Ambassador Meyer to the Acting Secretary of State.
St. Petersburg, July 1906.
Sir: I beg leave to report that Mr. Stolypin, prime minister, to-day addressed the following telegram to the governors-general, governors, and prefects throughout Russia and to the viceroy of the Caucasus:
In conformity with instructions received from the Emperor with a view to securing full cooperation between the different local authorities, I hereby inform you that the Government expects you to exercise vigilant and untiring supervision over your subordinates so that order may be promptly and definitely restored.
Disturbances must be repressed, and revolutionary movements must be put down by all legal means. The measures you take must be carefully considered. A struggle has begun against the enemies of society, and not against society itself, and consequently wholesale repression can not be approved. Imprudent and illegal acts, likely to give rise to discontent instead of conducing to calm, can not be tolerated.
The intentions of the Emperor are immutable. The Government firmly desires to assist in the amendment of legal procedure and of the laws hitherto enforced, which no longer serve their purpose. The old regime will be regenerated, but order must be fully maintained. You must act on your initiative as you are invested with responsibility. Firm and vigorous steps taken on these lines will doubtless be upheld by the best part of society.
I have, etc.,