PEACE BARGAINING AT BREST LITOVSK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 97, 17 January 1918, Page 5

PEACE BARGAINING AT BREST LITOVSK

DEBATE OVER THE BALTIC PROVINCES GERMAN ENVOYS SHOW THEIR HAND By Telegraph—Preeis Association—Copyright Amsterdam, January 15. Dr. von luililmann, speaking at the Brest Litovsk negotiations, adapted the standpoint that portions of Russia ivhieh were striving to obtain separation had already qualified to conclude agreements with Germany. M. Trotsky replied that the present representative bodies could not prove that they spoke in the uame of the entire people. Dr. von Kuhlmann and Count Czerniu intimated that they were willing to invite representatives of these soctions to Brest Litovsk. Jl. Trotsky replied that tho territories concerned had no democratic representative bodies. The Russian delegates there- had proposed strong conditions in regard to tho right of seli-dctormmation for these peoples. Herr Hoffmann protested that the Russians spoke as if they were the conquering party. The German Army Command would refuse to evacuate Coui'land and Lithuania, and tho islands in the Gulf of Riga. Tho Russhn ° delegation demanded rights of self-determination for occupied territories, while they did not apply it to their own country. "It is a Government founded purely on power which ruthlessly suppresses all who think differently from it, and under which everyone with different views is declared outlaw." Horr Hoffmann went on to instance the Maximalist outrages upon the bourgeois counter-revolutionary people. The negotiations were adjourned, but no date has been fixed for the next meeting.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , MEETING OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY BOLSHEVIK FACTION PLANNING 'COUNTER-MOVE. London. January 15. The fPetrograd correspondent of tho "Daily News" states that the Con'stitueiit Assembly is fixed to meet on Friday, when the anti-Bolshevik majority will try to replace *he Bolshevik Party by a weaker Government committed to the securing of peace by pressure upon the Allies. " The Bolshevik Party is preparing to set up a new Conference of Soviets in opposition to the Constituent Assembly. During the last few days the Bolshevik authorities have dismissed all the officials of the Ministry of Finance, have decreed compulsory labour with a view to clearing tho streets of snow, and have ordered that religion is not to be taught in the schools. They will probably issue a decree abolishing the right of inheritance.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. RUMANIAN LEGATION OFFICERS ARRESTED Copenhagen, January 15. The Bolshevik authorities have arrested the members of the Rumanian Legation in Petrograd. The reason is not disclosed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. January 16, 11.30 p.m.) ■ ' Stockholm, January 15. The arrest of the Rumanian Legation is supposed to be an act of reprisal for the arrest of Maximalist agitators at J assy (the present capital of j Rumania).—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BRITISH TRADES UNIONS' MESSAGE TO RUSSIA RENUNCIATION OF ANNEXATION. (Reo. January 17, 0.45 a.m.) London, January 15. The Trade Union Congress and tho Labour Party have sent a, message to the Russian people stating that by breaking negotiations Russia will risk the suppression of her newly-won freedom. In this crisis the British people must speak, therefore, and proclaim identical aims with Russia. "Wo will accept no annexations for the British Empire. We respect the sovereign independence of the Turkish people in Constantinople, Thrace, and Anatolia, but the British Government has justifiably pledged itself to the Arabs and the Jews. We accept tho renunciation "of annexation for tropical Africa, and the principle of self-determination for India and the dependencies, though the record of th e British Government occasions little reproach, and the application of the principle of self-determination will lie difficult. Our purpose eventually is to raise them to the status of the Dominions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.