The Irish standard., 1906-03-17
MUST SUPPRESS
| BLACK hundred
PREMIER WITTE INSISTS ON
ENDING OF REAcTIoNARY
AGITATION IN RUSSIA.
CONSPIRACY TO PREVENT
EXECUTION OF REFORMS
Plot in Which Prominent Officials Are
Implicated Brought to Light
Officers Of Whole Regiment in
Revolt.

o. ~'~seSAA ~Ss ~AS
Wednesdays session of the cabinet
Premier Witte, who was warmly sup
ported by Prince Alexis Obolensky,
procurator general of the holy synod,
and Count John Tolstoy, minister of
education. insisted on the suppression
of the organization known as the
League of the Russian People, through
which the agitation of the reactionary
"black hundred" is propagated 1t is
reported that he was forced to arrive
at this decision, but this is not abso-
lutely confirmed.
NJ. Won Der Launitz. the police
prefect. was summoned to the
meeting and asked to explain how
1t happened that the publication
Of the proclamation calling for
the determination of the Jews was
printed in the official printing Office
attached to his department The
prefect denied having any personal
knowledge of the printing. However
1t was established that there is con.
stantly accumulating evidence that
the plot to produce q counter revolu.
tion in the hope of sweeping away the
reforms outlined in the manifesto of
October 80 had its origin in a court
cabal.
Many Officers In Conspiracy.
The conspiracy includes Gen. Trcp.
OF, commandant of the palace; Gen.
Count Ignatieif, NJ. Stichinsky. cx-
chief adjutant of the interior depart
ment: Count Sherometieff, noter re-
dictionary. and Gen. Prince Putiatin,
who are said to utterly reckless OF
the consequences. The plan is to pro.
woke riots and massacres Of Jews and
revolutionists over as wide an area
as possible in order to justify still
more terrible repressions and thereby
prove to the emperor that tire people
are not ripe for any sort of self-gov.
crnmcnt. It is a desperate game, but
1t is backed by many of the provin.
cial authorities and the support of the
governor generals has been enlisted,
the former using the police and the
latter the troops. among whom proc
lamations against tho Jews and revo.
lutionists. which are understood to
have been printed at tho army head
quarters in Odessa, have been distrib-
uted.
Durnovo Suspected of Completely.
The completely of Interior Minister
Durnovo in the conspiracy is not
proved, although suspected. Premier
Witte and the liberal section of the
cabinet will be compelled to fight the
conspiracy and consequently a break
in the ministry is regarded as not I'M
probable.
1t is understood that $4,000 men,
bers of the "bl:ck hundred" in St.
Petersburg are armed, but it is not be-
lfeved. in view of the warnings they
have received. that the conspirators
will attempt to provoke a massacre
at the capital. Tho authorities here.
however. are in sympathy with the
conspirators and the danger Of an
outbreak about Faster is regarded as
very real.
In the meantime, on the other side,
the proletariat organizations, which
were ruthlessly crushed by, the gov
ernment's repression measures, are
trying to organize another general
strike. Negotiations are proceeding
with the telegraph and railroad en-
ploycs whose cooperation Is regarded
as vital to this end. The socialists
of Finland have promised their sup
port. Some rioting has already oc-
CURED at Moscow and in the vicinity
Russian officers Resign.
The rumor that the officers of q rcgi-
ment Of the guard has met and re-
signed in body upon receiving orders
recently to 60 to the Baltic provinces
and participate in the pacification OF
the country has been confirmed. The
officers belonged to the First regiment
of artillery of the guards.
Losses Exceed 1855, 100000.
The reports of the special commits
sion which Investigated In 10 prov
fnces the agrarian disturbances which
occurred last year show that the
losses exceeded $155.000O00. The
heaviest losses were at Saratofr, S4,-
100000. and in the Volga provinces
The returns from the other provinces
have not been completed and the re-
port from only one of the Baltic PROV
inces. Esthonia. showing loss Of ST.
250.000, has been received up to the
present time. Tho government has
practically decided to grant to the
landlords time loan without interest
and amounting to O third of their
losses.