Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State.

No. 728.]

Sir: I beg leave to report that an imperial ukase published December 22, in St. Petersburg, fixes the date of the elections for the Douma for February 19.

The fact that, with the exception of the 75 deputies from the Caucasus and Siberia, the elections of the remaining 449 members are to be held simultaneously has created great satisfaction.

A translation of the ukase will be found on overleaf.

I have, etc.,

G. v. L. Meyer.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

[Official Messenger, December 9/22, 1906.]

imperial ukase.

Having recognized the necessity of fixing the date for the election of the new members of the Douma of the Empire in those parts of the Empire where at present the work of establishing and publishing the lists of electors has been ended, we, basing ourselves on article 128 of the election regulations of the Douma of the Empire (Collection of Laws, Vol. I, Pt. II, edition 1906), and in conformity with the special journal on the subject presented to us by the council of ministers, order: That the election of members to the Douma of the Empire, in the provincial election meetings of these governments which are conducted on the basis of provincial institutions (Collection of Laws, Vol. II, edition 1892) in the region of the Don and in the provinces of the Kingdom of Poland, is to take place on February 6, 1907.

The ruling Senate to issue in this respect the proper instructions.

Nicolas.