Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 3831/1.

Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State .

American Embassy,
Vienna , January 25, 1907 .

No. 157.]

Sir: Supplementing my No. 133, dated December 28, 1906, I have the honor to report that yesterday the Austrian House of Peers passed the statute amendment bill modifying the constitution of 1867 in accordance with the proposed universal suffrage law. The franchise reform bill, having already passed both Houses of Parliament only requires the signature of the Emperor to become operative.

The Austrian premier, Baron Beck, in a vigorous speech, declared that universal suffrage legislation was absolutely necessary and that Austria was confronted by many problems demanding serious consideration, the most important of which was the settlement of its relations with Hungary, to the end that a more friendly feeling might exist between the two countries.

I have, etc.,

Charles S. Francis.