ABSTRACT
The mayor, A. I. Khatisov, acting on behalf of liberal leaders in the Duma and the Voluntary Organisations, told the Grand Duke that a coup was under consideration, that it was intended to ensure the abdication of the Emperor, and that it was proposed to replace him with the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke Michael communicated his willingness to act as Regent in the event of the Emperor's abdication. Guchkov was a member of the Duma, conservative in his sympathies, who had made a speciality of military affairs. He hoped to put General Mikhail Vasilievich Alekseev in a firm alignment with the leaders of the Voluntary Organisations and the plotters in the Duma. In the afternoon of 15 March Nicholas II, decided to abdicate in favour of his son Alexis, with the Michael as Regent. Despite all the endeavours, the Russian war effort was doomed by the abdication act.
