Ambassador Meyer to the Acting Secretary of State.

No. 588.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith translation of the proclamation issued by the members of the Douma that assembled at Viborg on Monday July 23, the day after the Douma was dissolved.

It is said that about 200 members were present and that 160 signed the manifesto.

It is noteworthy that the Polish members declined to attend the meeting or to attach their signatures.

About 300 members are reported to have preferred to return to their homes at once.

I have, etc.,

G. v. L. Meyer.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

to the people, from the representatives of the people.

Citizens of all the Russias:

By the ukase of July 8 the Douma of the Empire was dissolved. When you chose us as your representatives you directed us to obtain for you land and liberty. In the execution of your instructions and of our duty we created laws to guarantee the liberty of the people; we demanded the dismissal of irresponsible ministers who, violating the laws with impunity, have trodden liberty under foot. But, first of all, we desired to create laws for the granting of land to the laboring peasants by way of disposing, for this purpose, of lands belonging to the Crown, the domains, the cabinet, monasteries and churches and by the expropriation of land in the possession of private individuals.

The Government found such a law unacceptable, and when the Douma once more firmly confirmed its decision relative to the necessity of expropriation the dissolution of the Douma was announced. In the place of the present Douma the Government promises to convoke a new one in seven months. For seven whole months Russia must remain without representatives from the people at a time when the people find themselves on the verge of destruction, the industrial and commercial relations broken, when the whole country is seized with convulsions, and when the ministers have shown themselves absolutely incompetent to satisfy the needs of the people. For seven months the Government will act as it likes, will wrestle with the movement of the people in order to obtain a submissive and desirable Douma, and if it succeeds in entirely crushing the movement of the people it will not convoke any Douma at all.

Citizens, stand firmly by the trampled rights of the representatives of the people. Stand for the Douma of the Empire. Russia must not remain one day without representatives from the people.

We have the means of obtaining this. The Government has not the right without our consent to collect, taxes from the people, nor to call the people to military service, and, therefore, now, when the Government has dissolved the Douma of the Empire, it is your right to refuse to supply it with soldiers or money. If the Government, in order to secure resources, makes loans, such loans, made without consent of the representatives of the people, will henceforth be invalid, and the Russian people will not recognize them and will not pay for them. Consequently, until the representatives of the people are convoked, do not pay a kopeck into the treasury nor send a man to the army. Be firm in your refusal, stand for your rights, all as one man. Against the united and absolute will of the people no power whatever can resist.

Citizens, in this compulsory but inevitable struggle your representatives will be with you.

Signed by the members of the Douma of the Empire in alphabetical order.