Widespread Plot.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1, 31 December 1913, Page 5

Widespread Plot.

A HUNGARIAN SENSATION.

THE DYNASTY THREATENED.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) [United Press Association.! .Budapest, December 29. The trial of 94 men, mostly Hun-

garians and Rutlienians, lias begun. Witnesses numbering 2(4 will bo examined. The principal prisoner is a Russian monk, Father Alexius, from Mount Athos, his real name being Alexander Kahalyuk.

1 The prisoners are charged with sejditions statements against the Eiuiporor Franz Josef and the dynasty, i Hundreds of thousands of books and ; pamphlets were circulated inciting to j rebellion with the view of joining i Russia.

According to the prosecution the promoters of the propaganda were, closely connected with the president of the Russian National Association, Count Vladimar Bobrinsky, a member of the Duma, allied with priests in various Russian monasteries. Russian bishops were zealous supporters of the insurrection. Their agents promised the Ruthenian peasants better and cheaper religion than the Graeco-Catholic Church. If they joined the Orthodox Church baptisms marriages and funerals would be free consequently many joined the Lius siau Church.

w ith the hope that the Council would modify its resolution praying the Minister 6f Public Works to grant the license asked for by the Company. With what resultP After hearing the views expressed by the deputation, the' Councillors with no uncertain mind gave His Worship and his colleague their candid opinion ol what they thought of the Borough Council’s action in connection wita the. present license, and also the action of the Borough originally in entering into an agreement on behall of the County and Borough without in any way consulting the County Council, and unanimously decided ti adhere in every respect to the resolution previously carried. 1 refuse to believe that the County Councillors have in any way altered their opinion in reference to this question, but lime will tell. In spite of anything Mr Kirkwood might state to the contrary, the deed of concession is not .rendered nugatory by the granting of the license. The Company themselves are not desiroll's -of the license taking ofleet until the present concession .has. run .its- term,' as they have uo wish to invalidate any agreement previously entered into. In the draft copy of the license received by the Company, no date lias been mentioned, and 1 have grave doubts if the one received by the Borough Council has, either. Mr Kirkwood, Consciously or unconsciously, oveiv looked this fact. it is a pity that 'Mr Kirkwood should accuse anyone of being ignorant before he has made himself thoroughly conversant with tiie subject under discussion. ft has therefore remained for me to show that His Worship lias shown a want of knowledge of the subject, * and it would be well in the future for him | to. be sure of facts before he accuses (another of ignorance, for it might, as in this case, act as a boomerang. His Worship raises the bug-bear.that under the license the Company are empowered to take land to carry out its operation. So it is, and so has every license operating under the Act of 1908. But what are the condiI tions ‘i

Firstly—lf in the opinion of the Ministerit is necessary in carrying out the works authorised by the license.

Secondly—lt shall be taken under the Public Works Act. Thirdly—Reasonable comperisation shall be paid for any land so taken.

Fourthly—'The Minister may refuse, if in his opinion the proposal to take land is contrary to the public interest or terms of the license.

Now, does His Worship say that the public are not well protected? The license, although a lengthy document, is very concise as regards the part affecting the two Councils. The volume of the license is purely machinery clauses, affecting the Company’s business, and it details whar the Government expects the Company to do in the matter of erecting lines.

etc., and what they may not do. All this matter is simply Greek to the lay mind, and probably double-dis-tilled t( Mr Kirkwood. "Hie license is to- be issued under the Act of 190 S (not under the Company’s empowered act as Mr Kirkwood is labouring to

instill into tin* minds of his readers). I would ask my friend to ponder and consider the fact that, as yet, the Government have not re 1 used the license. It would he very interesting to know if His Worship has received any private information as to whether the license has really been refused, as the Company have received no such, information, and tin* letter to the County Council is not by any manner of means final. His 'Worship’s wish certainly seems to be “father to the thought.’’ Seeing that Mr Kirkwood u so fond of foreign axioms, I would commend the follow* mg to his serious consideration, and hop,* that he will profit thereby.—“Quant i ost sapere.” 1 am. etc., RoI'.ERT MASTERS.