RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16206, 8 May 1918, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

GERMANY AND THE UKRAINE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Router's Tciograma.) AMSTERDAM, Ma y (i. In tho Reichstag, Herr von Paver admitted that the Germans had entered Ukrainia not merely for the purpose of restoring order, but because they wanted foodstuffs as speedily as possible. He said tho llada was powerless to make® the papulation deliver grain. Its communistic theories, moreover, were not reciprocated by the peasants, hencc the trouble, which led to tho overthrow of tho Government. The new Government, which was being formed, bj Hetman Skoropadski, whom the peasants elected, had agreed to the formation of German field tribunals. The new Government refused to recognise the theories that levied ownership on the soil. It agreed with the necessity for concluding a long term of economic agreement with tho Central Powers, and would negotiate for the reimbursement of German military assistance. Socialist deputies declared that the people did not stand behind Skoropadski, and that the new Government had no more power than the old. Herr Erzeberger declared that the shape taken by Eastern questions would decide the entire future shaping of Europe. He advocated a political department of the German Government to be the w&ole deciding factor. ZUJtIQH, May 6. The "Arbniter Zeitnng," of Vienna, condemns the German and Austrian proceedings in Ukraine, and foresee* perilous complications. The paper soys that the Ukrainians are bound to regard the Austro-Germn occupation as a military regime, whose object is solely the of foodstuffs, and thus Russophile sentiment will be strengthened, (Reufer'g T«legr»Bui.) (Received May 7th, 7.45 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. May 6. "Vorwaerts" says that Skoropadski, the champion of the big Ukranian landlords, received nine votes only in the Constituent Assembly election.

(Australian and N.Z. Cab!© Association.)

(Received May Bth, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 6. Citizen Litvinoff (Bolshevik envov in Britain) has received a telegram from Moscow stating that tho rumours of a counter-revolution are absurd and were probably circulated for political purposes. POSITION'Iff SIBERIA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable AMociatior.) WASHINGTON, May 6. The State Department has received from tho Russian Soviet Government a protest against the alleged oncouragojnenfc given by the Amenoan Consul nt Vladivostok to the movement to establish an independent Siberian Government.