RUSSIA'S RESOLVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11883, 18 December 1916, Page 1

RUSSIA'S RESOLVE.

usinoFiTsoi j Australian asd NX Cable Awociailsa. (Received December 18, 9.30 a.m.) j LONDON, December' 17. ' 1 The "Observer's" Petrograd corres r pondent says that M. Petrovsky, ap-' pointed the day after Dr ron Beth-mann-Hollweg's speech was made, is an, honest, hardworking man, who won rounds of applause in the Duma by his ■emphatic rejection of German advances. Although the demand for a. Cabinet enjoying, i-ho public confidence has nob yet been granted, opinion is j expressing itself with growing 'firmness, j and striking unanimity. . The country from top to. bottom is insistent on ro- | organisation for victory, hence the de-j mmciatkm of dark forces or irresponsible influences, which are regarded aa I the chief obstacle to complete fusion of 1 the Government with the nation. Even the association of nobles, which in 1915 denounced the summoning of the Duma, is now ousted, and its executive has been overruled by the recent, decision of the country, which has demanded a, Cabinet of confidence, but from the standpoint of devotion to the autocracy has recommended a Cabinet responsible to th 4 G»ar."--"" " '—-• ; ■ - ■■■-■--■■ — : f I' .It must be noted that all resolutions I j of various bodies recently cabled, and | the concentration •of widely divergent and formerly opposing groups, repre~ : j gent a greater effort toAvards real victory than that leading to the forma- f j tion of the War Cabinet in England, | and this was the situation on which the I German .peace proposals happened to impinge.' (A recent cable message stated that iM. y Poknamski, Comptroller of the j Empire, had been appointed Foreign j Minister, and this is probably the statesman referred to in to-day's message.) NEW MISTERS. Aettv&Hjtn *a-a jJ>.Z. Cfcfcle Acscalfcffon. j (Received December 18, 9.10 a.m.) j . LONDON. December 17. ! A Bill has been drafted establishing Ministries of Labour. Food and Shipping.. It fixes the salaries at .£2OOO, and the Ministries of Food and Shipping will terminate twelve months ai'ttv the war.