Excited Meetings.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6457, 29 December 1904, Page 2

Excited Meetings.

British Press Opinions on the

Decree,

French Opinion Says the Decree

is too Late.

Received Deo. 29, 7.33 a.m,

St. Petersburg, Deo. 28

There was an excited sitting at Moscow of the Zemstvos on Tuesday, and serious street disturbances occurred.'' A committee of the Moscow Bourse congratulated the munisipality on its reform resolutions.

Six hundred Decembrists, journalists, and professional men on the occasion of the anniversary of 1825 at St. Petersburg, unanimously demanded the granting of a constitution and the cessation of the war.

The " Times " says—" We see the leaven working, but not whether it has leavened the mass. The decree may" help to make matters clearer, but can satisfy nobody except the reactionaries. It may stimulate the reformers to openly declare their strength." The "Daily Telegraph," commenting favourably 1, expresses the belief that M. de Witte will be the Council's chief adviser. A humane monarch backed by a powerful reforming Minister, may do much to appease the disappointment and despair whioh a vague decree has evoked. The '-'Daily News" s*ys the official warning of fjhe Zemstyos after the illstarred decree shows phe pandulum is already swinging back to coeroion. The "Temps- 1 (Paris) says the decree comes too late and the promises will not suffice. Fublip Qptmpn will insist on immediate guarantees and indications. The reformers are determined to continue the agitation.