OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14588, 15 December 1917, Page 5

OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY.

A SADDENING MOCKERY

ONLY FIFTY MEMBERS

PRESENT,

EXPECTATION OF INSURRECTION

AT PETROGRAD

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Dec. 14, 7.55 p.m.) London, Dec. 13. The *'Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent describes the opening of the Constituent Assembly in the Taurida Palace on Tuesday. He says: The .stops were closed, flags waving, and processions marched through the streets. There were many meetings and much speechifying outside the palace, where the workmen and soldiers assembled. The doors of the Assembly were guarded by soldiers with machine guns.

After rebuffs the journalists reached the Chamber. We saw a little group at the foot of the Speaker's tribune. There were about fifty instead of 760. They included forty Social Revolutionaries and four Cadets. There were no Bolshevikis. The members held little meetings, their voices sounding like whispers in tie empty hall. It was decided to meet daily until a quorum was present. Wednesday's sitting was even more saddening, only forty being present.

The key to the situation is the prevalent belief that an anti-Bolsheviki insurrection is imminent in Petrograd. Lenin is taking drastic measures to prevent it, and has ordered the arrest of the leaders of the Cadets. Trotzky states that their arrest only means saving them from being lynched. It is generally stated tl;at the Bolshevikis favour a constitutional monarchy. It is believed that they are negotiating with the Romanoffs. Lenin and others treated the Grand Duke Paul Alexandroyitch with the utmost respect during his recent visit to Bolsheviki Headquarters.