AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1437, 25 April 1905, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.

THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY’S PROPOSAL. By Electric Telegraph—Per Press } Association—Copyright. ST. PETERSBURG, April 21. "Sf The Russian National Progressive Sf party, under, M. Shipoff’s leader- •? shin. have submitted a simple mode-;»| rate programme, which- is wide acceptance, providing for a sin- ‘ gle House of elected representatives,, to he styled the Imperial Land Conn-' cil. It is to have power to discuss: amend, and initiate legislation, to discuss the ‘Bufdget, control expends ■% ture and State Departments, to in- * .terpellate Ministers, who remain re- §f soonsiblo to tho Emperor alone. The elections are not to be based on un-,# iversal franchise,, hut onlv organic?local government, throughout the Empire,. vv DECISIONS OF A SECRET " CONGRESS. By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. Received 4.29 p.m.. April 23. ST s PETERSBURG,. April 22. •; A. secret congress; of journalists, • Literatures, 'and other representative Russians sat for a. week at' St.-~ Petersburg, shafting the place ?£ meetings daily,- i - The .congress arranged 'for the,jus- . sible election of a constituent as- £ sembly, and. discussed .political re-" forms. All agreed that' the autocracy was doomed. They insisted on the total reconstruction of tho framework of/ society, and upheld the rights of every Russian nationality outlining a scheme satisfying the autonomous desires of the Finns, Poles, and Armenians, T{ic" congress demanded civil' and. political equality for, the Tews,, dud resolved that the time had come for direct and efficient action by lawful or. unlawful means, in order to com- I bat. the tatufe.es of'.the Govcmmenirin egging on the seme of the popu- • lation against the. intellectuals. ,