A STORMY SESSION

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1230, 21 January 1918, Page 5

A STORMY SESSION

UPROAR IN FREEH CHAMBER MEMBERS ACCUSED OF GERMAN SYMPATHIES DRAWING OF REVOLVER LEADS TO CHALLENGE TO DUEL F>u Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & N.Z.) (Rec. Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) FAEIS, Jan. 20. The Chamber of Deputies passed a vote of confidence in the Clemenceau Government after one of the most heated debates ever heard in the Chamber. M. Desehane] was compelled to suspend the session, in order to re-establish calm. The trouble arose after a Socialist interpellation against the Royalist paper "Action Franeaise." To tlr's members of the Right delivered a counter-attack. M. Pugliesseconti accused 19 Deputies of collaborating in a newspaper which had been founded with German money and in which Herren Liebknecht and Bernstein were interested. He then further accused M. Longuet, who is Earl Marx's grandson, of writing for a German-Swiss paper. Finally the Chamber, by 368 votes to 118, adopted an Order of the Day, stating that the Government should check all Royalist and other movements attempting to create civil war, and expressing confidence in the Government to act. During the debate a Socialist Deputy, M. Mayeras, struck M. Pugliesseconti, who subsequently sent his second to M. Mayeras, who declined to admit himself in the wrong, as M. Pugliesseconti had produced a revolver. M. Pugliesseconti then sent his second to M. Longuet. RUSSIA'S NEW PARLIAMENT MEETS. FIRST SITTING OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. (A. & N.Z. & Wireless.) (Roe. Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) PETEOGEAD, Jan. 19. Official: —Comrade Sverdlaw opened the Constituent Assembly on Friday. There were popular manifestations in the streets, but the soldiers, sailors, and workmen did not participate, though they assisted the Eed Guards to maintain order. Comrade Tchenioff was elected President. Comrade Sverdlaw, in the name of the Council of Soldiers', Workmen's, and Peasant' Deputies, submitted a request that the Council's authority be recognised; also that all decrees issued by the Council of the People's Commissaries be recognised, pending a clear definition of the relations between the Assembly and the Council. Subsequently the Bolsheviks and the left wing of the Socialist Revolutionaries withdrew. SWEEPING DEMANDS BY MINORITY SOCIALISTS. (A. & N.Z.) (Eee. Jan. 21, 9.50 a.m.) PETEOGEAD, Jan. 20. The sitting of the Constituent Assembly lasted all night. M. Tseretelli read a declaration by the Minority SocialDemocrats, demanding full power for the Constituent Assembly and the creation of a democratic republic ; also proposing to erect a special instrument for regulating the existing truce and for offering to the belligerents the commencement of negotiations on a general scale. The declaration further opposes the Bolsheviks' Socialistic Utopian ideas.

The Assembly voted by 237 votes to 146 against the immediate discussion of the Bolsheviks' declaration regarding peace, land reforms, and workmen's control.

ASSEMBLY ENJOYS A VERY SHORT LIFE. (Renter.) (Eee. Jan. 21, 12.20 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Jan. 20. The Constituent Assembly has been dissolved. ALLIES READY FOR TROUBLE AT VLADIVOSTOCK. (A. & N.Z.) (Rcc. Jan. 21, 9.5 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. The State Department is advised that two Japanese cruisers, one British, and possibly one American, are oif Vladivostock, ready for an emergency. MOB RULE PREVENTS TRANSPORT OF FOOD. (A. & N.Z. & Wireless.) (Rcc. Jan. 21, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The Russian Peoples' Commissaries' communications draw attention to disorders and excesses at railway stations by soldiers and others. They declare that the railways are in the power of the mob. This state of anarchy has disorganised the transport service, preventing supplies from going to the starving regions and armies. They invite the Council to take drastic measures to establish order. The Commissaries announce the stoppage main line passenger trains on numerous railways from January 20 to Febrary 2, owing to the urgency of transporting food to the front, Moscow, and Petrograd. BOLSHEVIKS CLAIM VICTORIES IN UKRAINIA. (A. & N.Z.) (Eec. Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) PETROGRAD, Jan. 20. The Bolsheviks claim to have captured 1500 counter-revo-lutionary officers at Debalsevo. They also claim successes against the Ukrainians at Skrevskaja and Voroskta. ALLIED VICTORIES ON THE PIAVE. RENDER FURTHER INVASION OF ITALY IMPOSSIBLE. (A. & N.Z.) (Roe. Jan. 21, 9.5 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. General Lozzi, head of the Italian War Mission, said:— The expulsion of the Austrians from the Lower Piave removes the possibility of an enemy surprise, and makes further invasion impossible. NEW GEBMAN PEACE OFFER EXPECTED. AMERICA TO SET UP CIVILIAN WAR COUNCIL. (A. & N.Z.) (Riv. Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. Senator .). 11. Lewis (Illinois), in the Senate, said: — We have reason to know that Berlin will shortly maks peace proposals to the Allies. We also have information that the Pope is arranging another effort for peace. A Bill creating a War Council of three civilians will be introduced in the Senate on Monday. \X empowers the Council to co-operate with President Wilson in the entire conduct of the way.