THE RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 153, 18 March 1918, Page 5

THE RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY

BOLSHEVIK FACTIONS FAVOUR RATIFICATION I&RSH PEACE TERMS FOR RUMANIA . Petrograd, March U. The ratification of the German-dictated peace and also immediate prepara. tions for a revolutionary war are a foregone conclusion when the Soviet Congress meets at Moscow. (Rec. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, March 15. A thousand delegates are attending the Soviet Congress at Moscow, and the ratification of the German peace by a largo majority is assured. A preliminary meeting of the Bolshevik factions showed, that 453 favoured acceptance of the German terms, while eight declined to vote.—Aus.-N.Z. fiabla Assn. ■ A meeting of the Bolshevik members of the Moscow Conference decided by 453 votes to 30 to ratify the peace treaty. Tho conference includes 733 Maximalists and 238 Revolutionary Socialist delegates.—Reuter. London, March 15. The Russian Soviet Congress iias agreed to ratify the peaco agreement with the Central Powers. The Exchange Telegraph Agency states that tho Moscow Conference ratified the Peace Treaty by. 453 votes to 30—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY IMPROVING HER STRATEGIC POSITION Utcc. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) ; , Petrograd, March 15. •It is announced thatjn order to strengthen her strategic position Germany has demanded the establishment of a new line seven miles east of the present Russian positions on the Pskoff front. Germany, is also insisting on the Russians helping to destroy tho pillaging bands.—Reuter. A GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 15. A German official Teport states: "Wo dispersed bands in the We are occupying Bncematsch."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asen.-Routcr. *. HINDENBURG SAYS RUSSIANS NEED GERMANY'S SUPPORT! • • , (Rec. March 17, 5.6 p.m.) Amsterdam, March 15. Marshal von Hiudenburg, interviewed by the Cologne "Volks Zeitung," said that Germany needed a frontier settlement against Russia. "They cannot stand alone and must therefore seek Germany's eupport," he declared.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i FEARFUL CONDITIONS IN PETROGRAD ' LYNCH LAW.JBEING ADMINISTERED IN THE PROVINCES. (Reo. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, March 15. The evacuation has become a- panic There is tremendous railway congestion. Thousands of people are leaving on foot. Many Britishers are stranded in the city, which has degenerated in aspect to a provincial borough. There are no vehicles, and no lighting or fuel. The transit services are reduced to a minimum. M. Trotsky, as Pood Dictator, is constantly occupied in listening to frantic appeals from provincial deputations, who declare that the peasants have now consumed the grain for seed and are faced with absolute famine. The food difficulty in Petrograd is acute. All the provision shops arc closed. Tho uncleaned streets are heaped up with vast masses of snow. From horses which have died of starvation the buttocks have been slashed off by Tartars, who mince them and cat them raw. The consumption of horse-meat-is general, despite the appearance of glanders. The result of the Bolshevik legislation is apparent in the provinces, the peasants administering ferocious lynch law. A whole village in the Kazan district turned out to see four peasants burned to death for a crime not stated. Four youths at Barnopol, Siberia, were condemned for stealing. Three of them were publicly beheaded, and the fourth was barbarously mutilated "and tortured to death. Zmievo merchants were ordered to pay a hundred thousand roubles (a little over £10,000) each, and those failing to do so were thrown into the river like dogs, with stones attached to their necks.—"The Times." EVACUATION OF PETROGRAD CONCLUDED. London, March 15. It is announced that the evaousitionof Petrograd-has been concluded. The inhabitants aro prohibited from entering or leaving the city, and all trains have been suspended. The bourgeois newspapers have been allowed to re-publish.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESERVATION OF RUSSIA FROM GERMANY \ MR. BALFOUR SAYS JAPAN WOULD INTERVENE AS A FRIEND. ■ . , London, March 15. Spsaking in the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour (Minister of Foreign Affairs) said: "Japan would intervene as a friend, in order to preserve Russia against Germany. If Japan promises to respect Russia's integrity ehe will keep ner promise, as she always kept her promises to us. We desiro to see Russia intact and free, in order that the Revolution will bear the best fruits." Mr. Balfour said he was optimistic as to Russia's future, but, with Russia oiit of , the war, the revolutionists wanted to constitute an army for national defonco. Doubtloss they would welcome our assistance, but could they improvise on the new instrument? Ho repudiated the suggestion that Japan's intervontion would dismember Russia. Japan would be Russia's friend against Germany. Ho did not believe Germany intended to sond a powerful force to Vladivostok, but German penetration would bo absqlutely disastrous for Russia and injurious to the Allies. He believed the Bolshcviki wished to resist that penetration, but he feared they would bo too lato. Ho feared that Germany would find an opportunity to use her favourite device in dividing Russia against herself, by urging the democracy to supplant the autocracy and \ko versa, fostering disorder until her intervention was sought from sheer weariness. Then a new autocracy would arise in Russia, worso than tho old, because it would be based on foreign power. Russia was powerless to resist tin's. She needed our help and sympathy, and we wished to give them, and not increase her troubles. The Allies should do all in their power to bring Russia through tho crisis.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. JAPAN TO INTERVENE WHEN PEACE IS RATIFIED Washington, March 15. It is officially stated that it is expected that the Soviet Conference nt Moscow will agree to Germany's peace tormß and that Japan will then immediately announce her intention to intervene.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.