The Weekly Journal. — 1904-12-30 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL.  ought to be fostered, for if it were adopted the machinery in the course of a few years would work smoothly, and there would always be ready a force able to deal with any sudden emergency which might arise, buch as the recent North Sea incident, for instance. This, along with the numerous arbitration treaties which are being signed, would go a long way towards maintaining the peace of the world.  The manifesto which it was expected the Czar would issue on his name-day last week, although it luts been ready for some time, did not see tho light until Monday. Probably when the people of Russia who can read see its contents, and those who are unable to do so hear of its proposals, they will not ho very much put out at the delay which has taken place. Reforms arc proposed certainly, but, in such small doses that they will have very little result. The reforms aim at giving greater freedom of migration in Russia to the peasants, who at present are hardly allowed to stir from their own villages; at the greater equality of all persons before the law; the renioval of the limitations imposed upon all foreigners; greater freedom of the press; while municipal authorities are to be given the widest possible scope in the administration of matters affecting the local welfare. These things sound well, but being proposed by the Emperor of Russia, who in the same document insists upon the necessity for maintaining the autocvney, they will have little practical result.  The manifesto is regarded as a direct rebuff to the reform policy of the Minister of the Interior (Prince Mirsky), whose resignation is looked upon as certain. Curiously enough, his posible successors are, according to rumour, a creature of the late Minister of the Interior, M. do Plehve, and M. de Witto. Probably few people outside Russia have beard of M. Stnrner, the former of these two, but M. de Witte, who is said to be in high favour at Court at present, and has audiences of the C•,.sr erery day, is a well-known reformer, who just before the commencement of the war we. the Imperial Minister of Finance. He strenuously opposed the idea of a conflict with Japan and the forward policy which led up to it, and it was owing to the machinations of M. de Plehve and Admiral Alexieff, who-were at the head of the war party, that he was removed. Had it not been for this able man Russia's finances would have been in an even worse state than they are at present, for he reorganised this Department of State and began working the vast natural resources of the country, which up to that time had lain practically dormant. If he should be appointed Minister of the Interior it is probable that the policy initiated by Prince Mirsky would be to a large extent oontinued.  Apparently the rescript ib to be taken as final, for the present at least. No sooner had the programme of reforms_ been published than there came close upon its heels a document of a different kind. Its effect was that a certain section of the people was trying to stir the population up against the Government by means of public meetings and demonstrations and by discussions in the Town Councils outside the limits of their functions, and contrary to law, while the university students were also not forgotten. Nothing, of course, is said as to the methods which will be employed to put down any further demonstrations in favour of reform, but it is clearly hinted that very severe measures will be resorted to. The agitation is fairly sure to continue, so that there is a promise of lively doings in Russia in the near future.  The death of M. Syveton, the Deputy who struck General Andre, the ex-Minister of War, in the Chamber, and who was found dead in his study the day before he was to be tried for the offence, is still occupying prominent attention in France. It was thought at first that the deceased had committed suicide to escape the consequences of his rash act, and then a domestic reason was assigned for the deed. Now, however, most of the newspapers appear to think that it was a case of murder rather than self-destruction, and apparently the judicial authorities, who are conducting their examinations with closed doors, are of the same opinion. They have been making experiments with dogs to ascertain, if possible, whether M. Syteton could have been suffocated by the fumes from the gas fire in his room, and they have come to the conclusion that sufficient time did not elapse between his leaving his wife and the  dead body being found. It was stated OQ Wednesday that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of a woman with whom M. Srreton had been negotiating for the sale of papers relating to spying in the Army by Freemasons, and if that is so it is likely that there will be another French military scandal. There was also a report in some of the London papers on Wednesday that the decision of the examining magistrate was that the deceased Deputy had committed suicide, but I this was not confirmed.