THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16068, 26 November 1917, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

SEPARATE PEACE MOVE

"AN ACT OF BASEST TREACHERY

(Bt Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright) I (Australian and X.Z. C»b!o Association.) j (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received November 25th, 0.0 p.in.) LONDON, November-24. Lord Robert Cc-cil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), in an interview, said that if the Russian people support the Leninite peaco proclamation, it will bo an act of the basest treachery. The move was undoubtedly inspired by the Germans. One ray of hope was General Kaledin's action, but nothing had been heard of him lately. "The counter-revolution is tho work of a small section of fanatics, and does not roceive the support of the Socialist majority. One result of the Bolsheviki maniicsto -will be tho stoppage ot American supplies." A Russian official message, cabled on November 22nd, stated that the AllHussion Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates had ordered the Council of the People's Commissaries to assume power, and offer all tho belligerents an immediate armistice for the purpose of opening pourparlers for a democratic peace. Meanwhile the Council had ordered the Commander-in-Chief to offer tho enemy commanders forthwith an armistice for the purpose of peaco pourparlers, and to keep tho Council informed by telegraph of tho progress of pourparlers, and to sign the preliminaries only after the Council had approved. The communique was signed bj Lonin, President of tho Council, Trotzky, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and three others. UNFAVOURABLE COMMENT IN AMERICA. (Reuter's Telegv&ms.) (Received November 2oth, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 24. The Bolshcviki movo is regarded in official circles as placing Russia almost in the list of unfriendly nations. It is pointed out that should peace negotiations suoceed, it will bo difficult to deal with Russia as a neutral. UNIVERSAL PEACE WANTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (IteuUi'a Telegrams.) (Received November 2uth, G.o p.m.) NEW YORK, November 24. Messages from Petrograd cover an interview with M. Trotzky, who repudiated the idea of a separate peace, and said that Russia wanted a universal peace. If the Allied Governments failed to support a democratic peace, tho Allied peoples would. "Our international policy," M. Trotzky said, "is calculated to gain tho support of the massos. If Germany refuses to negotiate, tvo pin our hopo on tho German army of working men to end tho war. If wo receive no response, wo shall declare a revolutionary <war against German Imperialism, and | mobilise all our forces, oonfiscato large food supplies, and prosecute the war •with a relentless energy; but wo are confident that our proposals will create impossibilities against the continuance of the war anywhere. "Only the bourgeoisie oppose tho Maximalist Government, and the intellectuals are hesitating." GERMANY TAKES ACTION. (Australian uikl N.Z. Cubic Association.) STOCKHOLM, Novomber 23. A Russian diplomat states that a special train is going to Petrograd with orders to hand t-o tno Russian Revolu'tionary Government proposals for peace from the Central Powers. LUDENDORFF GOES EAST. (Roceived November 25th 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 24. In connexion with the Russian truce offer, von Ludendorf (Chief of the German General Staff), and a numerous staff, have gono to the Eastern front. COALITION GOVERNMENT DEMANDED. (Received November 2otli, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent state® that M. Totzsky, addressing tho Soviet executive, said that the Soviet's power was now established in Petrograd, Moscow, and the greater part of Russia. Ho declares that ho now possesses socret treaties which he will "throw on the rubbish heap." At a contcrenco of Army headquarters he insisted upon the formation of a coalition Socialist Government, with M. Tcheruoff as Prcmior. THE ALLIED LEGATIONS. (Received November 25th, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, November 24. The Allied Legations refuse to accept? the new regime, and tho Bolsheviki refuse to sign the diplomats' passports. The Bolshcviki Government lice announced that it intends to Etop the entire goods traffic of Russia. REDUCTION OF ARMIES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'3 Telegrams.) LONDON, Novomber 23. A Russian official wireless message states: — "A dccree signed by M..Lenin states that it has been do2idcd to reduce the armies, releasing immediately citizen 6oldiers conscripted in 1899. "Instructions concerning other classes will bo issued later." KALEDIN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) COPENHAGEN, November 23. t The "Berlingske Tidende" (published in Copenhagen) states that the Bolshej viki claim tnat M. Kcrensky's troops have all surrendered. The Ukranian Government L'as sent an army of 150,000 men against General Kaledin. Genoral Ivramow has gone to General Kaledin s headquarters to ' negotiate with "him.