Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-18
MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY
A General Staff Secret, at Least for
the Present.
DIPLOMATS EXPLANATION
Only Tolerated as Far as Convenient
for the Persons Who Are at
the Head Of Affairs.


deep game In the far east is given in a
circular sent by the several eensors to all
Russian newspapers and periodicals forbid
ding the publication Of any news with re-
gard to the rehabilitation of the army.
movements of troope in Manchuria, and,
above all. the reorganization of the military
establishment in Siberia and the far east.
"A furry In Russian army circles has re-
suited from the premature publication Of
the news OF q halt in Withdrawing the Rus
sian army from the Chinese province and
the sending of an expedition. headed by NJ.
Novftski, to- Mongolia" said a diplomat
This action was supposed to remain a gen.
eral staff secret. at least for the present
and as 1t was printed in several official or
gans 1t Is believed that it will embarrass
Nd. Pokotilon. Russian minister at Picking.
who Is now conducting negotiations with
China
Press Censorship.
This action brings to the fore the situa-
ton as regards the press censorship, which
today in the empire is just as 1t was three
years ago. While Mr.. Melville E. Stone,
general manager Of the Associated Press,
secured certain privileges for the benefit Of
the press and press kilograms as rush
matter. the censor still exercises his old
time duties.
"A subtle change has taken place within
the last year in the subject matter as well
as In the tone of the newspaper articles. To
many was remarkable the comparative Free
dom with which certain national problems
are now discussed problems that the Rus
sian press dared not even allude to in the
recent past. There Is no doubt that with
the assumption Of authority by the new
ministers OF the interior the condition Of the
Russian press has changed for the better.
This is unquestionably an important
service rendered by the ministry Of the inte-
rior. Nevertheless. the legal status Of the
press has undergone no change. As former
~, everything Is governed by the personal
attitude Of the officials. with this difference,
that formerly this attitude was hostile,
while now 1t Is conciliatory. Yet there is
little assurance that the latter may not
again be changed to the former. Russian
press legislation. so far, has endowed the
administration with great arbitrary power.
Tolerated Only as Convenient.
''The Russian. and the foreign press to a
great extent, Is tolerated only SO far as 1t
Is convenient for the persons who at any
time happen to be at the head Of affairs
Even the best-intentioned minister Of the
interior cannot secure for the Russian press
stable position under the existing laws
He Is unable to do this, not alone because
OF his ignorance Of his successor and Of
his successors views on the subject, but
also because the administrative punitive
mechanism created by press censorship reg
ulations is not confined to the jurisdiction
Of the ministry of the interior. While the
latter alone ia charged with the execution
of the law, any other ministry or depart
ment may decide that the publication of
certain articles would be ineonvenient.
Moreover, any minister may propose the
suspension Of periodical which In his
opinion may prove detrimental to the In
terests of the administration. Since such
suspension is usually discussed at the
council of ministers, instances may occur
where the suspension Is decided upon con-
trary to the wishes of the minister Of the
interior.
while the latter" said the diplomat,
has power to suppress any periodical, or
Of all periodicals. he has not the power to
resist pressure brought to bear by the
other ministries.
No Permanence Of Position.
lit is not possible. therefore, to establish
for the Russian press. or for foreign news
agencies IN Russia, such as the Associated
Press, special STAFF correspondents and the
like, position Of permanence and author
ity as based merely on the good will Of one
or another Of the ministers. Security from
the changing tendencies may be secured
only by guarantees founded on basic law
such as the United States has.
There is. furthermore the necessity Of
replacing administrative punishment by the
responsibility Of the press before the courts
alone. This has been pointed out repeated
ly by various influential periodicals, among
them the Novoe Vremya and the Russkiya
Vyedomost.
LAS all the existing laws have not been
changed, and the car, in spite of his as
surances and promises made to Mr.. Stone,
Is always against the press, the only way
freedom will be had is when the douma-
or any body hereafter organized by the
people-shan formulate suitable laws to
cover the press and its responsibilities"