The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 January 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIA.

(With which is incorporated The Tui hapo Post and Waiuiarino News)

Varying multitudinous communications from Russia clearly indicate that the internal affairs of that country are in a bewildering state of chaos. Hitherto the world has been led to believe that Russia's salvation; depended largely upon 'subordination of the Bolshevik movement, but adyice received yesterday reverses all that and urges the Allies to come to Bolsehvik assistance. The correspondent referred to says that detriment to the Allied cause must result if Austria and Germany are allowed to negotiate a separate peace with' the upper . class government of tiie Ukraine. He urges that the" Allies should join Trotsky in securing peace with Ukraine, 'arguing' that if they join Trotsky in the peace conference it will have an overwhelming effect on Germany. The Ukraine Rada is composed of wealthy people, all opposed to the democratisation of their country; they fear Austria less than they fear the uppermost power In Russia and they are now in negotiation with Austria for a separate peace. Owing to the Allies not recognising the Bolsheviks, who have openly declared against Germany, they are rendering assistance to the cause of the Central Powers. The Ukraine, In fact that southern Russia, is liberally specked with farms and businesses owned and worked by Germans, and, as a consequence, the Rada reflects the influence of these enemies in- its midst. Any peace entered into with Austria and Germany will be purely in their favour, enabling them to exploit the wheat stores in that neighbourhood and draw upon the huge accumulations of grain in the great trans-Caucasian wheat area, where millions of tons are, said to be stored. The Allies are faced with two evils , in Russia, they are either to fall in with Trotsky, who has taken up the Hun gauntlet, but finds . IhipaSplf weakened by divisions in liis country, some of which are preparing to link , up their destiny with their erstwhile ! enemies, or see Russia entirely at the mercy and service of Germany by means of separate peace. Mr. Ransome, the correspondent quoted, says it is believed that Russia is compelled to make separate peace owing to military weakness. Still, the majority of leaders are ready to take up Germany's challenge, i Trotsky is doing what is best to serve a universal revolution, and ultimate decision will rest with him. It is realised that if Ukranian wheat goes to the Central Powers, famine in its most extenuated forms must overtake Petrograd, bringing with it the downfall of Trotsky and an anarchy of the most appalling kind. The Allies have either to join Trotsky in a separate peace with Ukraine or see it within the power of Austro-Germany There is an alternative it seems in the growing power of the Soviets, who are playing for time to amass an army to force Ukraine into the Russian confederation. It seems questionable whether a separate peace between Austria and the Ukraine could benefit Germany so much as suggested, for the wheat that would be gradually liberated would go largely to Austria, whose troops are in the neighbourhood. However much it might be it would not be sufficient to stem famine conditions now obtaining throughout Austro-Hungary. It is evident that the collapse of Russia has rendered her an indeterminate and troublesome factor in the war and a menace to the future peaceful

progress of the whole of Europe, i "Trotsky will sacrifice Russia to save Europe and he will sacrifice Europe to save the world." But the destinies of both Europe and the rest of the world are not likely to be committed to men of the Trotsky calibre and description.