SOVIET AND BALHC STATES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 307, 23 September 1919, Page 5

SOVIET AND BALHC STATES

NEGOTIATIONS. COLLAPSE

FRIGHTFUL DISTRESS IN

PETROGRAD

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Eec. September 22, 11.40 p.m.) Copenhagen, September 21. Jccording to latest advices, tho negotiations between tho Bolsheviki and the Baltic 'border States have collapsed. The Estonians, acting also on behalf of Die Lithuunia, have discontinued tho |;;irley. The Lithuanian delegates assert that Lithuania will never conclude peaco I villi the Bu'.sheviki, who are enemies to ] utilisation. Tho Lithuanians uro sus- ■ picious of the Poles, believing that they are ii: communication wth Lenin. It is ' not doubted that Finland -\visl ,ilso rei'iise to negotiate with the Bolsheviki. It is believed at Helsinjjfors that the Entente Powers have promised to assist the Bnitic States if they continue the war against the Bolsheviki. A report from Petrograd eays that tho loca.l Soviet has authorised the opening of peace negotiations with the Entente Powers on the basis of tho Allies' terms. The distress in Pctrogra/l is described as frightful. A wireless message from Moscow states: ■ Replying to the EsHionian request for a further delay in the peace negotiations, to enable tho Baltic and the States to reply jointly, tho Soviet_ delegates have disclaimed all responsibility for continuance of hostilities.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Afsh.

BOLSHEVIK ATROCITIES

MASSACRE IN RIGA. London, September 21. Professor Guido Schnidor. who has arrived from Riga, states that the Bolelieviki shot 13.G32 men, women and children in Riga in a short jjcriod. Tho victims were stripped and drugged into the snow-covered, blood-soaked prisoijrard. The executioners were intoxicated and unable to aim, and hi! the leas and stomachs of their victims; then laughed at their agonies, which sometimes lasted • all day and all night. Elegantly-dressed girls voluntarily acted as ■ executioners.—Renter.

AN ANTI-JEWISH POGROM

Amsterdam, September 20. During a pogrom at Tapolctza .three .Tews were tilled and thirty injured. There was a, raoro serious outbreak at. Diezelly, whore the Jews were massacred and their houses pillaged. A. section of troops sent to restore order joined in the attack.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ESTONIANS ATTACKED BY- THE REDS PIERCE FIGHTING'. (Rec. September 23, 1.5 a.m.) . ■ London, September 21. , An Esthonian. communique reports that fierce fighting is in progress in. the direction of Pskoff. Many enemy attacks on tho trenches were repulsed with heavy loss.—Reuter.