at midnight on October 15.  The next in line to the throne is Nicholas' younger brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch,  was briefly named as Regent.  Today, however, at 2:30 p.m.,  Grand Duke Michael himself abdicated, thus ending more than 300 years of Romanov rule in Russia.

The new Government, according to the New York Times, will be vested in the Executive Committee of the Duma and the Council of Ministers.

Unless "improbable events occur,"  Russia has ceased to be a monarchy and is now a republic.

It is being reported in London by the Manchester Guardian that the former Emperor blocked British efforts to avert a revolution.

Viscount Milner recently traveled to Russia to "bring about a compromise" between Nicholas and the Duma, in order to avert a revolution.

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Lord Milner is a member of the British war council.

Nicholas II had informed his cousin, George V, that he expected something to happen, but he was "confident that he could suppress it."

The Guardian stated: "Sir George Buchanan, the British Ambassador at Petrograd, has kept his government well informed and has been throughout a staunch supporter of the duma and liberal element.  It is said Lord Milner urged the emperor to appoint a ministry responsible to parliament."

Nicholas rejected the proposal on the "grounds that it did not harmonize with Russian institutions."

Lord Milner then suggested that Nicholas appoint a minister acceptable to the Duma.  He recommended the Russian ambassador to London, Sergius Sazonov, for the position of premier and foreign secretary.

Nicholas rejected this and every other proposal. He remained obdurate, declining the recommendations and assistance of Lord Milner and others.

it is no coincident that the outbreak occurred shortly after Lord Milner returned to London.  His mission to work with Nicholas and the Duma, thus trying to effect a compromise or a solution to the political divisions.

Now Russia must "work out their own salvation."