Chapter 513 Comprehensive Encirclement and Suppression
Before Alexei’s new article could be published, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Baltic Fleet sailors jointly launched a joint operation. The "Baltic News" was confiscated, and Alexander and Alexei entered. prison.
More than 20 newspapers and magazines were seized at the same time as "Baltic News". Subsequently, the Ministry of the Interior established an Information Agency to strengthen the control of the news media. In just one month, St. Petersburg newspapers and magazines Ninety percent of the magazines went bankrupt, leaving only seven.
Pobedonostsev, the president of St. Petersburg University, was very angry. On the pretext of strengthening management, the Information Agency sent staff to the printing house of St. Petersburg University to supervise the operation of the printing house.
After the establishment of the First State Duma, Pobedonostsev believed that the State Duma was a concession to liberalism, so he resigned as Procurator-General of the Synod and went to serve as the rector of St. Petersburg University.
Director of the Information Agency Tikhominov graduated from the Law Department of Moscow State University. In his youth, he was influenced by the Popular Opinion Party and served as the editor of "Public Opinion Bulletin" in Paris.
In 1888, Tikhominov wrote to Alexander III asking for forgiveness and was able to return to Russia.
In 1907, Tikhominov joined the Publishing Affairs Management Committee and was responsible for publishing the "Moscow Bulletin" and providing advice to Stolypin on the labor movement.
Pobedonostsev once served as the tutor of Assan and Nicholas. Although he has retired and has a detached status in St. Petersburg, Tikhominov did not dare to neglect and personally asked Pobedonostsev Tsev explained the purpose of tightening controls.
“The Petersburg University Printing House is the largest printing house in the empire. Most of the illegal printing materials that appeared in St. Petersburg are related to the Petersburg University Printing House. Grand Duke Yuriev requested to strengthen the management of the printing house— —”
"What does this have to do with Grand Duke Yuriev?"
Pobedonostsev was once appointed governor of Amur and knew George very well.
“Some newspapers and magazines attacking Grand Duke Yuriev in the St. Petersburg market were printed by the Petersburg University Printing House.”
Tikhominov put the blame on George. Questions please go to the Admiralty Building.
“Absurd!”
Pobedonostsev was very angry, feeling that George's hand was stretched too far.
“——Newspapers and magazines attacked George. George went to find trouble with newspapers and magazines. What does it have to do with the St. Petersburg University Printing House?”
After Asan ascended the throne, he strengthened his control of colleges and universities. management, taking back the management rights of most institutions of higher learning, and having the empire send principals to manage them.
Due to the continuous deterioration of the empire’s finances, the allocations to major institutions of higher learning, including St. Petersburg University, are decreasing year by year. The major institutions of higher learning have to rely on themselves. The St. Petersburg University Printing House is one of the few remaining institutions in St. Petersburg University. profitable projects.
“The newspapers and magazines that attacked Grand Duke Yuriev have now been shut down. Grand Duke Yuriev originally requested that all printing presses in St. Petersburg be placed under the management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Considering that St. Petersburg University It was decided to retain it because of its particularity.”
Tikhominov hoped that Pobedonostsev could understand the difficulties faced by the Press and Publication Administration, which had tried its best to safeguard the interests of St. Petersburg University.
This reason was not accepted by Pobedonostsev.
So Pobedonostsev left the Press and Publication Office, turned around and went directly to the Winter Palace.
This day happened to be the birthday of the second princess Tatiana. George and his family were invited by Nicholas to be guests in the Winter Palace.
Anne gave Tatiana a set of jade jewelry as a birthday gift.
Tatiana did not recognize Jade and mistook Jade for emerald, and was ridiculed by the other princesses.
“You are jealous that only I have gifts!”
Takyana’s counterattack was sharp. Except for the eldest princess Olga, she didn’t take it to heart. The third princess Maria and the little girl didn’t take it to heart. Princess Anastasiris cried and complained, but was scolded by Alex.
Anne comforted her for a while and promised to make it up to the princesses on their birthdays, which made the princesses laugh out loud.
Due to her previous bad behavior, Alexandra was prohibited from approaching Crown Prince Alexei.
Alexandra had her own fun, and in less than 5 minutes, she got to know Nikolai's Scottish shepherd dog, and then led the dog to chase Alex's cat.
