RUSSIA REFUSES GERMANY'S CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 7

RUSSIA REFUSES GERMANY'S CONDITIONS

| TROTSKY UNMASKS THE "HYPOCRITICAL PEACE PROPOSALS OF GERMANY" . GERMAN AUTHORITIES ADOPTING ANNEXATIONIST POLICY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. January 4, 8 p:m.) ' ! London, January 3. M. Trotsky, addressing tho Central Committee of the Sonets, unmasked what he described as the hypocritical peace proposals of Germany, and declared that his Government and the workers would never consent to such conditions. "If the Central Powers," he said, "will not consent loyally to the free disposal of the destinies of the Polish and Lettish nations, it will bo urgently necessary to courageously defend tho Russian Revolution. Austria and Germany have refused to guarantee the immediate and irrevocable removal of their troops from Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and parts of Livonia and Esthonia. _ The free affirmation of the will of the populations of occupied countries is impossible until the, populations return.. Tho German delegates' allegation that the will of the peoples of these countries has been ;manifested already is without foundation, /because tho peoples of the occupied, territories could not express, their.Will.under martial law and a military censorship.'".. We will defend the right of Poland, Lithuania, and Courland to dispose bf their .own destiny really and freely. We say to tho peoples of Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey, 'Remember, the conclusion of an immediate democratic peace depends on you. All the peoples of Europe look to you. You will not permit the Austro-German Imperialists to make war on revolutionary Russia for the subjeotion of Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and Armenia.'" . :. After the speech the Soviets .passed a resolution declaring that the refusal of the representatives of Germany to admit of tho free right of the oppressed nations and.colonies seized during tho war. to dispose of their own destiny signified that the German authorities were 'adopting tho old annexationist policy. Subsequently representatives from all the fronts were summoned by telegraph to Petrograd.-—Router. ARMIES WILL DEFEND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION. (Rec. January 4, 8 p.m.) London, January 3. It' is admitted that the situation on tho fronts is distressing, but tho armies, will defend the Russian Revolution. /They have demanded, however, bread and boots.—Reuter. STIRRING APPEAL TO GERMAN TROOPS '.. TO JOIN THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE. (Rec. January 4, 8 p.m.) ■..'.-.'•,, i London, January 3. '. The -Soviet organ publishes a" remarkable article, which has been republished in pamphlet form in the German language by the governing authorities with a view to its distribution among the German troops. It declares that all the Austro-Gernian promises of a democratic peace aro unconscionable lies. _ After describing the various exhibitions' of tho mailed fist in Poland and Lithuania, and ; tho enslavement, the shooting, and tho starvation of tho people, it says: "Only tho German barons and landowners ask for annexation by Germany. There aro people in Austria and Germany who assume to speak for the entire population, and this means nothing but a .violation of the will of the mass or workers and peasants. On such a basis the Russian Government can never enter into negotiations. Tho mask has fallen and the word is now with you German soldiers and workmen. Rise, soldiers of Germany, for tho revolutionary struggle against a prolonged war! Fire no further shot on the Russian front. Do not bo executioners of the Russian Rovolution. Let not a singlo regiment proceed to other fronts, if you wish for a general peace to enable the people to,come to their senses."—Router.

GERMAN INTERPRETATION OF THE PEACE CONDITIONS. London, January 3. Mr. Bourchier, "The Times" correspondent, reports that the Austro-Ger-m'an peace conditions contain a proviso that the peoples of Poland, Lithu-1 nnia, and Esthonia having already clearly expressed their desire to bo annexed to Germany, therefore, acting on tho principlo of the right of peoplo to dispose of themselves, Germany will remain in occupation of these' regions -"The Times." UNEASINESS IN GERMANY REGARDING THE NEGOTIATIONS. Amsterdam, January 3. Dr. von Kuhlmann (German Foreign Minister) has left Berlin for Brest Litovsk. The Social Democrats have presented* a demand to the President of the Reichstag to summon tho Reichstage immediately to discuss questions of foreign policy, in view of tho Brest Litovsk negotiations. The Socialists are indignant at Dr. von. Kuhlmann's intention to indirectly annex Russian territory. Details of the negotiations at Brest Litovsk have also produced great uneasiness among the National Liberals, especially tho merchants. The Hamburg branch.of the- party adopted resolutions condemning a peace "which would not ensure the consolidation of Germany's position overseas and an adequate war in-demnity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN REICHSTAG TO DISCUSS THE TERMS. -X (Rec. January 5, 0.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 3 Count von Hertling, Imperial Chancellor, agreed that the Reichstag should discuss in. secret session Herr Haase's interpellation on the Brest Litovsk terms.—Aus-.N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANS WILL NOT EVACUATE OCCUPIED TERRITORY UNTIL A GENERAL PEACE IS CONCLUDED. London, January 3. The "Daily Chronicle" Petrograd correspondent states:—M. Pavlovitch savs the tactics' of the Austro-German peace delegates were remarkably flexible until the arrival of the Ukrainian delegation. Thereafter the Germans declared that they would not evacuate the occupied territory until a general peace was concluded, because tho non-Bolshevik portion of the Russian Army, assisted by England and France, might continue fighting, and seize Brest Litovsk and other important strategical points. The Germans were prepared to evacuate Belgium and Franoe on condition that Mesopotamia and Arabia wero evacuated; otherwise Germany's prestige in the Mohammedan world would receive its death-blow. M. Pavlovitch adds: "The Germans' terms are, particularly for Russia, unacceptable."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.