ABSTRACT
As I noted earlier, several of my colleagues in the cabinet wanted to join me when I told them I was asking to be relieved of my post as premier, but I dissuaded them lest their departure serve as a precedent for establishing a parliamentary system. Consequently, I assumed that most of them would be asked to stay, but to my amazement only three did, Baron Freedericksz, the minister of the court, Admiral Birilev, the minister of the navy, and General Rodiger, the minister of war. The last two would leave sometime later because of differences with Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich. Only one other cabinet member, Fedorov, was asked to stay. Gorernykin, the new premier, was anxious to keep him and offered to have his status changed from that of acting minister of commerce to that of minister, but Fedorov, a very fine man who did not share Gorernykin’s views, chose to leave government service.
