Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24

eminent, assumes that the Octobrists will
form in the present duma the compass
by which government will now put the
ship of state on its course. The true
Russians" it says. "a party numbering
about fifty in the duma. will probably
range themselves in opposition to the
Stolypn ministry from which fact lie
Temps augurs i'll to the ministry. The
new duma, under these conditions,
says. should not be considered as easy
to manage, and the cabinet. perhaps. Will
be obliged to defend itself In front ana
flank at the same time"
The augury, it should be added. is not
conclusive. for no one may forecast the
direction of political events in Russia,
where it is always the unexpected which
happens.
The correspondent of the London Times
finds, under date of November 6. in his
dispatch to that journal,
Crime that las the date of the as
w.. senlbling of the duma APP
proaches the daily record
of crime increases, and with it increases
repression" Just what connection there
may be in the correspondents mind as
to the coincidence it does not appear. For
the correspondent. who is manifestly anti
Russian. sit is condition. not theory
He was sent to report a condition and
he has done So Meanwhile. what if
Russian correspondent at London should
report to his paper at St Petersburg
that in view of the assembling OF the
British parliament crime was increasing,
likewise repression! One OF the EVIL
dences of crime in Russia-'one OF the
latest phases" to cite the correspondent
lis the exclusion of journalists from the
Hobbies of the Tauride palace, "h'ch
evokeS unanimous condemnation.
oil
to the enormous rise in the prices OF
grain. already causing distress among the
poorer classes, including the peasantry,
who have been obliged to dispose of their
famine relief. They urge that the gov
ernment should increase the freight rates
to discourage grain shipments. subject
which will doubtless be brought up In the
duma.
The correspondent of the London Times
at Paris reports. with reference to the
proposed sugar convention. information
which may prove highly interesting to the
sugar growers Of America.
Russia, it appears. has requested per-
mission to join the sugar convention
which was to assemble In Brussels on the
18th instant An interchange of views on
the suggestion of the Austrian and Hun
garian ministers of finance took place at
the Austro-Hungarian embassy in Paris
between the representatives of the per-
manent commission of the four principal
sugar-eXporting states which have ad-
hered to the commission, namely. France,
Germany. Austria and Hungary.
These meetings, which were presided
over by the Austro-Hungarian ambassa-
dor, were attended by one French dele
gate, two Austrian. two Hungarian and
two German delegates. the object being
| to take concerted action at the approach
ing meeting of the permanent commission
at Brussels in the matter of the Russian
proposal.
The proceedings. writes the correspond
ent. were not public. but he was informed
of them by foreign confrere."
1.-THE conditions upon which Russia asks
volving menace to the in
Russian terests of the other export
ing states which would
also be damaged by failure
to renew the convention. In these cir
cumstances understanding with Russia
Is desired. The concession which Russia
has announced her readiness to make,
namely. a reduction of the duty imposed
in that country upon foreign sugar. Is
represented as valueless. as the duty still
remains prohibitive. If Russia were to
secure access to the English market while
maintaining her bounty system it is con-
sidered that the result would be the
swampng of that market by Russian
sugar, which might even be sold there
under cost price and the ousting OF the
other exporting states which grant no
bounties. The delegates of those states
which have met in Paris recognize that
Russia cannot be asked to change her
system and have sought another means
of protecting the interests of their own
countries This is by fixing the guam
titv of sugar which Russia should be en-
titled to export.
"At present the Russian export of sugar
amounts to about IA per cent of the home
consumption In the event of Russia's
standing firm there is talk of special con-
ventions between the four states named,
in which Belgium and Holland might be
invited to join. with the object OF averuns
monopoly of the English market by
Russia on the expiration of the sugar
convention. Russia. 1t was finally agreed,
should be asked to modify the proposed
convention by accepting the principle of
fixed proportion for her exports
The question of the reduction of the
duty upon foreign sugar, indeed the ques-
ton of Russian sugar, may become an
important subject for discussion in the
dur1a.
The Russian senate has sent the case
of the government against NJ. Gourko.
the assistant secretary of
Gourko the interior to the supreme
AHo;- court of st. Petersburg for
trial. This case is based
upon the report of the commission named
by the car in November, 1905. charging
certain misappropriation of funds. The
department. of the zemstvos of the minis
try of the interior gave to the house of
Lidwall a contract to furnish 100000
pounds of wheat during the last three
months of 1905 to the provinces stricken
by the famine. There was delay in the
delivery. and the commission of inquiry
was named by government.
Baron Friedricks. former governor of
Mini Novgorod, was summoned as a wit
ness in the trial on November 6, but the
baron neither appeared nor sent his ex-
cuses, which was not only impolite, but
singularly suspicious.
M. Gourko is held to answer certain
facts recounted in the inquest 1t was
found that Gourko met Lidwall in a
cafe frequented by the latter and a GER
tain actress. 1t was there the contract
for the grain was signed and 500 900
roubles were paid TO GourkoD and 1OO-
COO to the proprietress of the cafe, this
being her part of the transaction for
bringing the parties together.