PEACE DEADLOCK

Evening Star, Issue 17227, 17 December 1919, Page 4

PEACE DEADLOCK

GERMANY ACCEPTS PROTOCOL. RESERVATIONS AND PROTESTS. Press Association—By Telegraphy-Copyright, Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. PARIS, December 15. The German reply to the Supreme Council has been received. German newspapers state that the tone of the reply is conciliatory.- and that it accedes to all the l demands, with reservations regarding Scapa Flow, but _ adds that the surrender of dock material will paralyse Germauv. DEEDS CONTRADICT WORDS CONCENTRATION OPPOSITE POLAND. ‘The Times.’ LONDON, December 15. Large concentrations of returned Baltic soldiers in East and West Prussia are arousing suspicion. An unofficial German Gazette says that the Government are complying with the local demand to maintain the frontier defence, but in some quarters the concentrations are regarded as dangerous. suggested that the Government are yielding to the machinations of militarists, including General Von der Goltz and Herr Hoffman, who are planning a revolt designed to begin in East Prussia, where the peasants have been secretly armed. Troops from the Baltic were recently urged to regard it as a duty to restore the old order in Germany. The ‘Times’s’ ’Warsaw correspondent estimates the Prussian concentrations at 80,030 regulars and 15,000 other classes, the strongest forces being at Bromberg and Thorn (Vistula towns) and in Upper Silesia. NEW POLISH GOVERNMENT. 1 The Times.’ LONDON, December 15. M- Paderewski has resigned finally owing to ins repeated failure to reconstruct the Government. M. Skulski, a former Mayor of Lodz, and a strong anti-German, has formed a Cabinet, largely of mediocrities. SIBERIAN FEDERATION. ‘The Times.’ LONDON. December 15. Mr Wilton (‘ Times’s’ Warsaw correspondent) writes from Russia that a great federation of autonomous Siberian provinces is projected ns a result of conferences of the leaders. This replaces the earlier idea of the simultaneous restoration of the whole empire, which died owing to the suggested administration being unsuitable to Siberia. With the fall of Omsk the creation of a Siberian federation became urgent, in order to combat the eastward movement of the Bolsheviks, and also to meet the economic crisis involved in the tremendous slump of the rouble. ASTUTE KOLCHAK PLAYS JAPAN AGAINST AMERICA. NEW YORK, December 16. t ‘ Chicago Tribune’s ’ Paris correspondent has interviewed Mr Frederick Corse, a former chairman of the Russo-American Chamber of Commerce, who said: “Hearn , on the highest authoritv that Kolchak has informed the United States that, unless the Allies extend aid to the non-Bolshevik forces, _ hq may be compelled to cede portion of Siberia to Japan in order to save it from the Bolsheviks.’’ THE LONDON CONFERENCE. * LONDON, December 15. (Received December 17, at 11.20 a.m.) The ‘Morning Post’ states that the conference at London was not a continuation of_ the Supreme Council Sittings, lout a special Anglo-French conference, this being due to the attitude of the United States. It is understood that the conference reached political and economic agreements amounting to almost an AngloFrench alliance. RUSSIA BALTIC COAST FIGHTING. Reuter’s Telegrams. . LONDON, December 14. Lsthonian and Bolshevik communiques report severe fighting on the Narva front, the Esthonians claiming that the Bolsheviks’ attacks were beaten off. The Bolsheviks merely record that fighting took place. Ihe Esthonians say that the Bolsheviks attacked in close formation in front of the barbed wire. Many uninjured Bolsheviks lay flat to escape the fire of their own machine guns, which were placed behind to force them to fight. LENIN SHOWS HIS HAND. COPENHAGEN, December 14. terms to the Esthonians include a claim for a strategic frontier, depriving the _ Esthonians of a good part of their toiritory ; also that the Esthonians should be responsible for a larger part of the Russian debt. bolshevik equity. LITVINOFF'S IMPUDENT OFFER, LONDON, December 15. (Received December 17, at 12.55 p.m.) It is understood that the British Government consider Litvinoff’s proposals for an exchange of prisoners altogether unreasonable, as they exclude the exchange of officers and demand the release of certain Russians who are outside British jurisdiction, and the surrender of many more Russians than British. Nego-. titftions, however, are proceeding. LONDON, December 15. (Received December 17. at 10.25 a.m.) A War Office communique states that the Caucasus army’s cavalry raided northward/ of Tsaritsyn {Lower"Volga), taking 2.500 prisoners. ° ihe Bolsheviks have captured Kharkov, Poltava, aijd Berdechev. It is reported that General Petlura, Ukraine commander, has escaped to Poland. THE DON VALLEY. Reuter’s Telegrams. ARCHANGEL, December 15. . M hen the Bolsheviks for the second time occupied Voronezh they massacred whole _ families and executed all priests. Archbishop Tikhon Tarsky was hanged at his gate. All churches have been closed. PRESIDENT WILSON DONE, Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. WASHINGTON, December 15. Reports of the deadlock in the treaty discussion and the pkssiviy and lack o'f resource in the Presidential attitude have revived doubts regarding President Wilson’s mental condition. The ‘ Daily Mail ’ publishes an interview with a distinguished American politician, who says: “ While the physicians insist that President Wilson has not suffered a stroke, it cannot be doubted that he is in a most serious state of nervous depression. He requires the maximum of quietude. We are told that, barring something unforeseen, the President will recover, and resume his duties, but his inability to receive Earl Grey is striking prima facie evidence of his helplessness? The whole situation is mysterious and baff-

ling to the best informed Americans. One thing stands out clearly, and that is that President Wilson is practically eliminated as a potent factor in the affairs of the nation.’ 1 WASHINGTON, December 16. President Wilson is permitted to walk around his room for a short time each day. He spends one hour daily in the open air. His condition is greatly improved. . SENATE IGNORE PRESIDENT. NEW YORK. December 16. A ‘New York Times ’ Washington message rays that leading Democratic Senators point out that President Wilson's announcement that he’ will not consider further any compromise over the Peace Treaty is unfortunate, since it will_undcubtedly strengthen the opponents of the treaty. There are strong indications, however, that both Republicans and Democrats will continue their efforts for a compromise, despite the President’s announcement. PARTITIONING SYRIA. LONDON, December 15, British troops have now been withdrawn southward from Beirut and north of the r .Gulf of Alexandretta, with a sphere extending towards the Euphrates, while the hinterland, including Damascus and Aleppo, comes under Arab rule under the Emir Fcisul, son of the King of the Hedjaz.