No. 526.
Mr. Bell
to Mr. Bayard.
The Hague, March 28, 1887. (Received April 9.)
Sir.: I have the honor to report that the second chamber of the States General, after several days’ discussion on the proposed revision of the constitution, have reached a conclusion on the question of the regulation of the elective franchise.
After rejecting, by a vote of 62 to 21, the proposition presented by the friends of universal suffrage, the chamber agreed, by a vote of 68 to 12, to adopt the project presented by the Government.
This article extends the electoral franchise to all who possess certain educational and property qualifications to be hereafter fixed by law.
All soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers are excluded from the right to vote.
I have, etc.,