THE RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 18

THE RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

A NEW DUMA.

A REI6RM PROMISED.

THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

SHOOTING AT THE CZAR.

ST. PETERSBURG, October 8.

Two bombs were thrown at Kobeka, the Vice-Governor of Kasan. One of them injured a bystander.

During the trial at St. Petersburg of the Council of Workmen's delegates, M. Krastaleff (president of the council) addressed the court, declaring that the Government was really tryirag 200,000 workmen, who had stffven for political and economic reforms by pacific means. He said that the Government ought to be placed on its trial for causing the revolution, since the workmen had) been forced into action. The revolution would continue.

Many of the witnesses refused to take the oath, and ostentatiously ignored the judges.

The Novoe Vremya (the organ of the bureaucrats) bitterly attacks as mischiefmakers the British deputation bearing an address to the ex-members of the Duma.

October 9.

M. Stolypin informed an interviewer that the new Douma would meet on February 20. Ho considered that the State of Revolution had ceased, and said it was an exaggeration to use such words as anarchy or Jacquerie.

M. SStolypin (the Premier) has prepared a law conferring unrestricted freedom on dissenting churches, also the right of registering marriages, births, and deaths. A bomb wounded ueneral Dumbadse (Commander of the Troops at Sevastopol). The perpetrator of the outrage, who was chased, fought his way through the lanks of the police.

Robin Hood gangs, called Brethren of the Forest, are overrunning the Baltic provinces, giving receipts for everything confiscated.

October 10.

The Prefect of Moscow has refused to 1 permit a public reception to the British deputation bearing the address to the members of the late Duma.

The Jews at Odessa are panic-stricken owing to M. Dubrovin (President of the Union of Russian People) inciting his 300 followers to exterminate all .the rebels aad Jews, declaring that the Russians wanted neither Constitution nor Parliament, but only orthodoxy and autocracy.

The Prefect prevented disturbances from taking place.

Over 100 executions have taken place in Russia, chiefly in Poland, in six day 6.

The British residents in St. Petersburg, and also the British Embassy, have received threatening letters declaring, in connection with the memorial to members of the late Duma, that British interference will not bo tolerated.

During the review of troops preceding the Czar's crui6e, several bullets passed close to the Czar and the members of the Imperial staff.

M. Stolypin, in the course of his interview, stated that even if a hostile Duma were returned it would be permitted to assemble, but if its attitude were similar to the first Duma it. would be dissolved. The prerogatives of the Crown and the fundamental laws of the Empire ought to be respected. M. Stolypin stated that the Zemstvos, which until recently had formed the strongholds of the opposition, were beginning to approve of the Government policy. Five terrorists at Lodz were courtmartialled and ehot to-day. AH the operatives aud the tramway hands at Lodz have struck as a protest against this drumhead court- martial. The Council of Professors of the St. Petersburg University, by 20 votes to 16, resolved to enteiiain the British deputation. The British residents in Russia strongly

object to the presentation of the memorial at the present juncture. The Russian reactionaries threaten a violent counter demonstration.

An Italian deputation is expected simultaneously with that of the British. Mr D. M. Smeaton, M.P., has withdrawn from the deputation. Sir W. EvansGordon, Unionist M.P., Mr W. T. Stead, and others suggest the abandonment of the presentation.

October 11

In connection with the general strike at Lcdz a crowd exhumed the bodies of the five teiTorists who were shot j-esterday.

While some people were collecting money to pay ior coffins at Lodx a number of Cossacks suddenly charged them. Many were wounded, while 30 were arrested.

The police at Vilna have arrested 23 revolutionaries, chiefly soldiers, who were trying to corrupt the army. M. Stolypin has assured the Party of Peaceful Regeneration that he has taken measures to prevent the reactionary terrorists from organising for protection at Odessa.

M. Stolypin (the Premier) states that tfce British memorial to the members of the late Duma is likely to unfavourably influence . the growing cordial relations between the two Empires. It is reported that the deputation hesitates to start for Russia.

Wholesale arrests of suspects have been made at Lodz. Strong detachments of troops guard the streets. General DumbadjVs assailant has been, arrested.

It is expected that a procession, with ikons and banners, will demonstrate against the British deputation on their arrival at St. Petersburg. The Black Hundred threaten violence.

Owing to misrepresentations and attacks, the British deputation has abandoned its idea of the public presentation of tho memorial to the members of the late Duma, and has requested a St. Petersburg committee to arrange for a private presentation. Only one or two members of the deputation will proceed to St. Petersburg.

October 12.

The Congress of the Russian Constitutional Democrats has split into three groups. The left, consisting of 35 members, advocates an immediate resort to passive resistance ; the centre group, comprising 100 members, accepts the Viborg manifesto, and considers it advisable to delay passive resistance, and the right group regards the Viborg manifesto as a political mistake. The difference of opinion has not caused secessions.

October 13

Owing to the clearly-expressed protests of many sections of the Russian people the London and St. Petersburg committees have mutually agreed to indefinitely postpone the visit of the British deputation which intended to present a memorial address to the members of the late Duma.

The Monarchist party at Moscow telegraphed appealing to King Edward to prevent the visit, which, the Monarchists declared, was intended to encourage the Czar's enemies.

October 14

The official returns show that between February and May the revolutionaries killed or gravely wounded 1421 Russian notables, including 34 Governors and town prefects and 38 prefects of police.

October 15

Several Anarchists from abroad, including a former student, were arrested on arrival at St. Petersburg. They had 301b of dynamite in their possession.

LONDON, October 9.

The British deputation conveying the memorial to the late Douma includes Messrs Scott, Robertson, Montgomery, and Steadman (members of the House of Commons). Three hundred members of the House of Commons (chiefly Liberals and Labourites), most of the trades union officials, many members of the London County Council, five bishops, and many mayors and authors signed the memorial.

October 10.

The Daily Telegraph declares that the majority of these who signed the memoria.l would doubtless repudiate its presentation by such fussy nobodies as the British deputation at St. Petersburg.

October 12.

A new class of insurance business has been introduced in Odessa (Russia), the local offices insuring against riots, mob violence, and revolutionary risings at premiums varying between 22 X 2X 2 per cent, and 3 per cent.