File No. 79/104.
Ambassador Riddle to the Secretary of State.
St. Petersburg, March 23, 1907.
Sir: I have the honor to announce that the Douma resumed its sittings on Tuesday, March 19, another hall having been found to take the place of the Tauride Palace, which is not yet repaired.
This was the first sitting of any real interest or importance, as in it Mr. Stolypin, the prime minister, read the legislative programme of the Government, and from the manner of its reception some idea of the probable attitude of the different parties could be formed.
Mr. Stolypin’s address declared it to be the Government’s desire and intention to submit many measures of reform to the consideration of the Douma. While the government programme dealt chiefly in generalities, a few specific legislative changes were mentioned, the most important being:
Religious toleration, with certain privileges for the Orthodox Church.
The abolition of exile by administrative process.
Pensions for workmen.
Regulations of female and child labor.
New taxes, including an income tax.
Closing of Vladivostok as a free port.
At the close of Mr. Stolypin’s address the leader of the Social Democratic party proposed a vote of want of confidence, but on this occasion the Constitutional Democrats, though an opposition party, rallied to the support of the right. As they form the largest single group in the Douma, their numbers, added to those of the Conservative groups, availed to vote the measure down, and the chamber proceeded to the consideration of further business.
This moderate attitude is taken as an indication that the present Douma, with the exception of the extreme left, is anxious to avoid measures which will give the Government an excuse for prematurely cutting short its existence.
I have, etc.,