THE RUSSIAN PEACE.

Evening Star, Issue 16676, 7 March 1918, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN PEACE.

3ATSFICATION DOUBTFUL, CERMAMS NOT KEEPING TRUCE. PETROCRAD BEING EVACUATED, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. T i • * PETROCRAD, March 5. Judging from the roschrtions which many or _ tho provdndal Soviets have passed against peace, it seems unlikelv-that the Congress of Soviets at Moscow on March 12 will ratify the peace treaty. Ihe fortnight which has been aranted bv the Germans for ratification will probably be employed in tho organisation of the Red Army, means of defence, and tho evacuation of Petrograd. Reuter's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, March 5. The newspaper 'PravriV urges that tho signing of peace was justified, becanse. reI'iisrl meant an overwhelming defeat of the Soviets and the ad-rent of a Mlliukoff or a Kerensky Government. WASHINGTON", March 5. Advices state that tho evacuation oE Petrograd has begun 'The Times/ PETROGRAD, March 5. The Germans are reported to bo continuing the advance, defpito the order for the cessation of "hostilities. German airmen bombed Petrograd. It is believed that thoy were aiming at the principal railway station. Zeppelins appeared above Gatchina, a railway junction 22 miles south of Petrobut were driven off. _ [The cable news in this issue accredited to ' The Times'. has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated " Buc h news tho editorial opinion of ' The AimjaO

