Review of tCetiews, 1/11/06. 



At the Parliament of the Nations. 



INTERVIEWS WITH M.'sP. FROM NEAR AND FAR. 



One great advantage of the Interparliamentary 

 Conference, wfiich took place in London recently, 

 is that it brings to one centre a number of notable 

 people whom you would otherwise have to travel 

 round the world to see. Last month we had an 

 opportunity of talking with the following eminent 

 persiins who were assembled at Westminster: — 



The Russian delegates. 

 Count Apponyi. 

 Mr. W. J. Bryan. 

 The Finnish delegates. 

 Baron D'Estoiirneiles 

 de Constant. 



Mr. Bartholdt. 

 Mr. Beernaert. 

 Mr. John Lund. 

 Professor EckhofF. 

 Baroness von Suttner. 

 Count Vye dc Vaye. 



It is impossible to do more than brieflv sum- 

 marise some of the observations of our distin- 

 guished jj'iests. 



THE DELEGATES OF THE DUMA. 



The place of honour undoubtedly belonged to 

 the Russian delegates, who took their place for 

 the first time in an Interparliamentary Conference. 

 The s i g n i fi- 

 cance of their 

 presence was 

 emphasised by 

 the fact that the 

 news of the dis- 

 solution of the 

 D u m a reached 

 London the 

 same day on 

 which they did. 

 They were ap- 

 pointed by the 

 vote of the whole 

 body. The 

 Finnish dele- 

 gates were also 

 elected by the 

 legislature they 

 represen ted. 

 The Council of 

 the Empire was 

 represented by 

 one man, Prince 

 Khilkoff. The 

 collective invita- 

 tion had been 

 sent to the 

 Council of the 

 Empire, but all 

 the councillors 

 had been invited 

 individually on 



the understand- Ma-nbars of the Russian Duma 



Photo.} 



ing that if they came thev must form oaie of thf 

 Russian parliamentary group. 



I was, unfortunately, too late to hear the Prime 

 Minister's opening speech. I arrived just as he sat 

 down, and found the Conference thrilling with ex- 

 citement. " The Duma is dead ! Long live the 

 Duma !" The sensation which it created was im- 

 mense. People did not realise at first that the phra.se 

 was strictly accurate and absolutely correct. Im- 

 agining that the Duma had not been dissolved, but 

 abolished, thev considered the Premier had com- 

 mitted a blazing indiscretion, which might lead the 

 Russian Ambassador to demand his passports. A few 

 moments' reflection, however, sufficed to reassure 

 them and make us all feel prouder than ever of the 

 warmhearted and courageous Minister whose famous 

 phrase about methods of barbarism rendered such 

 service to the cause of humanity and to the Empire 

 during the South African War. 



When I ar- 

 rived in the 

 Royal Gallery 

 Professor Koval- 

 enski, the genial 

 and eloquent 

 cosmopoli- 

 tan, was entering 

 the tribune. His 

 words, few and 

 nervous, were 

 uttered with 

 great feeling and 

 effect. The 

 Duma having 

 been dissolved, 

 its representa- 

 tives must de- 

 p a r t, although 

 the Conference 

 begged them to 

 stay. They must 

 return to Russia 

 to share the fate 

 of their brothers. 

 In some happier 

 day they hoped 

 to return to co- 

 operate in the 

 work of promot- 

 ing interiiational 

 peace. Although 

 L Uaif-tonet, Limited.- we all regretted 



who oam« to the Conference it for OUr sake. 



