THE RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 86, 4 January 1918, Page 5

THE RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

REPORTED TO BE BROKEN OFF GERMANY DEMANDS THE EIGHT TO RETAIN GARRISONS AT STRATEGIC POINTS London, January 2. The Petrograd correspondent of tbo "Daily News" states that the peace negotiations have been broken off owing to tbo' German attitude in rogard to Poland and Lithuania. The Centra 1 Powers, presuming, on the isolation of Russia, claimed that Poland,'Litli iiama, and Courland had already, defined their position, but as the TJkraino had not recognised the" negotiations with Germany they demanded the rig ht to retain garrisons at Riga, Libau, and other strategic points. The Russian delegates uncompromisingly declared that self-definition by 'the provinces would be impossible until the last German soldier had left the country, and jeered at the. Germans, asking whether they proposed to take Petrograd, feed three million starving folk, and disarm a country wliero every workman carried a rifle. They ■ also asked what the Germans proposed to tell their own democracy, which was opposed to annexations. The Germans requested time to oonsider the position, but the Russians refused, and left Brest Litovsk. A considerable number of the Red Guards wero sent to reinforce tlie front, and other defence preparations are in progress.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , [The stipulations of Gormany in r elation to the occupied territory in Russia are expressed in the articles p roposed by the Gorman delegates at Brest Litovek for, a preliminary treaty, as follows:—(1) Russia and Germany declare tbo state of war to be ended, and resolve to live together in future in peace and friendship, on con dition of complete reciprocity; Germany to be ready as soon as peace is concluded ,with Russia, and the Russian armies demobilised, to evacuate lier present positions and occupied Russian territory in so far as no diffe rent inference may result from Articlo 2. ' (2) After the Russian Government lias proclaimed for all the peoples of Russia the right of self-determinati on, including complete separation, it takes cognisance of tho decisions expressing the will of the people demanding a full state of independence and separation from Russia for Poland, Lithuania, and Courland, and portions' of Estbonia and Livonia'. As in these districts to 11 which the foregoing stipulations apply the question of evacuation is not such as is provided m Arti ole 1, a special commission shall arrange for ratification by. plebiscite on broad lines, without any military pressure whatever, of the already exis ting separation proclamations.] ' THE RIGHT,OF PEOPLES TO DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINIES REPORTED RUSSIAN CHANGE OF VIEW. ■ (Roo. January 3, 7.50 p.m.) London, January 2. Vienna messages contradict the "Daily News" correspondent's version of the situation, and declare that negotiations will be resumed .on Saturday, and that Russia has now adopted tho standpoint that peoples already belonging to a definite State cannot have the right to decide their own destinies, becauso they already possess constitutional means for gaining their ends. It is reported that Russia has informed the Entonto of this change of view. It is reiterated from Vienna that in tho event of tho Entente not joining, tbo negotiations will he continued with a. view to a separato peace with Russia.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aspn.

GERMAN ANTI-PEACE PROPAGANDA (Rec. January 3, 7.50 p.m.) London, January '1. A significant sidelight on the peace movement at Brest- Litovsk is the anti-peace propaganda which, according to the "Petit Parisien," the German High Command is conducting in the trenches. "A document has been circulated declaring that Scheidemann's peace, which the German delegates at Brest Litovsk have accepted, would ruin Germany, for whose future development the possession of Briey and Longwy and a basis of economic and military control in Belgium were essential.—Renter. LOAN DEMANDED FROM THE AUSTRQ-GERMANS. (Rec. January 3, 7.50 p.m.) ' Petrograd, January 2. Tlio Russians are demanding a loan of two milliards of francs (£80,000,000) from tho Austro-Gormans—Router. TRAGIC SITUATION ON RUMANIAN FRONT • . RELATIONS BETWEEN BOLSHEVIKI AND RUMANIANS CAUSE ALARM. ' Petrograd, January 2i Tho situation on tho Rumanian front is tragic, and relations bo my con the Bolshoviki and tho Rumanian ofß cors aro alarming. Rumanians occupied the Bessarahian town of Leova a nd soveral villages, and arrested and shot several of tho Bolshevik leaders. General Tcherbateheff, the Commandor-in-Chief in tho region, abstained from sending provisions and forage to tho Bolshevik Fourth Army. . Trotsky ad dressed a Note to tho Rumanian Ambassador on the subject, outlining the demands of tho Soviets and threatening harsh measures against Rumanians who assist Kalediu. Tho Ambassador has replied that the Russian division is now without organisation. Men leaye tho front without authority and plunder in tho Rumanian villages, which aro suft'oring enormously, from ill eir excesseß.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.