Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-18
CAR REVERSES
ANCIENT POLICY
POLAND OBTAINS SWEEPING
CONCESSIONS
BALTIC PROVINCES RELIEVED
Restrictive DEGREES In Nine Western
Governments of Russia Modified
and Policy Of Eussifica-
ton Modified
BALTIC PROVINCES RELIEVED
By Associated Press.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 17.-There
is little room for skepticism as to the
genuineness of the broad policy of i'm
perial reform after the remarkable steps
sanctioned by Emperor Nicholas in the
| imperial rescript issued yesterday
which modifies the restrictive DEGREES
in nine of the western governments of
Russia, gives the Poles greater free
dom of purchasing landed properties
and industrial premises, and grants
permission to introduce the Polish and
Lithunian languages into the primary
and secondary schools where the ma
iority of the inhabitants are non-Rus-
sian.
Almost at one sweep the whole bur-
den of the vexatious restrictive laws in
Poland and the Baltic provinces has
been removed, and the privileges for
which the natives have been fighting
for years are restored. The assemblies
of the Polish mobiles are restored, and
all the harsh administrative measures
introduced at the time of the policy of
reaction and classification are abol-
ished, save when for purposes of state
council of state, they shall receive
again imperial sanction.
Entire Russian Policy Reversed
AS a natural sequence of freedom of
religion the oppressive prohibition of
the purchase of land by Catholic peas
ants is abolished. In effect the meas
ures sanctioned amount to an entire
reversal of Russian policy in ancient
Poland and the Baltic provinces.
In Poland the policy had been to
force the Poles either to become Or
thodox Russians or drive them into
Poland proper. The hardships thus en-
tailed were innumerable. The property
of deceased Poles was sold to Rus
slams at forced sale and at ridiculous
prices.
1t is pointed out that in order to
avoid delay in the matter of the in
PRODUCTION of the Polish and Lithuanian
languages, the emperor specifically dl-
rected the formulation of the necessary
regulations and laws within six
months.
Local Government to Be Introduced
These measures, it is understood, Will
be followed by the introduction OF To-
cal government through the zemstvos
system. The steps taken will undoubt-
edly have immense influence upon the
population of Poland, and will prac-
tically meet the demands of the ra-
tional reformers, who really recognize
that the restoration of the kingdom OF
Poland is an idle and visionary dream.
The committee Of ministers has gone
no further with the Jewish question
than to grant freedom of residence to
the artisan class. The question in Its
entirety is of such great Importance
that it has been decided to refer 1t to
the coming general assembly. This
practically Is a decision to refer 1t to
! the will of representatives of the peo-
pie, being the first public recognition
that the government intends to be guild
ed by its action.
The emperor's action has produced a
deep impression among the reform ele-
ments, and they are expressing the
highest satisfaction. AS the announce
ment was not published in the official
Gazette until this morning, however
the newspapers contain no comment.