RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

HOW THE PEACE VOTING WENT OPPOSITION TO ORGANISE THE COUNTRY.

Received 8.45,

MOSCOW, March 18

The Convention's final voting on the German dictated peace was 704 in favour of ratification, 261 against, while 110 abstained from voting. The abstentionists and oppositionists declared they would not submit to the Bolsheviks' decision, but would continue to resist, and organise and arm the people. Every speaker recognised that the peace was only transitory.

PEACE RATIFICATION.

LENIN'S LOGIC,

PETROGRAD, March 17

Peace was ratified late at night. Lenin, in a two hours' speech, pointect out that the opponents of ratification were suffering from despondency anu desired to throw off the Soviets' power. He defended the peace policy as the best until the international proletariat was able to assert its power.

Oppositionists strongly opposed the ratification. Kamakoff, leader of the Socialists' Left, scathingly criticisec Lenin's policy.

Lenin, at a second sitting, said the Bolsheviks were not traitors to the Revolution. They were bound to conclude peace with the German Imperialists .

Trotsky's absence was commented

Germany has agreed to Lithuania's independence, conditional on her making a railway, customs and financial convention with Germany.

JAPANESE WITHDRAW.

LONDON, March 17

The "Daily Mail's" Tientsin correspondent states that Japanese are arriing at Harbin from Siberia. They state that the Government ordered their withdrawal, as the situation might necessitate military intervention. Li'i'O.y If'.'' r: '■■■' PETROGRAD. March 17. \ \ Wolf, who was president of the* peace delegation, "has "been"-"appointed Russian Ambasador at Berlin. ; ' !v " | | PEACE IGNORED. \\ PETROGRAD, March 18. The Moscow section of the Revoih: tionary Socialists is withdrawing from the Government, declaring that they will not lay down their arms, and that they intend to organise independent armed resistance. The Caucasian "delegates to the ference reported that the Caucasian Government is ignoring the peace treaty and organising resistance should Turkey attempt to occupy the ceded districts of Kars, Batoum and Ardahan. The sailors of the Black Sea fleet offered asistance' in defending Batoum.

ENEMY PREPARATIONS IN SIBERIA.

TOKIO. March IT.

Telegrams from reliable quarters describe the German preparations at Irkutsk and elsewhere in Siberia.

Two army corps, tAvo cavalry corps, composed of German-Austrian prisoners of war, and 130 German officers have arived at Irkutsk. Others disguised are pouring into the field. Guns and armoured cars are being transported from European Russia.

FACTORY WORKERS TIRED OF BOLSHEVIKS.

PETROGRAD, March 17.

A conference representing forty j thousand factory workers considerec the paralysis of industry, and passed resolutions against the Bolshevik policy, and condemned the attempts at syndicalistic control of industry. DEFEAT OF BOLSHEVIKS. TOKIO, March 17. A thousand volunteers, including few Japanese, fought and defeated a raiding Bolshevik force at Blagovestchensk. The sensational early report that 150 Japanese were murdered is unfounded, the actual loss being one killed and eight missing. GERMANS SEIZE BLACK SEA. DOCKYARDS. Received 11.45.

PETROGRAD, March 18

It appears the usual fleet at Odessa withdrew to Sebastopol prior to the German occupation of Odessa and Nicolaff, where the Soviets were immediately suppressed. The Germans seiz : ed the naval dockyards at Nicolaff. The German offensive is proceeding towards Kheanim.