THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUMANIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 156, 21 March 1918, Page 5

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUMANIA

MACKENSEN WILL NOT ALLOW DELAY. London, March ]9Telegrams from Jassy stato that General von Mackeusen refuses to delay negotiations on tho plea of the Ministerial crisis. Hβ has informed the Rumanian plenipotentiaries that unless the clauses of the preliminary draft peace treaty aro accepted by March 19 peace conditions will be made moro severe. Von Mackensen also insists that General Averoscu shall be included in tho new Cabinet. Von Mackensen lias given Rumania a list of thirty prominent people who must bo removed to Switzerland, including M. Bratiano (ex-Pre-mier).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FORMATION OF A MINISTEY TO MAKE PEACE TO BE ATTEMPTED. (Rec. March 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 19. The present position in Rumania appears to bo that, following the resignation of General Averesou, tho Premier, an attempt is now to bo made to form a Ministry to niako peace, from the politicians who were opposed to Rumanian intervention. Bucharest telegrams via Austria-Hungary state that M. Marghiloman, who is regarded as the probable Premier, opposes handing over the Dobruja. to Bulgaria, but wold consent to its being administered jointly by tho Central Powers.—Reute-r. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL AVERESCU. London, March 19. A telegram •from Sofia states that General Averescß resigned owing to an attempt to assassinate him.—Reuter. GERMAN PRISONERS IN SIBERIA UNCONTROLLED AND TRYING TO OBTAIN ARMS. Tokio, March 18. Representatives of the Minister of War stated that' there are 94,000 German prisoners in Siberia east of Lake Baikal, and 60.000 west of that point. Those in the caat are uncontrolled, and are trying their utmost to get arms. A thousand Russian Moderates, under General SamenofF, are opposing the Maximalists in the region east of Lake Baikal. The Entente might support Sameuoff, but Samenoff's force is at present weal;. There were also soma Moderates at Vladivostok and Blagovestchensk. The power of the Maximalists is growing, and they are getting a supply of arms and ammunition. Should the German prisonors organise in support of the Maximalists, a serious tion might bo created.-Reute, Japanese official circles in London confirm the reports of fighting at Bingovestchenok, on the Manchurian front,-since March 6. It is pointed out that nearly a hundred thousand German prisoners in Eastern Siberia are seeking to secure arms. If successful they will precipitate a crisis—Aus.-N .Z. Cable Assn. JAPANESE MILITARY ACTION UNLIKELY THIS MONTH. ' Tokio, March 19. Tho Government is unlikely to take military aotion before the prorogation of'the Diet on March 31. The anti-Government journal "Assakl , expresses tie opinion that Baron Monfcono, Foreign Minister will resign, owing to his inability to secure the consent of the Government to intervention. Baron Montonohas arrived at an understanding with M. Pichon, to which England, France! and Italy have assented, but he failed to consult his colleagues."The Times." '' JAPANESE PLUNDERED AND BOYCOTTED. (Rec. March 20, 9.45 p.m.) Peking, March 19. Leninists are plundering the Japanese in Siberia, and their lives are in jeopardy. They have also ordered a strict boycott of Japanese— Aus.-N -L. Cable Assn. BOLSHEf IKI SEEKING AGREEMENT WITH UNITED STATES. New York, March 19. The United Press correspondent at Petrograd says there ajjo pei-sistent reports that the Bolsheviki a« seeking an agreement with the Urn ed States to prevent Japanese intervention in Sibena.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANS IN FINLAND LARGELY REINFORCED" (Rec. March 20, 5.5 p.m.) - Copenhagen, March 19. ' The Germans in South Fintond have been largely reinforced, and have planned an offensive with a view to joining the White Guards operating in the south—United Service.