THE MURDER OF THE CZAR

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1924, Page 4

THE MURDER OF THE CZAR

EXTRAORDINARY new disclosures. LONDON, .March 22 Exetreine importance attaches to the disclosures made hy M. Nicolas Sokololl - , examining magistrate of the tribunal at Omsk, Siberia, who carried out a most complete and detailed investigation of the murder of the Czar Nicholas 11., the (Vatina, and the Imperial Family at Ekaterinburg, after the capture of that (dace by Admiral Kollchak in BUS. M. Sokololl’s book, "Enquete Juiliciaire sur l’Assassinat do la l-'amille * Iniperiale,” with photographs and reproductions of Bolshevik cipher telegrams, has just been published ill Paris. It is a work of the almost historical value and of tragic interest. Tlis conclusion is the terrible oneThat the Germans did not hesitate at the death of the Czar, and that the assassination tit Ekaterinburg was the result of their understanding with the Bolsheviks. . . They knew perfectly well that the presence of the Czar and the heir to the throne in Siberia created a menace to their domination in Russia.

The Germans were confronted with this dilemma: they could save the CV.at and break with (lie Bolsheviks, or let him meet his fate and retain their close relations with the Soviets. The Germans made their choice. They bought their alliance with tin* Bolsheviks at the price of the Czar's blood. A STRANGE EPISODE. William IT, near relative to the Czar, I bus was an accessory in his cruel murder. A strange episode is recounted in bis depositions by Prince Dolgormikof, who in July IDIS commanded the White troops in (he Ukraine and was on good terms with Ihe

Germans there:— On July ii or (I. 101st, I was informed that Alvenslehen (a German diplomatist attached tn the German troops in the Ukraine) wanted to give me important news. T saw him and he told us (Dolgoroukof and a friend) that the Emperor William wished at any price to save the Emperor Nicholas IT. and that he had taken measures to that- end. He warned us that between July lf> and -0 we should learn that the Emperor had boon murdered, lie told us that this nows would be false, like the reports in June of the Emperor’s death, but that it would have to he circulated in the interests of the Emperor's safety. On July 18 or 19 the Kioff newspapers announced the Emperor's death at Ekaterinburg. 1 was staggered by the fact that Alvenslehen had known of it

in advance. The murder was decided upon by the BoNheviks of .Moscow between July -I and If, 1918. A Bolshevik agent arrived from Moscow at Ekaterinburg cn July 11. and then the painstaking researches of M. Sokoloff show that the hideous preparations for the crime began.

Some weeks earlier a mysterious person called Yakovlef had appeared in Siberia, with authority from the Bolsheviks, and tried to separate the Emperor and his son from the rest of the Imperial Family. The C'zar and Czarevitch were to be taken from Siberia to

European Russia. This man the Otar stated was a German agent under a Bolshevik mask. He attempted to induce the Czar to come to terms with Germany and apparently would have saved him had he done so. Nicholas II in the hour of trial was faithful to the Allies, though he must have known that it meant his certain death,