BROKEN NEGOTIATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 16624, 5 January 1918, Page 5

BROKEN NEGOTIATIONS.

GERMAN PERTINACITY. ANXIETY FOR RESUMPTION. RUSSIA'S DENUN'gIATION. ■ TROTSKY'S FAITH IN DEMOCRACY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Reuter'a Telegrams. PETROGRAD, January 4. The. Government have declined the enemy peaco proposals, and suggest the transfer of negotiations to Stockholm. Australian and K.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 3. The Kaiser, Von Hindenburg, and Chancellor Von Hertling have agreed to issue immediate fresh instructions for negotiations at Bregt-Litovsk. ■ AMSTERDAM, January* 3. Baron Von Hertling has agreed that the Reichstag shall discuss in a secret session -Herr Haas's interpellation on the BrestLitovak peace terms. "The Times.' LONDON, January 3. 11. Trotsky, addressing the Central Committee of the Soviets, unmasked what he described as the hypocritical peaco proposals of the enemy, and declared that his Government and the workers would never consent to such conditions. If the Central Powers jfrould not consent loyally to the free disposal of the destinies of the Polish and Lettish nations, it would be urgently necessary to courageously defend the Russian revolution. Austria and Germany had refused to guarantee the immediate and irrevocable removal of their troops from Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and parts of Livonia and Esthonia. A free affirmation of the will of the populations of the occupied countries was impossible until the populations had returned. The German delegates' allegation that tho will of the peoples pi these countries had already been manifested was entirely without foundation, because the people's in the occupied territories could not express their will under martial law and a military censorship. M. Trotsky added: "We will defend the right of Poland, Lithuania, and Courland to dispose of their own destiny in a really free manner. We say to the peoples of Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey : 'Remember, in conclusion, that an immediate democratic peace depends upon you. All the peoples of Europe look to you in the hope that you will not permit the Austro-German imperialists to make war upon revolutionary Russia, for the subjection of Poland, Lithuania, Courland, and Armenia.' " After the speech the Soviets carried a resolution declaring that the refusal of the ■representatives of Germany to allow the free l-ight of oppressed nations and colonies seized before the war to dispose of their own destiny signified that the German authorities were adopting the old annexationist policy. Subsequently representatives from all the fronts were telegraphically summoned to Petrograd. It is admitted that the situation at the fronts is distressing, but the armies' will defend the Russian revolution, while they demand bread and hoots. 'The Times.' t . LONDON, January 3. The Soviet organ publishes a remarkable article, which is republished in pamphlet form in the German language by the governing authorities with a view to distribution amongst the German troops. It declares that all the AustroGerman promises of democratic peace are unconscionable lies. After describing various exhibitions of the mailed fist „i.n the enslavement of Poland- and Lithuania, shootings, and starvation, the article says: " Only German barons and landowners in the occupied territory ask for its annexation to Germany, but there are people in Austria and Germany who assume that these speak for the entire population. They mean nothing but the violation of the will of the mass of workers and peasants. On such a basis the Russian Government can never enter into negotiations. The mask has and the word is now with you, German soldiers and workmen. Rise, soldiers of Germany, for a revolutionary struggle against a prolonged war. Fire np further shot on the Russian front. Do not be the executioners of the Russian revolution. Let not a single regiment proceed to other fronts if you wish for a general peace, and enable the people to come to their senses."