THE SITUATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 5

THE SITUATION.

,SEE VICES OF COUNT. DE WITTE.. While the third-Duma hesitates to even mention "constitution" to the Tsar, its predecessors threw far harder words at him. The first Duma called right away for expropriation of land-in order to remedy agrarian distress, for a Ministry chosen bv tho Duma, for the stopping of the repression policy, and for amnesty to'political prisoners. Russian gaols are now full, and. tne third Duma—cheers the Tsar. It: knows what happened to the first two Dumas; , also, it is elected on a restricted franohise, to the disadvantage of the peasants and the Poles. The Tsar will tolerate no Duma that does not, in tho words of his latest manifesto, "lend its moral support to the Government- .in the. . restoration of order." "The Times," in an article on the Russian situation, declares that , "Russia's one hope of peaceful change"lies in the possibility that the bulk of the Duma will support tiie Promier (M. v Stolypin) and give , his reforms a fair chance of execution. ",'Tho retirement of Count .de Witte from the Premiership dates.from!the time of tho first attempt to clip tho wings of the'first Duma. When the elections wont all against the Eeactionaries, Count Witto as Premier proposed that, in breach of the promises contained in tho .Tsar's constitutionalism manifesto of October '31, ; new organic-laws should be formulated to cripple the power of the Duma before it. met. ■■'■For; this proposal Count do'Witte was dismissed; yet it was put into effect two days before the first Duma met, though (it is said) minus: some objectionable features Count de Witte'had suggested. The "Spectator" points out that in any case Count de Witto had to be'dismissed before the. first Duma met. "Misreading the signs of the times, he thought by administrative' dexterity to re-establish that autocracy'of-'which he 'had'been so long a pillar. He had influence witlv tho Tsar, who believed him to be trusted by tho people; he had some influence with the more moderate of the popular leaders, since they believed him to be i trusted by the Tsar. Gradually it dawned npon.'both Tsar and people that Count do Witte-was trusted by nobody." As' , a financier and administrator, Count de Witte Has a long record of eminent service. Not.least of his triumphs was the conduct of the'peace negotiations with Japan, in which he was' wonderfully successful in beating down the victors' demands and in resisting the indemnity. "Wo do not pay one kopeck, and we get- half Saghalicn,". said the Russian plenipotentiary proudly at the close of the conference; Lately ho has been described as "grown perceptibly older, downcast, , and sad in expres-; sion."; , . . , .. . ■ After \ M. Goromykin had held/the Premiorehip for a while as a stopgap, the present-Pre-mier, M. Stolypin, succeeded, and has successfully ' held' for a long time a very difficult position. According to a report by the "Standard's" St; Petersburg correspondent in Juno, M. Stolypin's position was weakening, but "the . reactionaries wish him" to remain temporarily in office,' because his-reputation' for "honourable dealing is a good sign-board, particularly abroad." He has, the correspondent states, no clear and definite programme, and lacks tho ■will:to have his own way with the Tsar, but his .retirement would be a distinct loss to Bussia. 1 -; ■ . ■