IRRITATION IN SAMOS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 12

IRRITATION IN SAMOS.

Constantinople, November 11., Tho situation in the island of Samos is causing, some anxiety to tho Porte. Tho late Prince Karathodori was recalled' some mouths ago to givo explanations regarding his conduct tliero,' notably in regard to the opening of a branch of the Greek National Bank. Although tho Prinoo's explanations wore. entirely satisfactory and lis was allowed to returni to Samos, yet .through Palace intrigues and playing on 'vaguo conjectures that ho held too Nationalist views, an irado was subsequently obtained deposing him, and naming, in his stead, Gcorgkulis. Tho last named, although a most honourable maai.is not acceptable to tho pooplo of Samos. He is deficient in tact and in the faculty of governing.' Ho has already estranged "tlio Saniian Senate, with whom 110 is now in bitter conflict- Ho acts, arbitrarily, in the namo of the Porte, and is thus estranging the sympathies of tlio wholo population, who are very jealous of tho special privileges obtained for them under the guarantee of Great Britain, France, and Russia so far back as 1835. This is very regrettable, as heretofore tho Porte has' shown oxoeptional leniency and jnstico to Samos. Although tho matter at present is only of local importance, tho case would bo far" different if tho islanders revolted, a 6 they 'threaten to do, against tho misguided Georgiadis, thus affecting the wholo Archipelago, inflaming fcho Greek Nationalist spirit, and creating a crisis worso even than tho Macedonian. It is felt that tho Porto .would sorvo its own interests best by withdrawing, Goorgiadis, who is neither sufficiently Woad-mindod . nor strong enough in 'character to deal with the present crisis. SIGNOR NASI'S. TRIAL. : Rome, November 12. On tho resumption, of the Nasi trial today, Signor Cappelli', who presided over tho Parliamentary Committeo appointed to , enquire into tho charges against - the ex-Minis-ter, was called. He gave his evidence in a strictly impartial manner, which strongly impressed the court with tho scrupulous fairness with which he had conduoted the enquiry, and- told greatly against the accused, especially as Signor 1 Cappelli solemnly declared that at the out-set of tlio investigation ho was 'convinced of Signor Nasi's innocence, but was soon overwhelmed by a mass of. evidence which, in his opinion, afforded conclusive proof of Signor Nasi's guilt. . , Signor Cappelli mentioned ;that otto deputy examined by tlio - committee . had told him that the Ministry of Public Instruction had bccomo tho headquarters of tho.Camorra and tho Mafia. Signor .Cappelli said that frauds had been carried out with tho most astounding impudence, forged receipts- for money, supposed to, have been paid to' poor schoolmasters bearing such . signatures as "Donkey School Teacher," -"Liar School Teacher," '.'Thief School Teacher," etc.', 111 concluding, his , evidence, Signor Cappelli strengthened the deep l impression l produced •by his statements by voluntarily' and emphatically renewing his oath, declaring once ■morOi'.beforo.'iGod-aiid .man,, '.that he. had' sp6ken:/tho'i!.;trathi.M-ii,nd!f nothingnbut .the truth.,, . XiWl' ( . ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS. r London,: November 13. " Herr ,von Schon, lmperia] Minister : for Foreign Affairs, in an interview at Windsor yesterday, said: —' ■ ' , "His Majesty was very glad to tako this opportunity of once more visiting England and ,of again seeing his relatives,, and 110 is eagerly looking forward to -hia, visit , to tho City. , You ask me how I regard. this visit '.from a.-political' standpoint,', and to this I reply that, there is 110 necessity to seek any special, political significance." Speakmg with emphasis Herr von Schon contiuuod: "Let mo at once say that there is no intention of discussing at Windsor any concroto political, question. Germany and England are both in the ,happy position of having no actual political questions out-, ' standing. ' Naturally,, between two great nations, there aro always details, of current business to bo dealt with, hut this is a matter for our respectivo' Embassies; ' 'As to tlio result of this happy- visit, wo ontertain great hopes. We hope' and believe that it will bring about a renewal of the old time affectionate relations which ,existed between our two lands. These relations have always breri' Correct, but this is not enough, -and there is an increasing desire 'in both conn-: tries that, they shall become something more. Let me bo'more explicit. .. By this'remark I do not mean that we in ■ Germany look for any specially defined political agreement, or for any understanding that may give rise to apprehension in tlio, case of any other Power. 'Nothing is : .further from - my thoughts. My hope is simply this: that' the relations between our two Governments may becomo moro' closely assimilated to tho not-only cori'ect but'affectionato relations osisting l>etween tho two reigning Houses."^ .This' remark lod ■ to'., a conversation , on Press methods in Engjand and Germany, at the conclusion of - which Herr von Schon said:—"lt is a' mattor for sinccro satisfaction that tho newspaper Press of both countries is, gradually ceasing to say things which are only calculated to embitter feolings. Wo recognise that there is a growing. tendenoy to foster sinoaroly . friendly relations. , Let us be' frank and honestly Jorget cortain misunderstandings whicji havo occurred on both sides, and in doing so lot us bear in mind tliat wo aro both marching side by side in the path of culture and in tho development of all that is best for the human race. 1 may assuro you, in conclusion, that this Imperial .visit has begun in the most auspicious, maimer. The warmth of the reception accorded them has deeply touched the hearts of tho Emperor amd Empress, and thero can bo no reason to "doubt that this happy occasion will result, in the realisation of the hopes I have expressed." | THIRD RUSSIAN DUMA. St. Petersburg, November 6. Paradoxical as it may seem, the relativo preponderance in the new Duma of the Absolutist Party of Geriuino Russians may strengthen thd constitution by' forcing tho Ootobrists and Constitutional Democrats to co-operate to carry moderate reforms. Wero the Absolutists weaker, they would appeal to the Octobrists. Thoir attitude was outlined at a conference at Moscow yesterday by M. Shmakoff, a barrister, who, amidst tremoudous applause, said: "Remember, you are going to St. Petersburg not to legislate in tho Duma, but to destroy it." . M. Purishkovich; vice-president of the Union of Gonuine Russians, who has been returned to the Duma, declares in an interview to-day that tho Absolutists will forbid tho Radicals to speak altogether. They will allow tho Constitutional Democrats to talk to a limited extent, but they will exclude them from tho committees (whore, by tho way, they alono accomplished anything in tho previous sessions of tho Duma. M. Pnrishkovicli added: "Wo intend that tho Duma shall meroly adviso the Emperor during a difficult period, and then coaso to exist." The attitude of the moro reasonable Octobrists is expressed in an interview to-day with M. Khomiakoff; a Zemstvo member, who is disposed to decline the presidency of tho party owing to his lack of technical training. M. Khomiakoff says: " If the Constitu r tional Domocrats abandon opposition for its. own sake a Constitutional group can . be formed, and it would necessarily be oppositional in many instances, since a number of Government Bills aro specious vinaigrettes in '*Wah bureaucratic cold meats are dished