BOLSHEVIKS AND SIBERIA. 1 SHANGHAI, March 5. JSharp fighting occu.red at Diouria (Dauria, near Lake Baika), on the TransSiberian Railway, between the Cossack leader Samenoff and the Bolsheviks. The latter were in large numbers and well armed, and they forced' Samenoff to withdraw. Insurance companies at Vladivcetock are not assuming further responsibility, owing to Bolshevik threats to commandeer the stores. JAPAN AND INTERVENTION. TOKIO, March 5. The Suynfcai and Kensika parties, which together compose a largo majority of the Diet, passed a resolution against the movement of Japanese troops in the Far East until the situation is more menacing. Public opinion deprecates antagonising Russia, although it desires to check German designs. AMERICA LOOKS ON. Reuter’s Telegrams. WASII IXOTOX, March 5. Senator Lewis told Cbngress that Japan and Great Britain would decide Japan’s course in Siberia. The United States had no agreement or compact with Japan as regards Russia, and she will probably keep hands off the Far Eastern situation. America was lighting for democracy, and would not allow any conduct of any foreign people anywhere to endanger the principles of democracy. ALLIES’ NEGOTIATIONS. PARIS, March 5. In ‘Le Matin,’ M. Pichon, in a speech before the Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the Bolshevik propaganda was growing in Siberia. The Bolsheviks were planning to plunder the munitions, and it became tluy Allies’ duty to prevent these from falling into enemy hands, through’ the Bolsheviks. Japan could legitimately act alone, but preferred to net in concert with the Allies- President Wilson agreed that such action on Japan’s part would not conflict with, bis announced principle. Thc.ro was no question of taking advantage of Russia’s plight in the Allies’ interests, blit German penetration must bo arrested. Millions of Russians were awaiting a deliverance by Japan’s intervention. It is understood, M, Pichon added, that all the Allies agreed to Japan’s intervention, and only the details remain unsettled. AMERICAN FARM LABOR. WASHINGTON, March 5. A Bill has been introduced in Congress empowering the President to conscript Labor from the drafted men to work farms, if necessary. LAWDSDOWNE AGAIN. ANOTHER PACIFIST SALLY. WELCOMES HERTLING’S OVERTURES, AND SUGGESTS RAPPROCHEMENT. LONDON, March 5. Lord Lansdowne, in a letter to the 'Daily Telegraph,’ says Count Von Hertling’s speech was unsatisfactory in many points, but marks a perceptible advance, He with Air Balfour that it would not Be wise to begin negotiations. unless some measure of potential preliminary agreement existed. He suggests preliminary conversations, .if necessary, to secure such agreement. Von Hertling’s references to Belgium certainly imply conditions which prevent her having an independent place among the nations of Europe. If, however, Von Hertling morelv requires a- guarantee that Belgium will not become a “ jumping-off ground for enemy machinations,” it should not bo difficult to satisfy him. He suggests that the dialogue should be continued, and should not be. allowed -to lapse into internal discussion. He further suggests that questions regarding occupied portions of France, Alsace and Lorraine, the Turkish Empire, and Italy’s claims against Austria should be remitted to an international peace conference. Mr Keith Murdoch, special London correspondent. for the Melbourne ‘ Herald,’ writing of the publication in the ‘ Daily telegraph ’ of Lord Lansdowne’s original pacifist letter, says : ° Ihe letter has been the worst blow to the country’s confidence since the outbreak ot war. It declares that “some of the desiderata with which we entered the -war are no longer attainable.” And it suggests that the Allies should, without further ado, announce that they did not desire that Germany should disappear from the list of Great Powers, that there will bo no economic boycott, and that the questions of freedom of the seas and establishment of a League of Nations will be discussed after the war. Thourih its meaning is carefully camouflaged, °there can be 210 doubt that the letter ■spell*; murender with a capital S. It has' been repudiated throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain. ‘The Times,’ which snubbed the former Foreign Minister by refusing to print the letter, on the grounds that it was a mu’ns t I public, interest and did not represent any considerable section of opinion in the islands, has been overwhelmed with letters appreciating its attitude and condemning the epistle. Lord Lansdowne’s n!d friends and former colleagues have left him. Newspapers that have been supporters of lus Conservative hierarchy hasten to threw off their allegiance. " It" is .pointed out that this lonely statesman now embraced by pacifists as “m “ the Elder Statesmen of Europe,” baa b-en swayed throughout Inis career by class interests. He is the leader of the aristocracy. He ba.s opposed some forms of taxation because they have affected bis class; ho prevented peace in Ireland when that goal had almost boon reached • he has opposed the Enemy Princes Bill,' designed to erase the names of German fighting princes from British lists; hj» has clung to the landed interests. : Ho now wails that if the war is continued there will be ruin for civilisation: seeing two spectres, one of German victory and the other of disruption and its twin brother—revolution—ho hastens to embrace the one in order, as he thinks, to stave off the other. I could well imagine the honest people of the poorer homes of England, from which countless young men have cone to lie forever in foreign lands, pointing a finder of scorn at Lansdowne—“You nobleman who denied young Englishmen tbedr chances, who refused them sufficient food and made them what they are, who shouted for war, now let them" rot at any sacrifice, lest your great possessions anil titles be disturbed !” ‘ The Times ’ has printed a sonnet which expresses this feeling in memorable words ;—• 1803-1917. These times strike monied worldlings with dismay; Even rich men, brave by nature, taint the air With words of apprehension and despair; While tens of thousands, thinking of the affray, Men unto whom sufficient for the day And minds not stinted or untilled are riven, bound, healthy children of the God of Heaven, Are cheerful as the rising sun in May. What do we gather hence but firmer faith That every gift of noble origin Is breathed upon by Hope’s perpetual breath; That virtue and the faculties within Are vital—and that riches are akin io tear, to change, to cowardice, and death ? ft 6 to crack are the aristocrats ! But the country has let them know already that their wealth must be sacrificed, even their lands, rather than that the isntish race shall be defeated. Money must not count. Let the older order go, if necessary; but there must be victory. Such is the British answer to the Lansdowne letter just as Pitt answered his Jjansdo\vj*>*vv

THREAT TO RUMANIA. Renter's Telegrams. WASHINGTON March 5. The State Department ban been advised that Count Ozernin (Austrian Foreign Minister) has warned Rumania that if she failed to accede to the Austro-German terms she would be wiped off the map of Europe.