The San Francisco call., 1906-07-27
'Strong-Handed Reform" Is
Declared by Premier to Be
Governments Policy.
DOES NOT DOUBT
ARMY'S LOYALTY
Revolutionary Movement in
Empire toBe PutDown
by Force of Arms.
PETER SBURG.

- T. PETERSBURG. July %
~Strong-handed reform" was laid
down by Premier stoIypin as the
note of his administration in
an Interview today, In which the new
Premier expressed conhdenIce that this
policy, with the aid of the innate patri-
otism of the masses and the army,
which, eIn spite of all reports, is still
loyal and reliable" would tide the
country over until the cOnvOcation of
the next Parliament.
There has been no coup d'etat.' said
the Premier. and nothing has been
done which was not in accordance with
the prescribed constitutional methods.
The Emperor was empowered by the
fundamental law to dissolve the Douma
and there was no other course open
TO his Majesty. The Douma as a
whole. was dying body and the most
merciful treatment was its prompt dis
patch. terminating its Improbable ex-
istence."
STRoNG-HANDED REFORM.
Asked as to the extent to which the
counteraetion was likely to go. stoly-
pin replied:
AT the present moment three poll
cies are open to the Emperor and his
advisers: First. reaction: second. i'm
passivity toward threatened revolu-
ton: third. policy of strong handed
reform. II is the last sentiment upon
which the Emperor has resolved. and
of reaction is the furthest removed
from his Majesty's wishes. but the
revolutionists must be thwarted before
there can be any possibility of decid-
ing on a defnitive basis for a stable
future"
AS to the suppression Of newspapers
and wholesale arrests, Stolypin said:
Arrests. expulsions and other meas
ures Of administrative order are indis-
pensabIe under the present circum-
stances. They doubtless will be manu-
factured into an outcry. but during
popular misruIe OF intimidation and
menace it would be impossible 10 COM
pei witnesses TO appear before the reg
ular courts. The newspapers sup
pressed were purely and simply revo-
lutionary organs. whose appearance
would not be countenanced in any
country in the world"
GOVERNMENTS LAND SCHEME.
stoIypin declined to express an opin-
ion on Parliaments demand for gen
eral land appropriation. He said:
The interests of the peasants lie
near the Emperor's heart. His Males
" and those closest 70 him admit the
justice of many of the claims of the
peasants, and nothing will be left un-
done TO solve the agrarian problem in
q spirit OF sympathy. generosity and
equity I believe the peasants will
recognize this when the details Of the
land proposals are fully explained to
them, with the aid Of local commits
sions nominated from those enjoying
the confidence Of the peasantry. When
the commission is complete we will
come forward win an exhaustive pro-
gramme covering the land question and
other subjects demanding immediate
solution"
The Premier spoke even in stronger
tones than General Trepof regarding
the loyalty Of the army. In conclusion
the Premier said:
Force is required in all countries
TO suppress a revolution; but repeat
and cannot repeat too strongly. that
reaction finds no place in our pro-
gramme and that all the reforms con-
sistent with the highest spirit of lib
eralism will be carried out when the
ground is prepared"