AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA

ST. PETERSBURG, March 6. The Right party comprises ouofifth of the Duma, and the Opposition four-fifths. While the Right indulged in demonstrations of loyalty at the opening, the Left and Centre remained persistently silent. It s reported that a law has already been drafted rostreting the suffrages and reducing the Duma to a cousidsultativo assembly. M. Godolphin warned the Left to exercise prudence, and not to obstruct the Moderates’ proposals to the extent of involving another dissolution, adding it was the Duma’s duty to carry out the political reforms outlined in the manifesto of October 30th. General bmirtoflf sent the Czar a secret report, accusing General Stoessel of cowardice and favoritism, and incapacity at Port Arthur. Received 9.28 p.m. March 7. ST. PETERSBURG, March 7. General Nepluuelf, commandant of Sebastopol, was driving to town when a bomb was thrown which shattered the carriage and injured the General in the feet. Of the Duma’s 45S members, 442 are new. M. Godolpin, the President, is a sound business man. The Czar, in the course of an audienco with M. Godolpin, expressed satisfaction at the opening of the second Duma, and remarked that its task would be more difficult owing to the numerous‘parties it included. CZAR AND PRESIDENT OF DUMA Received 10.55 p.m. March 7. ST. PETERSBURG, March 7. M. Godolpin, replying to the Czar, expressed the hope that the most divergent parties would unite harmoniously and strive to promote the common object—the country’s welfare. The Czar alluded to the numerous Ministerial Bills about to be submitted. He trusted the Duma would begin legislative work. M. Godolpin replied that every member was fully determined to justify his Sovereign’s confidence. The CV.ar was most gracious throughout the audience. M. Godolpin was subsequently presented to the Czaritza. THE MAIL CONTRACT. MELBOURNE, March 7. In a speech prior to his departure, Mr Deakin stated that nothing would be wanting on the part of the Government to assist the mail syndicate. The Government were prepared to ask Parliament to reconsider the situation". LONDON, March 6. Mr J. W. Potter, a director of the firm of Birt, Potter, in a letter to the Shipping Gazette, in reply to Sir T. Sutherland, remarks that it is curious the Orient Company should suggest that the mail contract would entail a heavy commercial loss, since the Orient Company themselves offered to modify their rejected tender, and to supply a similar service on nearly the same terms. As regards the alleged impassivity of the Freight Conference, Mi Potter says the Peninsula and Oriental and Orient Companies tried to make it otherwise, as they wrote to the chairman protesting against Mr Potter’s association with the syndicate. The matter dropped on the conference declining to interfere. Mr Potter unhesitatingly asserts that ever since then there, has been a concerted and organised campaign on the part of the American shipping combine, the Peninsula and Oriental and the Orient Companies, who used the whole weight of their influence to cast discredit on the commercial soundness of the scheme. Mr Potter adds that the only fair criticism against the undertaking is that it offers too j much cargo accommodation, but with the unprecedented increase in the ( Australian trade no unprejudiced , person will accept this. Mr W. Taylor, secretary of the Orient Company, ip a letter to a newspaper, denies Mr Potter’s statement regarding the offer to modify the tender, and also regarding the impassivity of the Freight Conference He declares a protest was not made against Mr Potter associating with the syndicate, but against his failing to inform his partners of the fact.