From Paleologue, vol III, ch 10:
Saturday, March 17, 1917.
"The weather is very dismal this morning. From
dark and heavy clouds the snow is falling in
dense flakes, and so slowly that I cannot even
make out the granite wall which lines the icy bed
of the Neva twenty paces from my windows. We
might be in the very depths of winter. The gloom
of the landscape and. the enmity of nature
harmonize only too well with the sinister course events are taking.
"One of those who were present gives me the
following detailed account of the meeting at the
conclusion of which the Grand Duke Michael signed
his provisional abdication yesterday.
It took place at ten o'clock in the morning at
Prince Paul Putiatin's house, No. 12, Millionaïa.
In addition to the Grand Duke and his secretary,
Matveïev, there were present Prince Lvov,
Rodzianko, Militikov, Nekrassov, Kerensky,
Nabokov, Shingarev and Baron Nolde; about
half-past ten they were joined by Gutchkov and
Shulgin, who had come straight from Pskov.
"As soon as the discussion. began, Gutchkov and
Miliukov boldly asserted that Michael
Alexandrovitch had no right to evade the
responsibility of supreme power. Rodzianko,
Nekrassov and Kerensky argued contra that the
accession of a new Tsar would release a torrent
of revolutionary passion and bring Russia face to
face with a frightful crisis; their conclusion
was that the monarchical question should be
reserved until the meeting of the constituent
assembly which would make its sovereign will
known. The argument was pressed with such force
and stubbornness, particularly by Kerensky, that
all those present came round to it with the
exception of Gutchkov and Miliukov. With complete
disinterestedness the Grand Duke himself agreed.
"Gutchkov then made a final effort. Addressing
the Grand Duke in person and appealing to his
patriotism and courage he pointed out how
necessary it was that the Russian people should
be presented at once with the living embodiment of a national leader:
'If you are afraid to take up the burden of the
imperial crown now, Monseigneur, you should at
least agree to exercise supreme authority as
'Regent of the Empire during the vacancy of the
throne,' or, to take a much finer title,
'Protector of the Nation,' as Cromwell styled
himself. At the same time you would give a solemn
undertaking to the nation to surrender your power
to a constituent assembly as soon as the war ends.'
"This ingenious idea, which might have saved the
whole situation, made Kerensky almost beside
himself with passion and provoked him to a
torrent of invective and threats which terrified everyone there.
"In the general confusion the Grand Duke rose
with the remark that he would like to think
things over by himself for a minute or two. He
was making for the next room when Kerensky leaped
in front of him as if to keep him back:
'Promise us not to consult your wife,
Monseigneur!' His thoughts had at once gone to
the ambitious Countess Brassov whose empire over
her husband's mind was complete. With a smile the Grand Duke replied:
'Don't worry, Alexander Feodorovitch, my wife
isn't here at the moment; she stayed behind at Gatchina!'
"Five minutes later the Grand Duke returned. In very calm tones he
declared:
'I have decided to abdicate.'
"The triumphant Kerensky called out: 'Monseigneur, you are the noblest
of men!'
"The rest of the company, however, was wrapped in
a .gloomy silence; even those who had been the
strongest advocates of abdication---Prince Lvov
and Rodzianko, for instance---seemed overwhelmed
by the irreparable occurrence that had just taken
place. Gutchkov relieved his conscience by a
final protest: 'Gentlemen, you are leading Russia
to her ruin; I am not going to follow you in that baneful path.'
"A provisional and conditional abdication was
then drawn up by Nekrassov, Nabokov and Baron
Nolde. Michael Alexandrovitch interrupted them
several times in their task to make it quite
clear that his refusal of the imperial crown
remained subject to the ultimate decision of the
Russian nation as represented by a constituent
assembly. At the conclusion he took the pen and signed.
"Throughout this long and painful discussion the
Grand Duke's composure and dignity never once
deserted him. Hitherto his compatriots have had
but a poor opinion of him; he was considered to
be of weak character and lacking in brains. But
on this historic occasion his patriotism,
nobility and self-sacrifice were very touching.
When the final formalities had been concluded,
the delegates of the Executive Committee could
not help showing him that the impression he made
upon them won their sympathy and respect.
Kerensky tried to interpret the emotion they all
felt in a lapidary phrase which fell from his
lips in a theatrical outburst. 'Monseigneur! You
have generously entrusted to us the sacred cup of
your power. I promise you we will hand it on to
the constituent assembly without spilling a single
drop.' "