Anne was furious and asked Alexandra to stand by the wall and reflect on her mistake.
Alex came back to persuade Annie not to be angry, and expressed that she liked Alexandra's character very much.
Unlike the chaos in the harem, George and Nicholas drank tea and chatted happily in the study on the second floor.
After Polis came to work with George, he thought that he was no longer a child and had escaped the vulgar tastes of children. Even though he did not understand, he stayed with George and Nicholas. .
"Polis, when I was your age, I had already started serving in the Guards."
Nicholas showed off to his little brother in a captain's uniform that they were from the same generation.
Polis's figure is considered tall among his peers. When Nicholas looked at Polis, his eyes were slightly dazed, as if he had returned to that spring 25 years ago.
"When I was in Kanto, I also wanted to serve as a Talisman Master, but Anne wouldn't let me go."
Polis regretted missing the Russo-Japanese War.
"Your mother is right, you are too young, and war is too cruel for you."
Nicholas is happy to communicate with Polis.
"I also want to serve in the Guards like you and my father."
Polis took courage.
“It doesn’t matter what I said, you have to find a way to get Anne to agree.”
Nicholas's response made Polis furious. This tsar was nothing.
George does not participate in the fighting between Anne and the children. George will never intervene until the children are adults.
Asan originally asked Nicholas to join the army because Nicholas had begun to imitate other princes and went to the theater to pursue actresses, so Yasan got Nicholas to join the army.
Anne was very strict with her children and rarely took them to the theater. Even if she went to the theater, she would listen to music.
After the performance, Anne will also send flowers to the artists to express her gratitude, and that's it.
When Pobedonostsev arrived at the Winter Palace, Nicholas was inviting George and Polis to admire his collection.
Nicholas likes hunting very much. Many of his collections are specimens of prey. Among them, a huge antlered deer makes Nikolai most proud.
Nicholas met Pobedonostsev in the study.
Pobedonostsev hoped that George would be accommodating and not interfere with the operation of the St. Petersburg University printing house.
“Ninety percent of the illegal printed matter in St. Petersburg comes from the St. Petersburg University Printing House. I did not hold the responsible persons accountable, which is already extremely unfair to others.”
George disagreed. The rapid deterioration of public security in St. Petersburg in recent years has a lot to do with the proliferation of illegal publications.
No matter how dissatisfied the empire is, newspaper editors always have to be more restrained in newspapers. Some things they dare not say too clearly, so they can only provide implicit guidance.
Tabloids and leaflets that are not publicly distributed are unscrupulous. Most of the rumors in St. Petersburg come from this.
“How can you be sure that those illegal printed materials came from the St. Petersburg University Printing House?”
Pobedonostsev did not agree with the investigation results of the St. Petersburg Police Department.
"My office has the complete interrogation record of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Do you want to see it?" George also knew Pobedonostsev very well. Although the old man was a bit stubborn, he was loyal to the empire.
Pobedonostsev kept a cold face and said nothing. Whatever confession George wanted, the St. Petersburg Police Department could get it.
"Teacher, George is not targeting St. Petersburg University. The news and public opinion have indeed reached a point where they have to be rectified."
Nicholas still respects Pobedonostsev very much. .
"Niki, institutions of higher learning are the future of the empire, and there should not be too much administrative intervention."
Pobedonostsev is not opposed to the supervision of printing plants, but is worried that George will intensify his efforts to control St. Petersburg University. administrative intervention in teaching work.
Pobedonostsev once served as the director of the Religious Administration for a long time and was very concerned about religious affairs.
There are many colleges and universities in Amur now, but the difference from colleges and universities in Russia and Europe is that Amur's colleges and universities never offer courses related to Orthodox Christianity.
Amur University does not even have a church.
Pobedonostsev worries that regulating printing plants is just the beginning.
"Teacher, the printing house should not become a profit-making institution."
Nicholas also had opinions on Pobedonostsev.
No matter how much the empire allocates to St. Petersburg University, the funds are always not enough.
Nicholas is not opposed to St. Petersburg University using the printing factory to make profits, but there must be a certain level of profit, and you cannot make all money.
