BOLSHEVIKS AS GUESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1918, Page 3

BOLSHEVIKS AS GUESTS.

GERMAN HOSPITALITY. It is learned from a German source that during; the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk everything seems to. have been done to make the Russian delegates feel at home. Their Teuton hosts spared no expense in the way of entertainment. , Prince Deopold of Bavaria, temporarily in residence in an ancient Russian castle, presided at various little banquets, with General Hoffmann. First came the Austrian and Russian delegations, Count Czernin after dinner making the acquaintance of the Bolshevik representatives. The arrival of the Turkish, German and Bulgarian delegates was celebrated with a feast organised by Prince Leopold, and the time was spent merrily in an atmosphere of peace and plenty. The negotiations were conducted in a large barrack, formerly an officers' club. The room was carpeted and decorated with flowers. The sceances were interrupted at midday for lunch, presided over by General Hoffmann. At 7.30 the delegates knocked off for the day, and Princo Leopold presided at dinner, which consisted of five courses, with wine, and liqueurs. Champagne was served by German orderlies. The evenings were spent in a similar atmosphere of cordiality. There was no special Christmas banquet, although later, as if to make up for the omission, a concert was given by German artists, who came from Berlin for the purpose. One or two interesting thumbnail portraits, principally of Russian delegates, flatteringly drawn, have been produced. Mr Joff seems to have an intelligent face and the air of a scholar. He has a black beard. M KamenefT is elderly, fair, mobile in feature. He is a brother-in-law of M Trotzky, who is depicted in particularly glowing colours, of the characteristic "great Russian" type, with blue eyes and fair .beard. M. Povrovsky is a scholar by vocation, lirslory being his forte, but he is also a man used to the ways and wiles of diplomacy Mine Vitskenko is hot™™ 40 and 43, dressed very simply. She does not look like- a suffragette, and is credited with seme beauty, especially at emotional moments. Generally, from the Russian point of view, the Russian delegates were energe-, lie, cultivated' people of the ) experienced ia diplomacy and debate