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 II

File No. 79/112.

Ambassador Riddle to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
St. Petersburg, May 3, 1907.

No. 38.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that the Douma of the Empire adjourned last Tuesday for a two weeks’ Easter recess and will reassemble on Monday, May 13. The only laws passed during the recent session were the three following, which were all voted on the last two days of the session:

1. The law calling out the recruits for the present year which was passed after a stormy discussion in a secret session.

2. A bill appropriating 6,000,000 rubles for the relief of famine sufferers.

3. The abolition of drumhead courts-martial, these would have expired by limitation to-day, May 3, so that this bill has little practical effect.

A second clause providing for the revision by regular tribunals of sentences pronounced by the field courts-martial but not yet carried out is alleged by the Government to be unconstitutional and will probably not become a law.

I have, etc.,

J. W. Riddle.