RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE CONFERENCE.

POINTS OF AGREEMENT. AMSTERDAM, Dec 30. An official telegram from Brest Litovsk, via Berlin, states that a complete agreement has beenTeached regarding the re-starting of commercial intercourse.

A substantial agreement was reached regarding the permanent basis of Russo-German economic relations.

Regarding ocupied territories Russia proposed that Russian troops should be withdrawn from AustroHungary, Turkey and Persia, while the Central Powers should withdraw the troops from Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and other regions, and that the Russian populations in these districts should be given the earliest opportunity of deciding freely and entirely the question of their union with one or the other empire, or their formation into independent states.

PETROGRAD, Dec 30

Official.—Germany then proposed that the first two articles of tthe preliminary treaty should provide:

(1) Russia and Germany declare the state of war ended and are resolved to live together in future in peace and friendship on condition that there is complete reciprocity. Germany is ready, as soon as' the Russian armies are demobilised", lo evacuate her present positions and the occupied Russian territory so far as no different inference may result from article 2. ,

(2) After the Russian Government has proclaimed for all the peoples of Russia the right of self-determination, including complete separation, it takes cognisance of the decisions expressing the will of the people, demanding a full state of independence and separation from Russia for Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and portions of Esthania. and Llvania. As in these districts, to which' the foregoing stipulations apply, the. question of evacuation is not such as is provided in Article 1, a special commission will arrange for ratification by, a-plebiscite on broad lines, without any military pressure whatever, of all existing separation proclamations. -

The .Russian delegation then insisted on a definite assurance that the plebiscite would be free, and that foreign troops would be completely absent, but agreed to the appointment of a special commission to arrange for the plebiscite and fix the time for evacuation.

The Russian delegates anticipate a speedy end to the war. The delegates have departed homewards. Negotiations will be resumed on January 4th.

FULL TEXT OF RUSSIA'S TERMS. LONDON, Dec 31. The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent says the full text of Russia's demands shows that they were much more detailed than hitherto reported. There are fifteen clause-. They include the evacuation of all Russian territory and autonomy for Poland, Lithuania, and the Lettisn provinces, autonomy for Armenia; the restoration of Serbia and jSTontenegro, Serbia having free access to the Adriatic; Bosnia and Herzegovina to have complete autonomy; other coutested territory in the Balkans to enjoy temporary autonomy until a plebiscite is taken; Roumania to recover all her territory after promising autonomy to the Dobrudja; autonomy for Trent and Trieste until a plebiscite is taken; Germany to receive back her colonies; tb.e restoration of of Persia and Greece; the neutralisation of maritime straits, including tiio St**.* and Panama Canals; torepdoing of commercial ships on the high seas to be forbiddea; all belligerents to renounce war indemnities and commercial boycotts; peace conditions to be settled publicly by delegates chosen by the various Parliaments; and the Ibst clause provides for gradual disarmament on land and sea, and the establishment of militia to replace standing armies.

WHAT GERMANY'S "NO ANNEX- ' ATIONS" MEANS. LONDON, December 31. The "Daily Chronicle" says: Now it is evident what the Germans mean by peace "without annexations." The negotiations show that they expect to retain Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and portions of Esthonia, and Livonia where Germans have already either induced or forced the assemblies to declare for separation from Russia and independence under a Hapsburg king of Poland, and a Hohenzollern king of Lithuania. The Central Powers will only evacuate these when Russian democratisation is completed. The cynicism of those proposals is almost too much even for the Bolsheviks, but Russia has been brought to the point

where the oncmy can dictate his terms

GERMAN DIPLOMACY WINNING OUT.

LONDON, December 31. A German wireless message from Brest Litovsk gives further details of the agreement reached between Russia and the Central Powers. It states that arrangements were conducted in a conciliatory spirit with the view of mut-s ual understanding. Agreement; was. reached to restore the treaty condi-i tions interrupted by the war in respect of all rights and intercourse. All special war legislation shall be repealed and persons adversely affected shall be restored to their former rights or indemnified, the details regarding war damages being left for later determination. Arrangements are also made indemnifying civilians outside the waT I districts and for the reciprocal return of merchant vessels. Austria-Hungary has signified agree-! inent with the first two articles of the peace I treaty as proposed by Germany, WAR WITH RUSSIA ENDED. SOFIA, Dec 30. M. Radoslavoff, in the Sobranje, I announced that Russia proposed to ' the Central Powers' delegates to de-i A clare war between Bulgaria and Rus« sia has ended; that the status quo regarding commercial treaties and other agreements be resolved; and that Bulgaria be represented on the Danube Committe. Eulgaria has accepted these terms. "MANCHESTER GUARDIAN'S" INTERPRETATION. _____ LONITON, Dec 31. , Tie "Manchester Guardian" states ; that the agreement at B'rest Litovsk ' represents the terms of separate , peace upon which the Bolsheviks are' : determined if the Allies refuse to join; ■ in a general peace. Russia has sur- 1 • rendered all claim to the territories s without securing a more colourable • appearance of liberty for the inhabit • tants. Russia is lost as an ally. '. Some newspapers suggest that af- ; ter such a gain in the East Germany ! will • make a surrender easier in the i west arid south, but all agree that the I Allies'!main ..terms remain unchanged! s It the' Allies |n« ' tend* tf£ mate a serious and reasoned - reply to Czernin •'.i : " M>' --• The -""Giornale d'ltalia" considers • Czemin's i proposals absolutely urn 5 acceptable to Italy. After her heroic -/sacrifices she-cannot accept the un-< - , satisfaetorv frontiers of 1866.