"If the funds the empire gives to St. Petersburg University are enough to meet the needs of teachers and students, then we do not need to use the printing house to make profits."
Pobedonostsev was successfully led astray by Nicholas.
“Okay, okay, I will tell Peter to increase the funding for St. Petersburg University.”
Nicholas settled the matter and returned the issue to Stolypin.
Sent Pobedonostsev away, Nikolai smiled bitterly. This was his daily life, he was in trouble all day long.
"Not just the St. Petersburg University Printing House, but all printing presses in the Empire must be under the strict control of the Empire."
George will not give any chance to the so-called democrats. The role of public opinion is too important and must be firmly controlled. Control is in the hands of the Empire.
“Do we have to do this?”
Nicola was worried about causing a bigger disturbance.
“Yes, it must be done, otherwise the Social Democratic Labor Party will rise again.”
George will not only crack down on illegal publications in St. Petersburg, but will also not let go of anti-Russian newspapers and magazines headquartered abroad.
Just when the Press and Publication Administration sent staff to supervise the printing house of St. Petersburg University, Nikolai's brother-in-law, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, arrived in London and made a request to the British government to arrest all Member of the Social Democratic Labor Party in London.
After the dissolution of the Duma, all members of the Social Democratic Labor Party in the State Duma were arrested. The remaining members fled Russia and were distributed in Britain, France, Germany and Switzerland, where they continued to carry out open anti-Russian activities.
George wants to drive out the Social Democratic Labor Party so that the remnants of the Social Democratic Labor Party will have no place in Europe.
"Your Excellency, the Grand Duke, these rebels you call have not violated British laws. As the British Prime Minister, I cannot meet your demands in a way that violates British laws."
Herbert Henry Asquith, who had been Prime Minister the previous year, rejected Alexander's request outright.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this is not my request, this is the request of the Russian Empire."
London is Alexander's first stop, and then Alexander will go to Paris, Berlin, and Geneva .
The Social Democratic Labor Party’s activities are rampant in Europe. They use donations to raise funds and publish free publications for publicity. Many people have become well-known social activists and have a certain influence in Europe.
Alexander was certain that the members of the Social Democratic Labor Party operating openly in London must have had the support of the British government to a certain extent.
Maybe the money used by the Social Democratic Labor Party to print newspapers was given by the British government.
The British can definitely do this kind of thing.
"The Russian Empire should also respect the laws of the British Empire. This is the basis of our mutual respect."
Asquith firmly disagreed.
“Last month the Fenian Brotherhood requested to register an office in St. Petersburg, but this application has not yet been approved——”
Alexander also had the weakness of the British.
The Fenian Brotherhood once cooperated with the Vladivostok Shipyard on submarine technology, which once aroused strong opposition from the United Kingdom.
“Are you threatening me?”
Asquith’s expression suddenly changed.
“Yes, I’m threatening you, if you don’t arrest those members of the Social Democratic Labor Party who are operating openly in London, I will invite the Fenian Brotherhood to St. Petersburg for public activities, believe me, Fenni The Asian Brotherhood in St. Petersburg will definitely raise more funds than the Social Democratic Labor Party. If they don’t want money, then they can convert it into weapons and ammunition.”
Alexander rose up in anger, don't be so shameless.
Asquith's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. If the Russian Empire really did this, the influence of the Fenian Brotherhood in Britain would rise sharply.
"You bastard, this is London, not St. Petersburg!"
Asquith was very angry. No one had ever dared to threaten him face to face.
But there is always a first time for everything. The Russian Grand Duke has long been famous for his arrogance, and this is not the first day Asquith has dealt with the Russians.
"It is precisely because this is London that I came to you, otherwise do you think I am incapable of letting them go to hell?"
Alexander sneered, and he was afraid of the Russians being cruel.
"Whatever you want, I can't violate British law anyway."
Asquith himself is a lawyer by training, and the implication is that if you want to kill them, just go ahead and do it.
Alexander snorted coldly, stopped talking nonsense to Asquith, left Downing Street and headed to Buckingham Palace.
As the Grand Duke of Russia, it was not difficult for Alexander to meet Edward VII.
That night, Buckingham Palace issued an order to arrest all members of the Social Democratic Labor Party in the UK.
(End of this chapter)