Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-02
Gear Agrees to National
Assembly in Russia.
War Party Dying Hard But It
Is Only Alternative.
Nicholas Declares He Rather Die Than Sign
Ignominous Peace.

st Petersburg. June 1.-The eX-
traorGinary council at TsarskOe Selo,
yesterday, reached no conclusion on the
subject of peace but it is definitely
said that the Emperor agreed to
meet the International situation by
immediate proclamation of de-
cree providing for the convoca-
ton of national assembly. M
Witte. president of ministers, who was
present. is understood to have assumed
the leadership of tn" advocates of peace
and the Immediate CunVocation OF a
national assembly IS anticipated rs
avcrting a strike which is threatening
to break.
The war party is dying hard. 1t is the
unanimous opinion in diplomatic circles
that events point to 10 ether issue eX-
ccpt peace. While all Ih' ministers eX-
ccpt War Minister Sakharn fl and M MS
ter of Marin" Avellan arc soiihly ar
raycd against the desire 20 continue the
hopeless struggle the Emperor has re-
fused thus far to say word. TO a VS.
itor or Tuesday. His Majesty is report
d To have declared that he would rath-
er die than sign an ignominiOus peace.
The immediate realization of the I'M
pcrial reforms seems the only thing
which can save the government from
wrath of the populace. The truth is now
known to the humblest people in the
capital and will soon spread through
the empire and the mutterings of pco-
pie are sure to have effect on the army
at the front.
iCs 9, Nj hat tt,n
and Socialists are planning to take ad-
vantage of the discomfOrture by incit-
ing demonstrations and renewal of
strikes. AS precau1ion more guards
have been ordered back from camp and
additional Cossack reinforcements have
been brought to st. Petersburg.
The Liberals also consider the gov
eminent is at last in a corner and the
time has come to strike. Their press no
longer askS-it threatens.
The Slovo. this morning. menaceS the
gUvcrnmt Mt boldly declaring that if it
does not give what the people need, the
latter will take it. TIL" paper holds IN
the spectre of another Cugachcy. the
famous Cossack. who fer years led the
nsurrcction against TIE Empress
Catherine.
The NaSha Shisn dennunces the bu-
reaucracy from which it says there is
no hope of peace and paints a revolving
picture Of the oflicerholders last night,
amusing themselves instead of mourn
ing
't,vcryWhcrc.' the Nasha Shisn says,
they were hurrying to pleasure resorts.
The dance halls wera full. Even the
a rrl>V and II off took in
the giities oblivious Of the frowning at
titude of the public. Can Russias dc
feat surprise any one when such men
keep the masses in ignorance and
thrust the true patriots Of the country
into cells and underground"
The NovOe Nremya warns the gov
eminent that it cannot tcmporiZe and
act the coward but must come out OPP
emily. Immediately convince the people
ana let them decide the future.
The industrial members of the labor
commission headed by Finance Minister
kokOvsoff Withdrew in body at to-
days sitting. on the plea that owing to
the national calamity, they were unable
to calmly discuss current affairs and
considered that the situation requir n
their presence in their respective pro-
VinccS.
NJ. koNOkO vainly appealed to the in
dustrial members to reconsider their de-
cision. FINALLY he decided that the gov
eminent members Of the commission
should continue their work.
TIL" newspaper report that Vice Adj
mirai Birileff. who start ID for Vladivos-
tok. May -. to take command of the
Baltic station, is returning to st. Pet
ershUrg.
The Boursc Gazctt" says, the recent
events mean the complete bankruptcy
OF the bureaucracy. declares that the
gov, rnn"nt is shaken to its founda-
tions and that unless q rational assem-
bly, is c0nvoked and other reforms are
sincerely executed at once, it will be
too late.
a recurrence of the strike movement
is already reported at various places
In st. Petersburg the government has
placed a weapon in the hands of the
SOcialistiC leaders If the workmen by
conceding eight hours work per day at
the admiralty yards. thus embarrassing
private owners who insist that the con-
ditions Of Russian labor dGcs not per.
NIT them to agree to such hours.
From the Caucasus ;he rews contin-
ues bad. Erivan has been placed undnr
martial law. but the fears of Persian
Kurds crossing the frontier. have for
tunateiy not yet been realized