The Fourth Duma opened on Thursday week in a some-
what sensational manner. Resenting the Clerioo-bureaucratic intervention at the elections which had secured the apparent triumph of the Right, the Octobrists joined forces with the Opposition and secured a majority for their candidate for the Presidency of the Chamber, M. Rodzianko, while the Nationalists, who formed a coalition with the Right, failed to elect their leader, hl. Balasheff. The majority included Octo twists, Progressists, Conservative Democrats, and the Moderate Rights, and the minority—Nationalists and Right— left the hall when the result was known. M. Rodzianko, in acknowledging the honour of election, observed that be wished to take with him to Tsarskoe Selo that evening a token of the Duma's loyal satisfaction in the recovery of the Tsarevitch, a sentiment which met with hearty cheers. He dwelt on the need of internal reforms, but expressed his conviction that in view of the crisis in the Balkans the Duma would not stint money in providing for national defence. M. Rodzianko was subsequently received by the Tsar at a special audience, and treated with a degree of consideration which has been highly appreciated by the Constitutionalists, and has proved pro- portionately mortifying to the Nationalists and the Right. The Tsar observed that he had read 61. Rodzianko'a speech "many times with increasing satisfaction," and that he could not understand why a certain section of members absented themselves.
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