Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

The duma resumed its session October
23. In testimony of its changed spirit
and disposition to apply
Working itself to work in place Of
Spirit. sion, it is to be re.
marked that in its first session the duma
voted the application of the Beranger
law to all political crimes. When the
duma separated for the vacation 1t was
the object of severe criticism, because Of
its weakness and inefficiency. The public
press, and even the official journals, COM
posed reforms. The session just begun
has started well, and has given evidence
of an awakened vitality.
A dispatch from st. Petersburg Novem-
Der 10 announced that two sections Gun
named) of the duma had fused and formed
a single group under the name OF
national Russian fraction This new
group, which numbers 100. has adopted
as a device Russia for Russians"
The commission Of the budget has ap-
piled itself diligently to the work in hama:
and the duma is already far advanced
in the organic reform proposed; the ad-
congratulations IN villages
the creation of rural municipalities, the
institution of local tribunals, the sup
preston of the jurisdiction of the
Zemski Natchalik. The law relative 70
discussed, although NJ. Stolypin intro
duced it by saying: DO not forget, this
law will be sanctioned promptly by the
emperor" A general plan OF reform OF
the university and school system was
The government IS in accord with the
octobrists In this, and also as to the re-
vision OF the rules OF the zemstvos. and
it's extension to Poland and southwest
Russia.
others were submitted in the last duma,
but because Of a lack OF party co-opera-
ton they failed OF action, but this session
promises to accomplish results and mark
an era in the parliamentary regime when
until now has been futile.
Some indication of the disposition to
get to work may be found in the move
nent to effect a union of parties in order
to secure a working majority. Count
Bobrinski, chief of the moderate right,
at the anniversary of the latter party,
the Both of October. wished long days OF
prosperity to octobrism.
An accord between octobrism and the
moderate right by the adoption of COM
PROGRAM presages united action and
the strengthening of the
A00pted. hands Of government NJ
Stolypin, it's representative, seems firmly
resolved upon the reform measures
which have been stayed, but will finally
be adopted.
The correspondent of the Temps in Paris
writes to that journal that certain arti-
cles in the Fortnightly Review concern
ing the negotiations between NJ. Isvolsky
the Russian minister of foreign affairs
and NJ d'Aehrenthal, the Austrian minis
ter of foreign affairs. prior to the annex
alton Of Bosnia-Herzegovina have pro-
voked in Russia, Austria and Germany
the most excited discussion and recrimi-
nation.
In the article in the Fortnightly Re-
view, said to be inspired in Austria. II
is maintained that during the summer OF
1903 NJ Isvolsky not only suggested the
annexation Of BosniaHefzegovina to Aus
tria, but also that Of the sanjak of Novi-
Bazaar. He demanded. Furthermore. it is
reported to know II the cabinet of Vienna
would, in exchange, undertake to solve
the question Of the Dardanelles In
sense favorable to Russia.
In the article attributed TO Russian in
spiration it says the accusations are
based upon false interpretations of a
secret memorandum, which, while con-
stituting a confidential communication
between the cabinets of Vienna and St.
Petersburg, seem to have been cOmmuni-
Gated in part.
NJ. Souvorine. director of the Novoie
Vremia has addressed the Austrian min
.ster the following dispatch. in substance
His excellency had without doubt read
the article in the Fortnightly Review in
relation to certain facts which were said
to have preceded the Bosnian annexation
That article exposed them from the point
Of view of the cabinet of Vienna. Public
opinion in Russia considered that expose
as being a reply to an article which ap-
peared in the same review accusing Aus
tro- Hungarian diplomacy Of lacking 10y
atty in that matter.
The Novoie Vremia mentioned these
two articles impartially, expressing the
all that touched the Balkan, might be in
structed by the proper authority as to
the pourparlers preceding the annexation.
The Geographic agency at St Peters
burg denied the statements made in the
Fortnightly Review. "A
proposition" it said. ION
the part of the imperial
OeAAcu' cabinet suggesting the
of osnia-Herzegovinia. and
still less that of the sanjak of Novi-
Bazaar, could never have existed. and was
due to the erroneous Interpretation of the
secret memorandum which had been re-
vealed in part June 10, 190S.''
The Novoie Vremia, it says, permits it.
self to take an unused method in such
matters. and addresses itself directly to
his excellency with the prayer that he
might deem 1t possible to aid the Vremia
In establishing the facts.
Baron d'Aehrenthal replied that he
hoped the editor would take into account
the reserve his Office impos. ID upon him.
An exchange of views with Austria had
the annexation. He could not
say more, so long as the cabinets of
Vienna and ST. Petersburg were silent
The NOvOie Vremia expressed the opin-
ion that Baron d Aehrenthal might have
the reserve which his func-
tiOnS imposed in a circumstance where, in
of an indiscretion committed
by an Austrian diplomat. diplomatic Sc
crets had made the tour Of the European
press.
We may ask ourselves what good the
discussion of the annexation of Bosnia
when annexation is an ac-
fact. Diplomacy, however, is
a science that deals with the mysterious
and the unexpected, and the diplomat
may heed the present excitement over
what was considered as res judicata'
as significant of new matter.
rQoapf1v ~.