THE RUSSIAN DUMA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13653, 24 July 1906, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN DUMA.

DISSOLVED BY THE CZAR,

THE CZAR APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE. Pr«s» Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ST. PETERSBURG, July 22. (Received July 23, at 8.25 a.m.) The Czar, after a Ministerial Council held at Peterhof, issued a ukase dissolving the Duma and ordering tho convocation of a new Duma on March 15, 1907. The conditions of the elections will be published later. Cavalry, infantry, and artillery are pouring into St. Petersburg. M. Goremykin (the Premier) has been dismissed, and M. Slolypin (late Minister of the Interior) lias been appointed Plunder and Minister of the Interior. THE CZAR'S MANIFESTO. July 23. (Received July 23, at 9.44 p.m.) The following is the text of the Czar's dissolution manifesto:—"Believing that (ho Duma would benefit the nation with productive legislation, we proposed great reforms in all departments of national life, having always devoted great care to the removal of ignorance and ,tite burdens of the people by facilitating agricultural works. Cruel disappointment lias befallen our expectations. Instead of applying' themselves to the work of productive legislation, the Duma strayed into spheres beyond uicir competency, making inquiries into tho acts of tho local authorities established by ourselves, combining (he imperfections in tho fundamental laws (which can only be modified at our will), and even undertaking really illegal acts like appealing to the nation. Disturbed by such anomalies, and seeing no hope of amelioration, the peasants in a number of districts resorted hi open pillage and destruction of property and disobedience of the law ami legal authorities. Uiir subjects ought- to remember that improvements in thr people's lot are only possible under conditions of perfect order and tranquillity. We shall not allow arbitrary illegal acts, and we shall impose our Imperial will on the disobedient by all tho power of the Stale. We call on all well-disposed persons to unite for the maintenance of legal power and the res' - ration of peace in the dear Fatherland. May calm be re-established, and may tied help us to realise that the ehiefest of our tasks is that of the i-r>[onu of the lot of the peasants. Our will on this point is

inshakamc, and Russian husbandmen, vitltont encroaching on oilier people's prolerty, will be supplied, where the peasants' amis are too small, with legal and honest

means for the enlargement of their property. The representatives of the other •.lasses, at our request, will devote their best efforts to the realisation of this great task, which a future Duma will perform. fn dissolving the Duma we confirm our

inimitable intention of keeping this

institution, and we appoint March 5, 1907, as the date of the convocation of the new Duma, expecting from it the realisation of our efforts and the regeneration of Russia. Faithful sons of Russia, your Cwir calls you, as a father calls his children, to unite with him for the regeneration of the holy Fatherland. We believe

that giants in thought and action will appear, and, thanks to their assiduous efforts, the glory of Russia will continue to shine." A COMPLETE SURPRISE. (Received July 23, at 9.20 p.m.) The dissolution of the Duma came as a complete surprise. It is understood that M. Pobiedonostseff, 31. Putiakin. and M. Stolypin advised it, while M. Goremykin opposed it, The. leading members of the Duma, were nnawaro of the dissolution until an early hour on Sunday. Even late on Saturday night it was expected that a Parliamentary Cabinet would be formed. Members of Hie Duma have hurried to Viborg to hold a consultation. They have agreed to sink party differences, ami it is believed that they will issuo a joint manifesto to the nation. M. Stolypin has refused <\q accept the Premiership unless the capital; is placed in a, condition of extraordinary defence, amounting to martial law. An era of uncompromising repression has begun. Many arrests and domiciliary visits Imvo been made. Rioting was begun in Sadowaya street, near the Nevsky Prospect, at 'midnight, the crowd stoning the cavalry and troops, and the police using their naga.ikas. A later message states that M. Goremykin voluntarily resigned. M, ! . Stolypin has Liberal tendencies, but tlto very determined Constitutional Democrats considered that he acted with pusillanimity, destroying his influence with tho peasants. SAILORS' GRIEVANCES. July 22. (Received July 23, a t 9.8 a.m.)

Two thousand five hundred sailors belonging to the Mack Sea fleet have presented a list of economic demands to Admiral Skrydloff, in' command of the fleet. In the event of the demands not being granted they threaten a general revolt of the squadron. suppression of journals. July 23. (Received July 23, at 9.8 a.m.) The suppression of the Socialist journals was due to the decision of the Government to prevent- Hid publication of tho Duma's appeal to the peasantry. A BOMB DISCOVERED. (Received July 25, at 9.44 p.m.)

A charged bomb was fnimd on M, PobicdonostsefTs writing table yesterday.

