RUSSIA: Cyril Protests

Grand Duke Cyril, uncrowned Tsar of Russia, cousin of the late Nicholas, received a nasty jolt when he heard that an Anglo-Russian treaty had been signed (TIME, Aug. 18, COMMONWEALTH). He was in his house at Coburg, Germany, when reporters pounced upon him and asked him what about it?" The Grand Duke, of Romanov proportions, towering above the minions of the press, said:

"During the last few days, like all Russians faithful to the Fatherland, I have learned with great amazement that the government of Great Britain has signed an agreement with the tyrannical oligarchy which seized power in Russia. In this agreement, among other things, a large loan is promised the Soviet government.

"As legal heir to the Emperors of all Russia, I consider it my duty to declare clearly and firmly, so that all may hear, the following:

"If I had so much as a ray of hope that the impending loan would be used for the restoration of devastated Russia or to succor her starving people, I should welcome this help with delight, without consideration through the hands of what Russian government it passed.

"But for me and for all Russians there can be no doubt whatever that the loan is being concluded, not with the object of helping and benefiting the Russian people, but only to strengthen and prolong the term of government of enslavers of the Nation and give the Third Internationale the possibility to continue its destructive propaganda in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The object of this propaganda is world upheaval—that is to say, the ruin of Christian civilization and the plunging of the entire earth into the dark abyss of barbarism, pauperism and serfdom to the advantage and satisfaction of only a small group of fanatics and a dissolute group of men who have lost honor and conscience, and hope to exploit this upheaval for the gratification of their cupidity and vicious appetites."