AMERICA AND THE BOLSHEVIK PEACE MOVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 55, 28 November 1917, Page 5

AMERICA AND THE BOLSHEVIK PEACE MOVE

WILL NOT CONSENT TO AN ARMISTICE PRESIDENT WILSON'S DIFFICULTY Washington, November 26. President Wilson has received the Bolßhevik prsgssal for an .armistice and a universal peace. - The State says that America -will not consent to an armistice, and will not negotiate for peace. It is not known whether President Wilson will reply, as if he did so his action would'he construed as a recognition of the Bolsheviki. The United States Ambassador reports from Petrograd that Berlin, in a wireless commnnication presnmably discussing the peace offer, expresses the fear that a food shortage will cause the northern armies to leave the trenches and start pillaging.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN SOLDIERS BECOMING INFECTED

MORALE LIKELY TO BE WEAKENED.

New York, November 26.

The New York "World's" Petrograd correspondent states that the Russian peace movement is thoroughly impregnating the German soldiers, and will certainly weaken their morale. The Russians are now doing more damage than they ever accomplished by fighting.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SOVIET IN DISAGREEMENT OVER THE PEACE ISSUE LENIN EVADES DIRECT QUESTIONS. London, November 26. The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent states that tho Executive Council of the Soviet seriously disagrees over the peace proposals. Lenin denies that he has proposed an immediate peace, and says ha has merely suggested making peace proposals. Another version states that Lenin did promise an immediate peace, and thus secured the support of the masses. Some members of the Soviet declare that the Executive was not consulted; General Kameneff urged the Executive to publish a special declaration that peace negotiations would not be begun unless the Germans guaranteed not to use the armistice to remove troops to other fronts. Lenin evaded this demand. •' The Military Revolutionary Committee has suppressed three Socialist newspapers. The Bolsheviks, after arresting tho manager, seized tho State Bank at Moscow, and confiscated' tho gold deposit.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THREAT BY BOLSHEVIK SOLDIERS. Potrograd, Novomber 26. Bolshevik soldiers threaten that unless there is a Bolshevik majority in the Constituent Assembly tbey will disperse it with their bayonets.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

"THE WAR IS OVER; PEACE BEGINS" (Rec. November 28, 1.5 a.m.) Petrograd, November 26. Mr. Bourchier reports that tho Minister for War, on November, 22, issued the following order to the Petrograd garrison:— "The war is over. The armistice begins on all fronts. Disband and return arms to the depots. Tho Bolshevik! are sending an envoy to Stockholm, hoping to initiate a peaco conference. General Kaledin has collected a largo force m the Don Valley, and this has been augmented from the front. On the other hand tho Bolsheviki claim control of all the cities, including • Niji-Novgorod, Kieff, Kharkov, Odessa, Saratoff, and Kazan. Tho Bolsheviki have seized paper and gold at Moscow to tho value of £270,000,000. General Korniloff is still in gaol, whilo Brusiloff, as a result of a wound sustained at Moscow has had his leg amputated. It is reported from Haparanda that the Allied Ministers at Petrograd will demand their passports if a separate peaco is negotiated.—"The Times."

ALLIED PROTEST AGAINST PEACE MOVE

BREACH OF THE PACT OF LONDON

(Rec. November 28, 1.5 a.m.) London, November 27. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Paris correspondent understands that the Allies are making a joint protest to tho Russian people against tho proposed truce, which would be a flagrant breach of tho Pact of London. It is believed that France, as Russia's earliest Ally, is adding a separate protest.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. . . [Tho Pact of London, signed by all tho Entente nations, provides, inter alia, that no single Power should conclude poaco without tho consont of the others.]

ON THE RUSSIAN BATTLEFRGNT

ACTIVITY AT SEVERAL POINTS,

London November 26. A Russian official report states: "Thero have been tusillades on the northern, western, south-western, and Rumanian fronts. Attempts at fraternisation were observed south of Lako Naroteh. "Strong Turkish attacks on the sea coast in the region of the Caucasus were repulsed."—Aus.-N.X. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

NORTHERN ARMIES WITHOUT FOOD

(Rec. November 27, 5.20 p.m.)

Copenhagen, Novmber 26,

Hunger and strikes have brought Russia to the verge of -bloody civil war. The northern armies have been without food for three_ days. Thousands of soldiers are leaving the front, and hundreds arc dying in the trenches of cold and hunger. Mutinies are general, and mobs are pillaging the food trains.—A us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

"DISINTEGRATION OF RUSSIA PROCEEDS APACE,"

(Rec. November 27, 8.20 p.m.)

London, November 36. Mr. Bourchicr states that the Cossack forces have left tho front and joined General Kaledin. The Caucasus districts have elected a _ Parliament and proclaimed their independence. Tho disintegration of Russia proceeds apace.—"The Times."

STATEMENTS IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

NO' GOVERNMENT IN RUSSIA WITH WHICH TO NEGOTIATE,

(Rcc. Novcmlier 27, 11.25 p.m.)

London, November 26. In the House- of Commons, Mr. A. ,T. Balfour stated that since the fall .of tho Provisional Government there had been no Government in Russia with which tho British Government -was able to enter into diplomatic relations. Mr. Bonar Law said that so far as he was aware nono of the Allies had replied to tho Russian proposals for nn immediate armistice and now peace negotiations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SOME. OF THE SECRET TREATIES REVEALED

THE BOSPHORUS AND ALSACE-LORRAINE

petrograd, November 26.

The Maximalist News Agency has published a series of the secret documents and telegrams. Those in'cludo Russia's demands for Constantinople and the west coast of the Bosphorus, the sea of Marmora nnd the Dardanelles, Southern Thrace up to the Enos-Midia line, the Asiatio coast, the islands in the Sea of Marmora, and also the islands <f Imbros and Tenedos. The Allies preferred claims demanding that. Constantinople should become a free port, and further demanding the recognition of their rights over Asiatic Turkey, as well as tho preservation of the sacred places in Arabia under Mussulman sovereignty, and the inclusion of a neutral zone -in Persia within the sphere of British activity. _ _ _ Russia, conpeded these demands, expressing the opinion that the Caliphate should bo separated from Turkey, and bargaining for the retention of settlements in tho Persian towns of Ispahan and Yemen. Tho French Demands. As regards the future frontiers of Germany, France demanded, with the concurrence of Russia, the return of Alsace-Lorraine; and also the iron ore and coal districts and tho wooded region on tho left bank of the Rhine. Moreover, certain territories were to be separated from Germany niid freed from all political and economic dependence on Germany by being made a free neutral State, and by being occupied by Russian troops until cortain conditions and guarantees were fulfilled and peace concluded. ~..,,..., , , Telegrams from M. Terestcbenko (then I'oreign Minister) indicate that Britain ° Italy, and Franco impressrd upon Kerensky the urgent necessity for making the Russian Army capable of fighting. This was resented, and M.' Terestcbenko expressed appreciation to the United States for its nonparticipation in tho expressions on that oceasion.—Rcuter.

A STILLBORN SENSATION.

(Rob. November 27, 7.30 p.m.)

■ > Petrograd, November 26. v Tho publication of the secret treaties and the diplomatic documents ha 3 not aroused any sensation. Tho substance of tie treaties was known al-ready.—Aus.-N!Z. Cable Assn.