Evening star., 1909-07-18
RUSSIAN REFORM PROGRESSING.

express confidence in the final victory OF
M StolyV0. whose situation Is difficult.
for, haytne surmounted many difficulties
quite as serious. he hopes that he will
overcome this ono for the great good OF
Russia.
The octobrists for fact appear decided
to oppose the reactionaries in Its own
party and the manifest tendencies OF the
right In that direction. The committee of
the octobrists has already taken up the
question of the suppression of the inter-
diction of residence of the Jews In the
empire. A preliminary vote in the party
committee discfoses the fact OF two votes
only against the suppression and ten in
favor OF the suppression Of the interdic-
tion.
In the matter OF Poland. the govern
meut submitted to the duma two projects
tending to protect the interests of Rus
slams esta blished in Poland. involving a
modification of the electoral and admin
istrative regime In that country The
Poles are indignant.
NJ Garussevitch. one Of the chiefs OF
the Polish party, declared in the duma
that Poles. without distinction Of party
policies, we're unanimous in protesting
against any territorial afilputation He
Guiding NJ Skalon. the present governor
general CT Warsaw, were opposed to the
project. the only important advocate be-
ing tho Count Chouvalof. formerly am
Religious services had been held In
churches and private houses praying God
to save Poland from new calamities, and
that the horrors Of the past might not
be renewed.
When the government introduced in the
duma June 1 the project tending to
transform eastern Poland to direct Rus
sian rule the Pole party asked that
it be rejected. and protested against
sending 1t to a commission. They de-
clared that the bill was a reflection of
old and unworthy methods and was
full OF dangerous conflicts. Notwith-
standing, the project was referred to a
commission. despite the opposition Of the
socialist democrats.
Dispatches from ST. Petersburg an
nounce manifestation against the Rus
sian government by the
E1nn1sn diet Of Finland. After the
unrest discourse from the throne
had been read by the
governor general the diet did not cry out
as Is the custom. Long live the em-
peror!" but adjourned In profound
silence, this action having been decided
| upon In secret sitting. The press Of the
| right insists that the government should
Immediately dissolve the diet
From Helsingfors. Finland. June "a.
the governor general. Bockman. intimated
to the Finnish senate that the project reg
ulating the position Of the Jews did not
meet with the approval of the Russian
council OF ministers. Forbidden to pro-
| test against Russian methods. the mem
bers OF the diet have subscribed to a
petition to the car which is couched
In violent and undiplomatic language.
Although the last diet was dissolved
ia act &c,
possible that the present petition may
have a similar result. On the other
hand. M. Stolypin may conclude that 1t
were wise for the government to tenn
porize and refrain from immediate action
in Finland.
The Russian press has been greatly ex-
cited of late over certain articles in the
Austrian press alluding to the presence of
Russian troops at Tabriz and at ourmia.
which recommended an accord between
Russia and Germany In Persian affairs.
| 'tSuch an accord" It was said, implied
renunciation by Russia Of her opposi-
tion to the German drang in the Bal
kans." Russian journals declared unani-
mously that the interests of Russia in
Persian were purely commercial: that in
the Balkan peninsula they were, on the
contrary, political and moral. and, refer
| ring to the recent incident connected with
the Austro-Servtan question. they declared
that Russia would never more permit
herself to be thrown back from Europe
| to Asia" The interview at Bjoerko. they
said. was interesting and in a great meas
ure opportune. Russia had sacrificed to
the German intervention two months be-
| fore the policy she had maintained until
| then against Austria Having consented
| to this sacrifice she should profit by 1t
| and not lag behind in sterile spite.
Russia was In need Of peace. 1t was
a tradition with her in periods Of medita-
| tfon and reorganization to live on good
terms with Germany. After the war in
the Crimea that tradition went SO far as
to cause Alexander II to celebrate the fall
Of Sedan within the walls OF the Kremlin.
| Then followed the entente Of the three
emperors and the renewed assurance OF
| friendship OF 1884 and 1887. There is no
| longer a question OF assurances Of that
| kind. It is only a matter Of sympathies
| and courtesies, which change nothing in
| their respective engagements.
The Russo Chinese treaty, against tho
ratification Of which the United States
government has made for
Cn1nese NAL protest, is an ap-
Treaty. parent simple entente be-
tween Russia and China
to arrange things among themselves. II
confers power. however. upon Russia, in
fact, tantamount to sovereignty in the
municipalities affected by the treaty.
Hence the protest.
Apropos to the energy being mani