RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17646, 26 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. BOLSHEVIK AIMS. WANT UNIVERSAL, NOT SEPARATE PEACE. A. and N.Z. Ca'olo Association and Reuter. (Received November 25, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 24. Messages from Petrograd cover an interview with M. Trotsky, who repudiated a separate peace, and said Russia wanted übiiivorjaali peace. If the Allied Governments failed to support a democratic peace the Allied peoples would demand an international policy calculated to gain the support of the masses. “If Germany refuses to negotiate,” he added, “we pin our hope on the German army and working men to end the war. If w© receive no response we shall declare a i evolutionary war against German imperialism and mobilise all forces, confiscate largo food supplies and prosecute the war with relentless energy, but we are confident that our proposals will creato impossibilities against the continuance of the war anywhere. Only the bourgeoisie oppose the Maximalist Government. The intellectuals are hesitating.” DECISION TO REDUCE ARMIES. A. and N.Z. Coblo Association nnd Reuter. LONDON, November 23. A wireless Russian official message says A decree, signed by M. Lenin, states that it has been decided to reduce the armies, releasing immediately citizen soldiers who were conscripted in 1899Instructions concerning other classes will be issued later. LUDENDOR-FF GOES EAST. TO ARRANGE TRUCE WITH RUSSIA. United Service. (Received November 25, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 24. Tn commotion with the Russian truce, ofier, General von Ludenciorrc and numerous members of the German Staff hare gone to the pastern front with all secrecy. , , ,• At the Albod lagfttijjiis refiwto accept the new regime. Tim Bolsheviks refuse to sign diplomats passports. The Ro shevik Governwont has announced that it intends to stop the. entire goods traffic with Russia..

"AN ACT OF BASEST TREACHERY."

LORD CECIL'S VIEWS ON SEPARATE PEACE. United Sorvico. (Received November 25, 5.5 p.m.) KCNDON, November 24. Lord Robert Cecil in an interview said that if the Russian people supported the- Leninite peace proclamation it would bo an act of the basest! ticac.hcry, undoubtedly inspired by Germans. One ray of hops was Kaledin's action, but nothing had been heard o,f him intcly. The counterrevolution was the work of a small section of fanatics and did not receive the support of the Socialist majority. The result of the Bolshevik manifesto would bo the stoi>pnge of American supplies.

STATEMENT BY M. TROTZSKY.

ARMY CONFERENCE INSISTS ON

COALITION

LONDON, November 23. The,‘‘Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent states that M. Trotzsky, addressing the Soviet executive, said that the Soviet’s power was now established in Petrograd, Moscow and the greater part of Russia. He declared that he now possessed secret treaties which would be thrown on the rubbish heap. At a conference at army headquarters he 'insisted upon the formation of a coalition Socialist Government, with M. Tcheniolf as Premier. NEWS FROM GALICIA. RUSSIANS EVACUATING POSITIONS. Reuter's Telegrams. (Received November 23, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 24. A telegram from Tarnoyol announces that the Russians are preparing to evacuate Grymalow and Skalat, in East Galicia. An advanced position is already evacuated. THE AMERICAN VIEW. \ HOW IS RUSSIA TO BE REGARDED? