RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1920, Page 2

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

(Reuter's Telegrum.y

FINNS AND RUSSIANS. AMSTERDAM, July 16. Tlie Russo-Finnish Peace Conference at Dorpat has been suspended for a fortnight, at the instance of the Russians, owing to the Finns persisting in a claim to Perchina QUESTION OF ARMISTICE. WARSAW, July 16. It is now doubtful whether Poland will be able 1 to accept the'British armistice proposals, which are contained in a British Note to Lenin. This Note has created a most unfavourable impression in Poland. It is now considered inevitable, in view of the items in the British Note, that M. Gabski should leave Spa without consenting to any armistice. LONDON, July 16. A Moscow* message states that a great meeting there discussed peace with Poland. M. Chicherin (Foreign Minister) favoured the opening of peace overtures by Trotsky. He urged immediate negotiations. M. Trotsky, on the other hand, protested in most violent terms. He obtained unanimous applause in declaring that peace would be signed only after a triumphant entry of the Reds into Warsaw. According t° messages from Warsaw, the Polish disapproval of the armistice terms is the reason for M. Grabski’s return from Spa on Wednesday. Opinion as to an armistice in Moscow is apparently divided. M. Tchitcherin and other moderates favour acceptance of tlio Allied terms, but it is reported that Trotsky’s violent speech at a great gathering at Moscow was followed by a resolution to enter Warsaw. The “ Daily Telegraph.” correspondent at the Polish headquarters says that the Allies’ proposals for an armistice with tlie Bolsheviks are not welcomed by the Polish nation, which hardly realise the danger of defeat, but decisive military events are probable before any armistice can be concluded. Vilna was evacuated on the 13th, and it is probable that tile Lithunians have already oeeupied that city. Two hundred thousand Polish fugitives from the district, fleeing, abandoned everything, fearing atrocities such as t ie recent murder and mutilation of the Polish .Prefect at Dubno, and of 48 of bis companions. There are, audacious raids by small bodies of Russian cavalry through woods, which are the chief cause of. the Polish defeats, Imt a clever Polish general .could stop the rout. The “ Morning Post’s ” Warsaw correspondent reports that the Lithuanians and Poles .have reached an agreement, under which the lormer have occupied Vilna. It is understood that the Lithuanians' liave'nlso an agreement with the Bolsheviks providing that the former be left in undisturbed occupation of Vilna. This does not affect the military situation. for .the Bolsheviks are able to continue their operations as if they actually held it. All north-western Poland is now awash, and a mighty trek to Warsaw is proceeding. The Polish military authorities are efficiently evacuating a hundred...thousand people from Vilna, Minsk, and also countless small villages are emptying ' themselves, enormous hordes of people moving along the highways afoot, carrying cooking utensils. Hot weather is causing much suffering. It is difficult to foresee what- will happen when Warsaw is reached. The city is already overcrowded, and food prices are prohibitive. It is likely the parks and open spaces on the Shores of the Vistula will he converted into vast refuge camps. The Bolsheviks are coming into possession of a remarkably rich harvest. Some of the corn is already stacked. The peasants, like the townspeople, are fleeing before the Bolshevik terror without pausing to destroy their harvests.

WHANG EL AGAINST ARMISTICE. LONDQN, July 16: • General Wrangel, the anti-Bolshevik .lias flatly rejected an armistice proposal, including his withdrawal from, the Crimea. , He said this would leave the in. habitants of occupied territories to ruthless Bolshevik control. BOLSHEVIK AGENT DEPORTED .(Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 17. The British deported the Bolshevik agent .Santeri Nuortevar, and the American Soviet Bureau consequently announced the provisional cancellation of a six million dollars deal for raw materials from Canada, which Nuorteva had negotiated, subject to his arranging a financial deal in London. The an. thprities regard the story of Canadian transactions as a mere blind, covering purely Bolshevik purposes. ’

POLAND’S INTENTIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, July 17. The “Petit Parisian” states Grabski on returning to Poland from Spa, participated in a prolonged, animated Cab- ' ineo discussion regarding armistice terms and ultimately overcame .strong opposition. A formal notification of acceptance is imminent. TERMS BEING ARRANGED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS July 17. 1 Moscow messages state the belief is general that Hon. Lloyd George's terms will he accepted, largely owing to Kras,sin's strong advocacy of moderation, .pointing out peace with Western Europe is what Russia most-needs, WRANGEL’S SUCCESSES. , (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) HELSINGFORS, July 17. It - is reported that General Wrangel surprised and roused eighteen Bolshevik cavalry regiments capturing twenty thousand prisoners including the Conimander-in-Chief and staff. It is reported one hundred thousand Cossacks rebelled and broke through the lied front, and have joined Wrangel. Mr'—wi—"