RUSSIA: Royalists

The recognition of Grand Duke Cyril, son of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, as heir to the Imperial Russian Throne by a family council in Paris (TIME, Dec. 10), was disputed in conclave by Tsarist emigrés in London.

The decision reached at the secret meeting was, of course, not published; but the main question discussed, it was understood, was that of the rival claim of Prince Wizamosky, who says he is a direct descendant of Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584).

Supporters of Prince Wizamosky declared that he would be more acceptable to the Russian people than would Grand Duke Cyril, whose vague land policy would not be acceptable to the peasants and whose family name (Romanov) is anathema to them. Furthermore, it was alleged that Prince Wizamosky would be willing to embrace the good reforms that were introduced into Russia by the Kerensky régime.