pended various opposition newspapers. Since the dissolution of the Cortes by royal decree on May 12, Premier Franco, backed by the king, has exercised a virtual dictatorship. According to the constitution, the call for another national assembly should have been issued within six months, but that period has passed without such action being taken. In response to a recent offer from the leaders of the opposition that they would support him if he would order reëlections for the Cortes, he has declared that when the old parties are ready to disregard their selfish aims and devote themselves to the business of

the country, the elections will be ordered, and not before. His purpose, he says, is "to restore sound methods in administration and finance, and to achieve a truly representative system in short, to regenerate the country politically. In regard to financial conditions the Premier has made his word good, for he has reduced the year's deficit by $4,000,000 without increasing the taxation. As this has been accomplished largely by the abolishing of sinecures and other superfluous expenses, it is not hard to find some reason for the opposition he is encountering.

The Third Russian

-Rire (Paris)

Although the composition of the third douma is decidedly conservative and representative of the aristocrats and the supporters Douma of the government rather than the large body of the nation, yet its initial action indicates a point of progress. In the preparation of a reply to the address from the throne, the Octoberists joined the Constitutional Democrats in opposing any recognition of the autocratic power of the emperor. After a stirring debate which lasted until midnight, the use of the word "autocrat" was rejected by a vote of 112 to 246. Mr. Guchkov, leader of the Octoberists, stated it as the opinion of his party that the emperor voluntarily resigned his autocratic power in his manifesto of October, 1905. Professor Milyoukov, as leader of the Constitutional Democrats, who had stood for the use of the word "constitutional" as representing the pledged status of the government of Russia, achieved a victory in proposing a compromise by which both this word and that of "autocrat" should be omitted from the reply to the throne. The Monarchists, of course, opposed the action, but seeing they were in the minority, fifty of their number withdrew from the chamber. Their leader, Mr. Purishkevitch, claimed that the autocracy of the emperor had been proven in his reconstitution of the third douma. There was doubtless truth in his statement. Premier Stolypin, in addressing the douma, a day or two later, maintained that while the emperor had frequently shown "how highly he prized the basic principles of the new régime of representative government within the limits established by him

self, nevertheless the historic autocratic power and the unhampered will of the monarch shine out as the dearest possessions of the Russian royal family. Solely by this power and this will,

can

Russia be saved in an era of danger and demoralization, and brought to the path of order and historical truth." He stated that as soon as normal conditions were restored the government would devote its attention to the internal development of the empire and the solution of the agrarian problem.

in Morocco

The foreign board of the Moroccan Government has yielded in the matter of Affairs the reforms demanded by the French and Spanish diplomats sent to negotiate with it. tiate with it. Agreement has been made to the immediate inauguration of the international police force; to the construction of a sewerage system at Tangier at once, and at other ports later; and to the application of Article Sixty of the Algeciras pact regarding the acquisition of property by Europeans. The tax on merchandise in transit through Tangier is to be abolished, and the question as to contraband of war was settled. The diplomats doubtless considered their mission successful, but in the present disturbed. state of Morocco it is doubtful how far it will be possible to carry out the agreements made. Frequent reports have come during the past weeks, of attacks made by the Moorish tribesmen upon French troops. One of the latest developments was a raid into Algeria. Crops and buildings were burned and the city of Nemours threatened. The French finally succeeded in driving the tribesmen back.