PEACE BARGAINING AT BREST LITOVSK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 100, 21 January 1918, Page 5

PEACE BARGAINING AT BREST LITOVSK

FURTHER ARGUMENT BETWEEN TROTSKY AND VON KUHLMANN GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR OPENING OF THE . CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) . , London, January 18. M. Trotsky, at Monday s sitting of the Austro-German and Russian Commission, took a note of Dr. von kuhl m ann's declaration that territorial negotiations rested exclusively upon, the political will of the German Government. Trotsky denied that liis Government had outlawed anyone differing from it, and added that when Rumania resorted to force on Russian territory against the revolutionary soldiers and workmen he and his fellow-delegates had recommended the Petrograd Government to arrest the Ambassador and his staff, and had been informed that this had already been done. Dr. von Kuhlmann emphasised the point that Count von Hertling (the German Chancellor) had issued instructions regarding the whole field of foreign policy. There was no divergence between his (von Kuhlmann's) and Herr Hoffmann's conceptions. The fundamental difference between the Central Powers and the Russian delegation was that the Central Powers wished to see an orderly state arising in those regions without a break or a violent transition. They were opposed to the idea of creating a vacuum and allowing the establishment of a State witlim a vacuum. M. Trotsky denied that the withdrawal of the army of occupation would create a vacuum. The peoplesof Poland, Lithuania, and Courknd would in nowise find themselves in a difficult political situation if the army were withdrawn. Finally, at Dr. von Kuhlmann's instance, it was agreed to discuss four Russian points seriatim.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FURTHER EVASIONS. (Rec. January 20,11.40 p.m.) - : London, January 19. A wireless Russian report from Brest Litovsk states that Dr. vori Kuhlmann indicated that Germany was billing to organise, not later than one ye'ir after the conclusion of a general peace, an extensive consultation with iiie peoples of Poland, Lithuania, and Courland, for the self-determination ol their political future. M. Trotsky urged that the date should depend upon the conclusion of a peace on the Eastern front, not on a general peace, but von Kuhlmann, after several attempts at evasion, declared that Germany could not undertake any obligation to recall the army in occupation.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. MISLEADING THE GERMAN PUBLIC. (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 18. A wireless message from Russia states that M. Trotsky, in a proclamation, accuses the Germans of misrepresenting the Brest Litovsk proceedings with the intention of misleading the German Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRIAN INTRIGUE IN THE UKRAINE (Rec. January 20, 5.6 p.m.) 1 London, January IS. ■ A wireless report from Brest Litovsk says that a private meeting between Count Czernin (the Austrian Foreign Minister) and the Ukrainians on ■January 16 settled in principle the future political relations between theCentral Powers and the Ukraine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn; (Rec. January 20, 11.40 p.m.) London, January 19. A German report on the separate negotiations between the Central Powers and the Ukrainians states vhat the results achieved justify the hope of a satisfactory conclusion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' UKRAINE WILL FIGHT FOR ITS INDEPENDENCE Potrograd, January 18. The Secretary of the Rflda has telegraphed ordering all Ukrainian troops to be ready to defend the independence of the Ukraine, and not to admit RusBian troops into the Ukraine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FRYING PAN OR THE FIRE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AT PRESENT MERELY A CHOICE OF EVILS. (Rec. January £0, 5.5 p.m.) . , , ~ _ , London, January 18. The ' 'Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent states that the bolshevik have made preparations for the meeting of the Constituent Assembly. Sailors have set up machine-guns at the Taurida Palace, while tho cruiser Aurora and sevoral destroyers have been brought from Kronstadt and now gnard the .city, which is in a state of fevorish strain. The Bolsheviki will confront the Assembly with an ultimatum that the supremo power n.ust belong to tho Soviets, and that the rationalisation of land and the control of labour, already enacted by the Bolshoviki, nnist ho confirmed. If the Social Revolutionaries will not accept tho programme in toto, tho struggle for power will commence. "Personally," says the correspondent, "I do not believe a change would make any. difference. A new regime would have less terror, but it would be impossible to obliterate the effects of tho Bolshevik regime. Somo scandals would be removed, but the overthrow of the Bolsheviki by violence would only give the occasion for intensifying tho regime of terror.' . At present the masses are wavering, now for tho Bolsheviki and now against them. If starvation comes the masses will iend the Government."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ASSEMBLY OPENS STREET DISTURBANCES AND SHOOTING. (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, January 18. The Constituent Assembly was opened by the president of the Central Committee of all the Soviets. Four hours previously a body of Maximalists attacked a procession of the Society for the Defence of the Constituent Assembly, tearing down the banners. The first command to fire was followed by machine-gun and rifle fire, a number being killed, including M. Logvinoff, a member of the Executive Committee of Peasants' Deputies. Many peopla were wounded, including sevoral women.—Router. / A SECOND ULTIMATUM TO RUMANIA . FREE PASSAGE FOR RUSSIAN ARMY DEMANDED. (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, January 18. The Bolshevik authorities have sent a second ultimatum to Rumania, demanding that the Russian Army should be allowed a free passage through Jassy. It is not known whether the Army is intended to be used against the Rumanians or against the Ukrainians.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aasn. BOLSHEVIK LEADER CLAIMS A DIPLOMATIC COUP OVER THE RUMANIAN INCIDENT. Petrograd, January 13. Lenin regards the arrest and release of the Rumanian Minister as a triumph for the Bolsheviki, as it l.as compelled neutral Ambassadors to recognise the Bolshevik Government.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, TROTSKY DETERMINED TO TRY THE TSAR AND OTHERS (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, January 18. Maxim Gorky's "New Life states that Dr. von Kuhlmann ar.ked Trotsky to allow the Tsarina ?nd several members of the family who *re related to the Kaiser to come to Germany. Trotsky refused. Instead, he is determined to order a trial of the I'sar and other Romanoffs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LENIN AND TROTSKY FALLING OUT. (Rec. January 20, 5.5 p.m.) „, J , . Petrograd, January 18. 111-will between Lenin and liotsky is increasing daily.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANNULMENT OF ALL FOREIGN LOANS Petrograd, January 18. Tho Peoplo's Commissioners have submitted for the approval of the Executive of the Soviets a decree annulling unconditionally all foreign loans.— Reuter.

I ROBBERY AND OUTRAGE IN PETJIOGRAD. Potrograd, January-18. Owing to the shortage of clothes, there have been cases of thieves stripping wayfarers, who are compelled to wander naked in the snowbound streets.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' TEUTON MISCHIEF-MAKERS IN SIBERIA Tientsin, January 18. Austrian and German prisoners in Central Siberia are contemplating mischief, and it is expected will attempt to enter Ohina.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SERIOUS TROUBLE BREWING AT VLADIVOSTOK. Tientsin, January '.8. It is feared that serious trouble is brewing at Vladivostok. Ships are ready to remove the Japanese residents. The British and American authorities are taking steps to protect their own subjects.—"The Times." SOCIALIST OUTBREAK FEARED IN FINLAND Copenhagen, January IS. Telegrams from Finland indicate a fear that a Socialist coup de main may occur on Sunday, when the Socialists and Russian soldiers will celebrate the independence of Finland. It is expected that they will precipitate a revolution similar to that of the Bolsheviki.—Aus.-N.Z." Cable Assn. TURKESTAN PROCLAIMED AN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC. London, January 18. "The Times" correspondent at Petrograd states that Turkestan has beer, proclaimed an autonomous lopublic allied with the Russian republic, and has appointed a' Provisional Govcnimeent.—"The Times."