in new form. For example, there is the Parochial Self-Government Bill, which re- ' introduces the all-powerful Zemsky naohalnik (official) under the name of Government commissary. Any Duma that really desires work and wishes to inaugurate reforms will have sufficient occasions . for opposition without seeking them." A congress of tho Constitutional Democrats assembled at Helsingfors to-day. The meeting disclosed a strong tendency to work harmoniously with tho Octobrists, provided tha latter dosiro genuine instead of merely nominal reforms. The. Octobrist Congress will meet here, on Monday. Although the " majority of tho provincial Octobrists are more conservative than those of ibe great) cities, it is believed that theyi will obey their leaders, such as M. Khomiakoff, M. .Kapustin, and M. Guchkoff, rather than coin, tribute to constitutional suicide. / ; St. Petersburg, November 14. . Tho inauguration of tho third Duma tool£ place to-day, and a stronger contrast between it and tho previous openings of tha first and second Dumas it is difficult to oonceivo. Instead of the smiling sunshine' there was a bitter wind and the first snow oil winter; instead of thousands of excited working men and youth of both sexes almost choking tho streets, there were to be seen 4 fow hundred students shivering at crosi streets half a mile off until thq police drove' them away; instead of,the motley garb 0# > the Polish and .Little Russian peasants, th< picturesque dress of the Mahometan mulkhsf' and blouses of peasants, there: were not only military and ministerial uniforms, witfi, scarlet sashes and decorations, and two hundred deputies in frock coats. Tho ceremony was only a little more brilliant than the ap< peatance of an annual Zemstvo, and sonny what less inspiring than 'a regimental hoik, day parade or an ordinary drawing-room a£ the Palace. The preliminary service, in the lobby wa»' attonded by all the Ministers, with, the ex*, ception of Baron Freederickz, and tho ma« jority of the deputies. v Wh en tho House assembled . one noticed Professor Milukoff, M. Goloviri, and M* Maklakoff in the places formerly assigned tor the Socialist Revolutionaries, and H. CheU nokoff whore tho Social Democrats sat. adequately described the political transfer*, ma turn worked by the Juno election law. M* Golubeff's speech, in tho name of the Tsarj was colourless,, but tinged with constitutionalism. The Tsar urged the furtherance of enlightenment and of tho people's wok faro: "tho strengthening of the structure of tho State, and the consolida< tion of tho indivisible Russian, Empire." Th< latter clsuso is taken ns indicating opposk tibn to Homo Rule, or autonomy of any, kind. On the first mention'of tho Tsar, M.Krupenski, a perforvid loyalist, who was < member of -the second Duma, shouted "Long live the Empire!" Everybody rose, and,tlisgreat majority shouted "Hurrah!" On the. second mention, Count Bobrinsky's, treble, . feebly imitated M. Krupenski's bass. Tho . result, however, was quite the same. ,: ' Then followed tliei dreary procedure for tha election of' President, lasting several hours< The result was 371 votes for M. Khomiakoffj five blanks, two votes for Count Bobrinskjy and one for M. Golovin, who was Presidbntf of the second Duma. M. Khomiakoff was greeted with loud applause, the whole Hous-/ standing.' The Constitutional _ Democratshowever, who had voted for him, • expected something better than the feeble speechletl which he deliverod, urging tho deputies to realise . tho autocratic will, and reiterating', the EmpOror's warning against autonomy.: Tho Constitutional Democrats were disappointed, and declared the proceedings; especK. ally. M. Khomiakoff'is speech, as disheartening. M. Milukoff, who is usually so optimise tie, said there seemed to bo no hope of an; alliance between tho . Constitutional Den>»» crats and tho Octobrist party.