RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

WE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. BBMNESSOF RUSSIAN DELEGATES.; GERMANY'S PERIL, DEMOCRATIC PEACE ONLY ACCEPTABLE. London, Jan. 4. The (Daily News' petrograd corresponlent states tli&t on Wednesday Mr: lome wae present at the Sinolony Instihite, near Kameneff. The great white kali /was crowded. Few knew that the aegotiations were already stopped. M. Kameneff Tead reports showing that Gernasyhßd tried'to bind Russia to herself by the rehew&l of the 1904 treaty, the Czar's refusal to renew which was one of the causes of the war. Germany made »V?ral alternative proposals with the Dbject of securing for herself the positional most favored nation. The Russian delegates replied that they favored dqualitv in trade, and could not, while •ocialiaing industry and nationalising backs, subscribe to -principles contrary to socialism. The Germans then seem to have, climbed down, Germany disclosed her intention, under the pretext of selfdefinition) to retain Poland and Lithuania,

M, KamenefT said that if Germany now moVes troops against revolutionary Russia it is evident that her purpose wilt be the final enslavement of Poland and Lithuania. This would instantly causp ap explosion which would destroy German imperialism. Soldier delegates then described the appalling condition of the army, but affirmed that they would continue the war despite tf'.ese conditions unless the Ger(Oßns wotlld agree to a democratic peace. A reeoldtion was carried denouncing the forcing Of the will of strangers upon *hs people, of Poland, Lithuania, and Courland, and appealing to the peoples of the Central Powers to use pressure on their governments to ensure a policy of no annexations and no indemnities. THE ALP "?S OPPORTUNITY. CLASS WAR RAGING, KAJSE&ISM GREATEST OBSTACLE TO PEACE. London, Jan. 4. The Daily Chronicle states that owing to the breakdown Of the Brest Litovsk negotiations the Allies are likely to recognise the Lenin Government. Diplomats' ideas of revolutionary Russia will be «nt to Petrograd. It is expected that M. -Utvinoff will be recognised and allowed to opcupy tbe Russian Embassy. A fftatjownt of the Allied policy will shortly be sent' to Russia, which will be detfltkprttii; in character. Tftd Chronicle interviewed M. LitvirioiT, who Bind: "As Ambassador I shall dissipate th# misunderstandings and misinterpretation Of the character and purpose of the floviet Government. It is untrue that the Bolsheviks grabbed power. Thejf OTtty intervened in November to take therein* from Kerenskv's trembling hands in order to give them to the Soviets.' tJrtfortunately, the Ijoderate Socialists, representing the petite bourgeois and well-to-do peasantry, chose to desert thi Soviets' leaders. The Moderates should hate seen that crushing the Soviets ineabs the downfall of the revolution: 'They were tools in the hands of the grasde bourgeosie, generals, and rewho are frightened at the Soviets' tpcial reforms. The crucial fact at present in Russia is that class war is raging in-naked form throughout Great Russia,. Ukraine, Finland, Siberia, and even 4ta6Bg the Cossacks; The Bolahevjks behind them the whole industrial •working class and the great trnti* of the peasantry. It is grossly mischievous to represent the Bolsheviks M pro-German, anti-Ally, or mere pacifists. The Bolsheviks realise clearly that KaUerism is the greatest obstacle to peace and the progress of the international proletariat towards self-emancipa-tion, hut they have discovered that Russia is not the only soil congenial to noxious plants. Btjt they are opposed to replacing Prussian militarism by Russian, French, and English militarism. They are sanguine enough to imagine that the Russian and German armies on the eastern' front nay one day march together against their common foes, the world's proletariat, in Germany and perhaps other countries too. The Bolsheviks look up .-to a separate peace with disfavor, but present conditions mate it imperative. Diplomats in Allied conntries must see that calamity does not happen, and must act at ojice, otherwise they will tie too late, THE KAJBEK SETTLES NSW LINES. Amsterdam, Jan, 4. The Frankfurter Zeitung's. Berlin correspondent says tbe Crown Council subjected the results of the Brest Litovsk negotiations to severe criticism, whereupoft new lines for the German representatives were settled by the Kaiser, Mafahal von 3indenfcurg, and Herr von HAriJmjr * Berne, Jan. 4. ®Mf Cental Powers (have consented to ifakad and Okrainia being repreaeflte jpt BrestfLitovak.

