Russian politics are still in their old position of checkmate.
Prince trrusoff declares that the first thing to be done is to get rid of the police element in the Czar's Councils, and calls for • the dismissal of General Trgpoff. Meanwhile there is no sign that the present Ministry are to go and a Ministry with the confidence of the Duma to be appointed. But for the principles involved, it seems likely that the Ministerial agrarian proposals would find a general accept- ance as at least a basis for a constructive policy; but while the principle of Parliamentary responsibility remains un- settled progress is impossible. The first thing to bring the Government to reasonwill probably be financial difficulties. The financiers of Europe have chosen to insist upon the Duma as a guarantee of Russian solidity. When it is rumoured that M. Mouromtseff has been summoned to Peterhof stocks go up, and when the Trepoff party is reported in the ascendant the market falls. No further foreign loan, it is almost certain, will be negotiated until the Constitutional authority of the Duma is made clear; and as the Government hava many bills for famine relief to meet, and other heavy outlays in the near future, the pinch of poverty may teach them reason.
Previous page
