RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

LENINIST PEACE PROPOSALS. 1 LORD ROBERT CECIL'S VIEWS. AN ACT OF BASEST TREACHERY. KALEDIN THE ONLY HOPE. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov., 24. Lord Robert Cecil, in an interview, said that if the Russian people support the Leninite proclamation, it would be an act of the basest treachery, undoubtedly inspired by the Germans. The one ray of hope was General Kaledin's action, but nothing had been heard of him lately. The counter-revolution is the work of n small section of fanatics, and does not receive the support of the Socialist majority. A result of the Bolshevik manifesto will be the stoppage of American supplies. SOVIET CLAIMS POWER. COALITION GOVERNMENT DEMANDED BY ARMY. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 24. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that Trotsky, addressing the Soviet executive, said that tbo Soviet's power was now established in Petrograd, Moscow and the greater part of Russia. He declares that he now possesses secret treaties, which he will throw on ihe rubbish heap. A conference of the army at headquarters insisted upon the formation of a coalition Socialist Government, with M. Tehernouf as Premier. THE TRUCE'OFFER. NEW REGIME NOT RECOGNISED. DIPLOMATS' PASSES REFUSED. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. 24. In connection with- the Russian truce offer, Count Ludondorff and # a numerous staff have gone to the Eastern front. The Allied Legations refuse to accept the new regime, nnd the Bolsheviks refuse to sign the diplomats' passports. The Bolshevik Government announces that it intends to stop the entire goods traffic in Russia, TROTSKY INTERVIEWED. SEPARATE PEACE REPUDIATED. • HOPE RESTS ON DEMOCRACIES. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. Messages from Petrograd oover an interview with M. Trotsky, who repudiated a separate peace. He said that Russia wanted a universal peace. If the Allied Governments failed to support a democratic peace, the Allied peoples would, as our international policy would be calculated to gain the support of the masses. If Germany refuses to negotiate, we pin our hope in the German army of working men to end the war. If we receive no response, we shall declaro a revolutionary war against the German imperialists, and mobilise nil our forces, confiscate large food supplies, and prosecute the war with relentless energy, but we are confident that our proposals will create impossibilities against the continuance of the war anywhere. Only the bourgeoisie oppose the Maximalist Government. The intellectuals are hesitating. > EFFECT OF SEPARATE PEACE. DIFFICULTY AS TO RUSSIA'S POSITION. Reuter Service. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Nov, 24. The Bolsheviks' move is regarded in official circles as placing Russia almost in the list of unfriendly nations. It is pointed out that should' the peace negotiations succeed, it would be difficult with Russia as a neutral. PLIGHT OF NORTHERN TROOPS. ILL FED AND ILL CLOTHED. WHOLESALE DESERTIONS THREATENED. Times Service. Received Nov. 24, 5.S p.m. London, Nov. 23. Mr. Bourchier, writing from Petrograd, states that the prospects of starvation at the northern front are intensifying. The troops are exhausted and disgusted at the political quarrels and lack of clothing. They threaten wholesale desertions unless they aro reinforced. ENEMY PEACE PROPOSALS. Stockholm, Nov. 23. A Russian diplomat states that a special train is going to Petrograd with orders to hand to the Russian Revolutionary Govlrnment proposals for peace from the Central Powers."" WILD STATEMENTS. Copenhagen, Nov. 23. The Berlinako Tidende states that tho Bolsheviks claim that Kerensk/a troops have all surrendered, and tiat the

Ukrainian Government has sent an armj of 150,000 against General RafettoGeneral Kraanow lias gone Kaledin's headquarters to negotiate With him. LENIN ISSUES- A MCRBB. London, Nov. 2>. Wireless Russian official: A decr*# signed by Lenin states that ho ho* decided to reduce the armies, relminff-im-mediately citizen soldiers conscripted in 1800. Instructions concerning other (lasses will be issued later. EVACUATION OF GALICIA ADVANCED- POSITIONS ALREADY ABANDONED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. 24. A telegram from Tarnopol announces that the Russians are preparing to evacuate Graymalow and Skalat, in East Oalicia. Advanced positions have alresdx been evacuated. r . ' ii