RUSSIA IN TRAVAIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12952, 29 December 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA IN TRAVAIL.

CABLEGRAMS. [m FBIU AHOCIATION.—COFTXIfIBT.

THE PEOPLES AWAKENING. LONDON, December 27. The Czar’s summary refusal to modify his autocratic powers has profoundly impressed the French, and the impression is growing in Paris that things are taking a bad turn for Eussia. Prince Mirski, Eussian Minister of the Interior, explaining the inconsistency of his liberal programme and his present attitude, states that the mands of the zemstvos and of the municipalities of Moscow and St. Petersburg arc totally impracticable owing to Eussia’s political immaturity. The Moscow municipality have presented Prince Galitzen, who presided at the conference which adopted the reform resolutions, with an address predicting that the sitting would be memorable of the people’s awakening. The address thanked him for the high civic virtues he had displayed, and trusted that he would continue to cooperate in the movement. Prince Galitzen made a sympathetic reply.

STRIKE OF NAPTHA WOBKERS. (Received December 28, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. A groat naptha workmen’s strike has occurred at Baku, in Russia, and serious disturbances have taken place. THE ZEMSTVOS. (Received December 28, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. Prince Trubetskoi, presiding at the Zemstvos’ Congress at Moscow, on Monday, referred to the regrettable war and the country’s grave economic crisis. Prince Mirski’s assurance of confidence in the people, he said, had given the zemstvos a new energy to serve the State. They had confidence in the Emperor, and believed the time was near when the Imperial will w’ootld [change tlse present bureau! cratic regime, which estranged supreme power from the people, and when freely elected representatives would be invited to participate in legislation.

Prince Trubetskoi also advocated equal rights, with freedom of speech and religion. The congress resolved to congratulate the Czar on the birth of an heir. On Tuesday the Government issued a statement rebuking the municipalities and the zemstvos for asking for reforms, thereby causing discord in the State life, and noisy meetings. The zemstvos must restrict the discussion within legal limits. It is expected that Prince Mirski will shortly resign. A JANUSLIKE ATTITUDE. (Received December 28, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. The “Novoe Vremya,” the “Russ,” and other Eussian newspapers rejoice at the Czar’s decree, especially as to giving peasants full rights and making a committee of slinistcrs to unify the centre, thus preventing paralysing administration differences.

German opinion is unfavourable, as the bureaucracy arc entrusted with the task of giving effect to (he scheme. New York papers declare that the decree marks an advance, however slight. Russophilcs in Vienna fear that the reform movement will be driven underground after the impending disturbances, and will thereafter assume the character of Nihilism. Reformers at St. Petersburg fear that- the decree will be a dead letter. English newspapers declare that the Russian Government’s Januslikc attitude is shown in the intentional juxtaposiiion of the decree and an official warning to the reformers. MOSCOW. (Received December 28, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. The Grand Duke Sergius resigns the Governor-Generalship of Moscow, but retains the military command. SI. Boulygiune, his assistant, will act provisionally as Governor. Eventually Moscow will' be reduced to a simple prefecture. General Trcpotf, chief of police in Moscow, also resigns.

RIOT IN’ POLAND. (Received December 28, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. A fatal riot took place at Lodz, in Poland, owing to a procession displaying red flags.