RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE BOLSHEVIKS' DILEMMA. OUTWITTED BY GERMAN'S. London, Dec. 9. The Daily Ohroniele's Pc-trograd correspondent says that the Bolsheviks are in a dilemma, Their proposals for a peace without annexations and indemnities evoke J German terms so humiliating for Russia/that the Bolshevik' delegation refrained from further pourparlers pending fresh instructions.

The news so depressed Bolshevik headquarters that they sought to delay negotiations by advancing unacceptable proposals. relating to the non-transfer of troops to other fronts, and the evacuation of Moon Sound. Their latest invitation to the Allies to participate in negotiations is simply an attempt to shift on tr> the Allies the responsibility for the situation. » The Bolsheviks' difficulty is that even if the Allies responded it is nowise certain that the Germans are prepared to conclude an armistice wjth England or France in view of Hindenburg's declaration that Germany has no cause to forgo submarinings. THE BOLSH rw IKS' POLICY. CONFISCATION AND PLUNDER ALL PROPERTY AND CHATTELS NATIONALISED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dec. 10, 9.25 p.m. London, Dec. 10. A Russian wireless report states: The Bolshevik regime proclaims all lands, live and dead stock, farm and produce, as well as buildings, to be national property. Private ownership of land has been abolished. Landowners' houses arc to serve as public schools, hospitals, shelters, and theatres. ■Local land committees have 'been ordered to safeguard property from pillage and destruction. THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY KERENSKY ELECTED. Petrograd, Dec. 0. Iveren3kv lias been elected a member of the Constituent Assembly for SaratofY. According to reports from the Peasants' Council, 80 members of the Constituent Assembly have been elected, of whom 47 arc Socialists, 24 Maximalists and 15 bourgeois. REBEL ORDER CAUSES TROUBLE. Tokio, Dev. 9. The Bolshevik's order to arrest General Holwat, commanding the Russian force? at Harbin, resulted in street fighting. Chinese troops were called out and the shops closed. LOYALTY OF SIBERIA. Stockholm, Dec 0. Siberia refuses to send bread or corn to European Russia save to the troops actively opposing the Ocrraans. [ LENIN'S ROGUERY. Petrograd, Dee. 0. Lenin lias completed a scheme for undermining the Constituent Assembly by a system of continual re-elections. A commissioner of elections for the Constituent Assembly has been appointed, with practically autocratic powers. FINLAND A REPUBLIC. Stockholm, Dee. 9. . The Finnish Diet adopted a Bill constituting Finland a republic. The election , of a President for five years was fixed for January 15. The President's inauguration will be in April, the Premier acting as president in the interval. MUNITIONS AT VLADIVOSTOK. Washington, Dev. 9. The report that BolshevN troops are [moving into Vladivostoek may force the I Uliited States and the Allies at any time to adopt a definite policy towards the Radical Government of Petrograd. <3reat quantities of munitions and supplies shipped by the United States before the overthrow.of Kerenskv are stored at Vladivostoek awaiting railway transit, and the Allies are unwilling they should fall into hostile hand*. ; GERMANY PREPARES TO CONTROL SUPPLIES. Amsterdam, Dec. 9. It Is reported that the German Government is preparing to send an army of organisers to Russia to take over food and other supplies, anji control railways, expecting to obtain lavish supplies of fat for Germany. ANXIETY OF BRITISH RESIDENTS. London, Dec. 9. Mr. Bourchier stages that it is daily becoming more evident that the Bolsheviks are little disposed to welcome the Constituent Assembly, in which the opposition parties will be considerably represented; hence the Bolshevik decision to authorise the Soviets' to control all elections, quashing returns at their discretion.

Other reports indicate that British residents in Russia, particularly in Petrograd, are growing more anxious. The Consulafels crowded, but official protection counts for nothing, as the Red Guards* and populace control the situation. : REPUDIATION OP DEBTS; London, Dec 0. A special correspondent says that Russia's repudiation of the. public debt will mean a serious loss to the British Government, which has rendered much financial assTstance to Russia since the beginning of the war, though little scrip is held bv British investors, who never favorwl Russian finance. French investors are very heavily hit. TIIE CONTROLLING HAND. Petrograd. Dec. 9. The Germans have,, warned Russians that aviators distributing Maximalist * to iPf4{Datio&s will bft if naDtured*