[ARTHUR JAMES] BALFOUR’S† PROTEST AGAINST
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE JEWS
London, November 14. In an assembly of Jews held yesterday in Memory Hall to voice protest about the riots against Jews in Russia, the following telegram from Balfour was read out: His majesty’s government has heard the news of the massacre of Jews with regret and outrage, and has already taken measures that seem suitable to mitigating the effects of this adversity. Similar telegrams have also been received from Lord [Archibald Philip Primrose] Rosebery, [Joseph Austin] Chamberlain, [Herbert Henry] Asquith, the Archbishops of Canterbury‡ and Westminster,§ and other respected personalities.
There is as yet no news stating that the German government intends to take the tsar to task about these bestial slaughters!
Our conservative organs of the press have greeted this shameless carnage by almost bursting with joy—although we know it was set up by that tsarist bloodhound Trepov and carried out largely by soldiers and police officers.
WITTE’S THREAT!
Petersburg, November 14. As reported in Nasha Zhizn [Our Life], Count Witte, at a reception for a delegation of all Polish social classes, stated the following: “The government is not considering granting concessions to the Poles as this people’s lack of readiness for reforms has become strikingly evident. It is now clear that only a little pile of revolutionaries want reforms.” Witte went on to remind his audience that we could still be in for a reaction.
Petersburg, November 14. The progressive newspapers have condemned the government’s pronouncement about Poland. Rus’ [Russia]¶ writes that the pronouncement directly results from the bureaucratism of Witte’s cabinet, and demands that representatives of society be incorporated into the cabinet in whichever form: it is dangerous to delay. Syn Otechestva [Son of the Fatherland]* compares the government’s paralysis inside the empire to Witte’s decisive approach in relation to Poland, drawing the conclusion that when dealing with a defenseless population Witte is given free rein, but when faced with the real bearers of power, his hands are tied. Nasha Zhizn disputes that any Polish party has demanded the separation of Poland from Russia until now. Novoye Vremya [New Times] appeals to the Pole’s prudence and tact not to aggravate Russian–Polish relations on the eve of the convocation of the Imperial Duma.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROMISES AND DICTATORSHIP BY THE SWORD
Petersburg, November 14 (report by the Petersburg Telegraph Agency). In accordance with the intention announced by the emperor in the October 30 manifesto to extend voting rights to those classes of the people who at present don’t have them, the Council of Ministers is currently working on conditions for this extension that should be published as soon as possible. After which the elections for the Imperial Duma will take place without delay.
Petersburg, November 14. The military instructions approved by the emperor for the general adjutants, who are being dispatched to the governorates of Chernihiv, Saratov, and Tambov to restore order, will be published today. These military instructions grant the dispatched persons general command over troops and police units in the respective governorates; place all government and municipal authorities under their charge with the exception of the court and inspection authorities; and grant the general adjutants the rights to have any persons who appear to be capable of endangering public order arrested, to close trade and industrial companies, to suppress newspapers, and to issue obligatory decrees for the maintenance of public order.
MARTIAL LAW IN KRONSTADT?
Den [The Day] newspaper has received the following news from Petersburg: the inquiry into the Kronstadt revolts is approaching its close. The heroes of this drama are due to be shot—yet all classes of society are raising their voices, warning against carrying out these death penalties that could lead to inconceivable consequences in this terrible time of ferment. First, the clergy, in the form of the much-talked-about priest and writer [Grigori Spiridonovich] Petrov,† wants to plead for clemency from the tsar for the mutineers, then almost the whole of the press in the capital takes a stand against carrying out the death penalties, and finally the residents of Kronstadt gather signatures for a petition penned with the same sentiments. The Kronstadt citizens had always lived peacefully together with the sailors until now. All these protests should serve to prove to the government that the mutineering sailors have less guilt in the matter than the government itself, whose indolence created the conditions inside the naval system that ultimately led to this explosion.
EIGHT-HOUR DAY IN PETERSBURG
Petersburg, November 14. Workers want to introduce the eight-hour daily working period into several factories in the city already.
UPRISING IN VLADIVOSTOK
London, November 14. According to reports that have reached us via Japan and Shanghai, the population in Vladivostok is in a full state of uprising. Heavy street battles are taking place between the insurgents and the troops. Many people have lost their lives in these clashes. The foreign inhabitants have solicited their governments to send warships to Vladivostok for their protection. Proceedings in Vladivostok are distracting attention from the fact that now news is obtainable about events in Siberia between Tomsk and Vladivostok. We believe, however, that Siberia is also shaken by revolutionary turmoil.