RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

UKRAINE IGNORES ARMISTICE. TROTSKY'S FANATICISM. Petrograd, Dec. 7. The Ukraine Republic ignores the armistice 'communique, because it does not recognise the "Bolshevik Government. The Ukraine secretariat is negotiating for the formation of a new Russian Government. ; M. Trotsky's programme is based on the belief that the whole European proletariat will insist within (lie next few weeks on the conclusion of a general peace. He indicates his perfect confidence in the near approach of simultaneous outbursts of pacificism, before which all the thrones and Powers must yield. , BOLSHEVIKS DEFEATED. A THREAT BY TROTSKY. 0 r London, Bee. 7. Geneva telegrams report that Russian revolutionaries state that M. Trotsky has transferred a million roubles from the Deutsche Bank to Berlin, where Lenin has deposited large sums. The Petrograd correspondent of the Daily News states that the elections thus far show that the Bolsheviks polled 2,700,000 votes, the Cadets 2,230,000, the Socialists and Revolutionists 2,221,000. Owing to the doubtful victory Lenin has presented a Bill to the Soviet conferring on electors the right to withdraw members of all elective institutions, including the Constituent Assembly, at unv time. Apparently the right to recall members and replace them by others is in the hands of the local Soviets. M. Trotsky stated that if the Assembly has a Cadet majority it must be dispersed at the bayonet point. A NOTE TO THE ALLIES. TO DECLARE THEIR INTENTIONS RE GENERAL PEACE. TROTSKY'S PRESUMPTION. Received Dee. 9, G. 5 p.m. i London, Dec. S. Wireless Russian official: M. Trotsky has issued a. note inviting the Allies before December 12 to state their willingness or refusal to participate in negotiations for an armistice with a view to peace. In the event of refusal, the Allies, he says, must declare clearly and publicly i'ho aims wherefor the war is being waged a fourth year. Meanwhile the formal armistice is unsigned. THE EX-CZAR. SOLDIERS PILLAGING THE COUNTRYSIDE/ INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT. Received Dec. it, 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 8. Soldiers and sailors disarmed the guard over the ex-Emperor at Tobolsk, and arr&sted the commander of the guard. The people's commissaries state they intend to remove Nicholas, fearing he may be lynched. (Soldiers returning from the front are pillaging the small towns, and are carrying out Jewish pogroms. The number of unemployed in Petrograd is increasing daily and now is .four hundred thousand. There are at least a million njore unemployed at Moscow and other large towns.

FINLAND STARVING. A PITEOUS APPEAL. Received Dec. 9, 5.5 p.m. Stockholm, Dec. 8. The Aftonblad publishes another pathetic appeal on behalf of Finland. It is specially directed to Britain and America, asking for wiieat cargoes. The appeal ends: "In the name of mercy and pity give Finland bread, for Bhe is starving." AGAINST GENERAL KALEDIN. FIVE GUARDS REGIMENTS OX THE MARCH. Received Dec. 9, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, Dec. 7. A Petrograd Mftcial telegram stales that five Guard regiments which left Petrograd are marching against General Kaledin. GERMANY'S CURT TREATMENT BOLSHEVIKS VENT CHAGIIIX ON ALLIES FOREIGN LOANS ANNULLED. COURTS AND LAWYERS ABOLISHED. Received Dec. 9, i.5 ■ p.m. I London, Dec. 8. | The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent says Germany's curt treatment of the Bolshevik negotiators has caused the Bolsheviks to vent their chagrin on the Allies. Lenin threatens to force the Allies to their knees by declaring Russia bankrupt. A decree published announces the annulment of foreign loans and the Creation of the payment- of interest thereon. Meantime various sectors are arranging local armistices and have already drafted an agreement with Leopold's group fixing a neutral zone between the entanglements, where soldiers may meet unarmed. All military operations cease when the Constituent Assembly meets on the 11th. The Bolshevik* have issued a decree abolishing the law courts and lawyers, and substituting revolutionary tribunals,

GERMANY'S TERMS. NO INDEMNITY. BUT ECONOMIC PREFERENCE\ ■DEMANDED. Received Dec. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 8. It is reported that Germany is prepared to grant peace to Russia without indemnity, imposing the condition that Germany have th e right to send her commodities into Russia duty free for a period of 'fifteen years.

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE RECENT PEACE TALK. , MISCHIEVOUS AND MISLEADING. BRITAIN FIGHTING FOR A GREAT I'DEjAL, < Reuter Service. Received Dec. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 8. Sir Edward Carson, speaking at the inaugural meeting of {he Anglo-Rou-manian Society last night, denounced the recent developments of peace talk as being most raiashievous and misleading. No one nation, he said, could end the war by attaining its own selfish ends. W e were fighting for a great ideal, the establishment of freedom and the right to live without everlastingly contemplating a renewal of hostilities. He knew of no possible end to this war which did not maintain the rights of Roumania and Serbia as much as those of Britain and the Empire. Addressing the Roumanian Minister, Sir E. Carson asserted: "If there is to bo any compromise outside what I have laid down, it will not bo the present Government which will make such an ignominious peace." Tie believed the British would never withdraw from the war until, with the Allies'- concufreiice, they had attained a satisfactory end. DARDANELLES REPORT. THE FINAL INSTALMENT. Times Service. Received Dec. 0, 6.5 p.m. London, Dec. 8. The final Dardanelles report has been 'completed. It deals with the operations from March 2n until the evacuation. The Government has not decided whether to publish the report immediately or postpone it until after the war. FOOD ECONOMY. AN APPEAL TO TIGHTEN BELTS. Received Dec. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, 8. Mr. Yapp, speaking at a food economy meeting at the Law Courts, said that the position was very serious owing to a world shortage. Submarines had destroyed C9O big ships. He appealed to everybody to tighten their belts, especially at Christmas. TWO RUSSIAN AGITATORS. BRITAIN WILL NOT GIVE THEM UP.

Received Dec. fl, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Dec. 8. Britain haß notified the Bolsheviks that slio does not intend to repatriate the Russian agitators who were interned for disobeying an order in connection with the registration of Russians in Britain. THE REDISTRIBUTION BILL. APPEASING THE IRISH. London, Dec. 7. In the House of Commons there war a heated debate on the Government proposal to include Ireland in the Redistributiou Bill. The Nationalists alleged that the Government was wrecking the Convention. j and finally Mr. Redmond appealed to the Government to withdraw the present proposal and irtyroducc an amended measure, as the Nationalists were prepared to feivo Ulster a fair share of the representation. Mr. Bonar Law replied that the Government was willing that a committee of two Nationalists"and two Ulstermcu. under the Speaker's chairmanship, should prepare a scheme of redistribution if the Nationalists would allow the Bill containing the scheme to pass unopposed. Mr. Redmond agreed. IRISH SCHEDULE WITHDRAWN. Received Dec. 9, 5.3 p.m. London, Dec. 7. The Representation of the People Bill was read a third time after the Irish redistribution schedule had been withdrawn in accordance with Mr. Redmond's appeal yesterday. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS DISFRANCHISED. London, Dec. 7. The House of Commons adopted' the proposal to disfranchise conscientious objectors, but the period was reduced from seven to five years. CONCESSION TO DOMINIONS' REPRESENTATIVES. London, Dec. 8. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr. Bonar Law indicated that the Dominion Government representatives and their stall's would not Be held liable to pay tho British incomettax on their salaries pending a postwar inquiry into the income-tax laws.