Russian Council of Empire

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1207, 23 December 1904, Page 2

Russian Council of Empire

Significant Speeches

The Czar Breaks up the Council

Press Association,—Copyright,

St. Pktkrsisurg December 22 M. Turavikff, at a meeting of the Council of the Erapiro, contended that fcho Czar was not lazily entitled to upset the political regime

M. Mirski insisted that the present situation could not lie prolonged without danger. Concessions involved (ewer difficulties tii-m the maintenance of a Btatus quo.

The Minister of Finance said that reforms would inevitably lead to the restriction of tiie !Ws absolute freedom, dispose of the nation's resources, and result in the rule of demagogy. The Czar did not express an opinion, 11. Pobiedonosizoff warned the Czar that ho was not, only Emperor but head of tho Church, and must be guided in connection with rofornis by religious as well aspolitioal reasons. If he abandoned autocracy and gave ropreiemativo government, the Ohuroli would lose its power, M de Witto declared that if it were known that tho Czar was legally and religiously unable to grant fundamental reforms a portion of the people would rosort to forco,

'I ho Czar was bewildered, aud broke up tho Corucil, declaring that ho desired to transmit to his son an empiro intact, Autocracy was the only barrier against anarchy aud general lawlessness.

_ With regard to the meeting of the Russian Council of tho Empire it is helievod that the reactionaries woro victorious. No constitutional reforms will bo granted, but only an amelioration of the peasants' condition and somo educational concessions,