RUSSIAN STOCK IN LONDON. LONDON. July 23. (Received July 23, at 9.20 p.m.) ' The Times says that the dissolution of the Duma may prove to lie the first decisive stage in the revolution. The last Russian loan has fallen 10 per cent, since it was issued. Capitalists con-/ siefcr that it was obtained by false pretences, since the undertaking not to interfere with the Constitution has been disregarded. , REGRET IN PARTS. PARIS. July 23. . (Received July 23, at 9.20 p.ni.) The news was received in Paris with deep regret and apprehension. It is considered tliat tbc Czar has been guilty of an irreparable blunder. IS IT TO BE A REVOLUTION? The, Government of Russia is an autocracy, the Czar being the supreme ruler and legislator, and the only source of power in the lxiily politic. The agitation for reform had attained considerable vigour in 1904. The Czar's manifesto of December 27, 1904, win regarded as a final refusal of the demand, for self-government. The political discontent, joined with economic distress, soon foiind ominous expression. " Red Sunday " followed in January. 1905. and anarchy spread throughout the country, disturbances breaking out everywhere, (in March 3 the Czar issued a manifesto, which appeared to dash the hopes of nil who advocating summoning a National Assembly: but on the evening of the same day a rescript was issued, promising that a Legislative Assembly would be summoned. The agrarian outrages continued, and strikes and mutinies were reported almost daily, until on August 19 the Czar issued fes.to, in which he said: "The time is'come to summon elected representatives from the whole of Russia to take a constant and active part in tho elaboration of law.-, attaching for this purpose, to the higher State institutions a special consultative lxjdy entrusted with the preliminary elaboration and discussion of measures, and with

tho examination of the State Budget." Tho formation of a Gosondarstvcnnaia Duma (.State Council) was thereupon announced, and tho Minister of the Interior ordered to submit regulations for elections to the Duma.

Tho provisions of the Constitution provided that the- members should hold office for fivo years, unless dissolution were ordered by the Czar. President and Vicepresident were, to bo eleoted annually. Proceedings were to bo conducted in general assembly, and not in sections. Ministers were not to ho members, but were to have power to attend its sittings. Tho Duma was to have power in. the amendment, of old laws and the making of new ones. Its competence, was to extend to tht National, Ministerial, and Departmental Budgets, tho construction of railways, and the matters submitted by Imperial decree. It was provided, however, that "the fundamental laws of the Imperial Administration shall not be touched."

The disorders in Hie Caucasus continuod, and an organised strike on all the railways commenced in October, the demands of the strikers being purely political. On October 30 the Czar signed a Constitution, and Count Wittc wasiappointed I'rimo Minister of a- responsible Ministry. The operative parts of the Imperial manifesto provided:—(l) To grant tho population tlio immutable foundations of civic liberty, based on real inviolability of the person and freedom of conscience, speech, union, and association; 12) to establish as an immutable rule that no law can come into force without the approval of the State Duma, and that it shall hs\ possible for the elected of the people to exercise a real participation in tho supervision of the logalil;, of the arts of the authorities appointed by the Czar. ; The elections to the Duma followed in duo course, and aUlmugh the Government interfered with the free choice of the l.eople, the character of Iho lepre'cntaliycs chosen mav bo judged from the following ftom our' Sf. Petersburg correspondent, written on tho day of'the opening ot IK' Duma:-"Next to their uncouth aiicf. the most surprising thing about them was their youth. Really, this Russian Parliament, i-3 an assembly of young peasants, with ages ranging between 30 and 40. N'earlv half Iho nioinhcr-3 are peasants, and 1 urn'douhl fill if this figure could bo beaten by any Legislative As.-cmbly under 1K Southern Cro?». Corljinly no legislative body under Iho Southern Cross presents hall so democratic, an appearance as this exl I'aordinary body. Some of them wore I lie uniform ot private soldiers, others must recently have been in Manchuria, for they wore war medals. They are- heart and soul in tho work before them, and were very angry on the first day of their meeting, when they bad lo break up at 11 o'clock al night-without, having solved the entire land question. 'AVhat will our fellow villagers say to this?' they asked one another, dolefully. They arc most impatient, however, fur the release of all political prisoners, beca-iise- many of the actual members aro substitutes for candidates who were thrown into gaol on Hie eve of the election, and it. i-t a point, of honour with them to get those candidates out."

'I'll.- 4-oal struggle between Hie Duma find tho Court commenced w.hcn a motion was passed censuring the Ministry and demanding its retirement. The Duma had burned its brides and voluntarily taken the step which tho Eror.eh States General did when it transformed itself into a convention by flaunting the fundamental laws and practically declaring that it proposed to exercise full parliamentary right with a. responsible Ministry. It had become in the eye* of the law a revolutionary body, and from that position there is no retreat. Tho leaders of the Constitutional Democrats declared that

they proposed to go calmly ahead with tho work before thorn, forcing the Government to tako the initiative. Tho strength of their position lies in the conviction that tho Bussian nation, and especially the peasantry, who are sure to bo discontented with 'the fiat concerning the expropriation of lands,' is behind Parliament in its rejection of tho Government's policy as utterly unacceptable. " The Government,' if it daro to fight." said M. Kolioshinc, one of the constitutional democratic members of the House, " can disperse tho Parliament, but the victory of the bureaucracy would be only temporary. It would inevitably be followed shortly by a bloody revolution which would not leave, a stick of tho present Government standing. The Emperor must choose between a real constitutional Government and the loss, not only of his Crown, but probably of his head." Professor Karoiff, in a special article, declared that a paral'el with the early sin ire of the French Revolution was complete. He invited the Ministry to substitute for tho 1906 events those of 1789, and then to consider whether they wished to continue their course.