GERMANY'S REPLY.

l'O RUSSIAN DECLARATION. RELYING ON STRONG POSITIONS. GERMAN NEGOTIATIONS WITH UKRAINE. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 5. In the Reichstag, the Chancellor stated that Germany rejected the Russian proposal to transfer the negotiations to Stockholm. Regarding Russia's declaration, they :ould not accept the terms. Regarding the evacuation of territories and the plebiscite, the same. "Wo can," lie added, "cheerfully rely upon our strong positions." The Chancellor confirmed the intention to negotiate with the Ukraine plenipotentiaries. RUSSIANS FAVOR STOCKHOLM AS LOCALITY FOR CONFERENCE. REPATRIATION OF PRISONERS HELD UP. MEETING OF AS' "SMBLY. Received Jan. 0, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Jan. 4. The president of the Russian peace delegation telegTßph<*d to the AustroGertnan, Turkish, -and Bulgarian delegations that the Russian Government considers it urgent to immediately conduct peace pourparlers on neutral territory, and proposes to transfer them to Stockholm. The delegation awaits a reply. The People's Commissioners promise they will not make war against Ukraifuif Ukraine allows the Maximalists to attack General Kaledin.

Negotiations regarding the repatriation of war prisoners are held up owing to the Maximalist insistence on free communication with Austro-German Socialists and tlie appointment of a commission to report upon hundreds of thousands of Poles being forced to work in German factories. The Council of Commissioners has fixed the date for the opening of the Constituent Assembly for the 18th, provided there is the necessary quorum of 40Q. GERMAN INTENTIONS. A MUCH-CENSORED REPORT. Reuter Service. Received Dec. 0, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 4. In the Reichstag, the Chancellor announced that Herr von Rembussehe (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) wo did report upon the peace negotiations, whereafter the Government and the Reichstag would confidentially discuss and make weighty and fateful decisions. The speech gives no details, and only a brief report of (lie discussion has been permitted, contairiing a declaration by a Centre deputy that the present constituent bodies in Courland, Poland, and Lithuania are fully entitled to express the people's will as regards the destiny of these territories, and some mild Socialist criticisms. BRITISH AMBASSADOR'S DEPARTURE. VIEWED AS CHANGE IN RELATION'S. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Jan. 5 Political circles, despite official explanations, interpret Sir George Bui'ituHm's departure as heralding a changv; hi British relatii i s with Russia A FRENCH MANIFESTO. WORK FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY. London, July 4. Tchecherin and JPetrorofT, whose release M. Trotsky demanded, left St. Paneras for Russia. After leaving Brixton prison, Tchecherin bad a long interview with Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., who explained the views of the Labor Party. There wag a demonstration as the train steamed out, the Russian Internationale being sung. Paris, JaD. 4. Radicals, Republicans, and Socialists have issued a stirring manifesto to Russian Republicans, refusing to believe that they will abandon themselves to the dictates of Prussian militarism and forget their ancient friendship. "The actions of Lenin and Trotsky sadden us, but work for the public safety, ifliough hindered by treason, will be continued by French soldiers and their allies. I INLAND'S INDEPENDFNCE ItECOG-NISED. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p rii Stockholm, Jan. 5. The Swedish Government ha.< iecugnised Finland as a free and independent State. TURKEY'S PEACE TERMS. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 5. The TSurkiah. delegation at Bsest Litovsk hajtded draft peace terms to tbe Russian- delegation.

A GERMAN STIPULATION

"MOST FAVORED NATION" TREATMENT. WITH AN IMPORTANT PROVISO. Reuter Service. Received Jan. 0, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Jan. 5. Germany's peace terms include a clause providing for mutual "most favored nation'' treatment ar regards trade and navigation for twenty years; nevertheless each party reserves itself the right of making specially intimate commercial agreements, for instance, between Austria and Germany or between Russia and the neighboring Asiatic countries or independent States formed out of Russia. A GERMAN STATEMENT. DECEIVED AS TO BOLSHEVIKS' POWER CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY TO BE RESPONSIBLE. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p.m. 1 London, Jan. 4. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that the German deleration hero admit they only realised the state of affairs on their arrival. They imagined the Bolsheviks had n real Government, but wihen they found that all the educated Russians and the whole of the territories opposed the Bolsheviks ihcy declared it was impossible to conclude a. peace with these people. The Bolsheviks will probably summon the Constituent. Assembly and impose on it the responsibility of Hie conclusion of peace. TROTSKY'S OFFER TO PERSIA. BOLSHEVIKS FAIL IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA. COSSACKS AN'D UKRAINIANS ADVANCING. Received Jan. fi, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Jan. 4. M. Trotsky has addressed Persia offering to withdraw the Russians if Turkey will act similarly.

Reports from southern Russia show that the Bolsheviks luive entirely failed, and that the Cossacks and Ukrainians continue advancing. THE POSITION AT HARBIN. CHINESE RESTORE ORDER. Received Jan, ii, 5.5 p.m. Peking, Jan. 4. A telegram from Harbin states that order has been restored along the Chinese eastern railway, where the Maximalists surrendered. A thousand Chinese troops have arrived at a Manchuria staton. ,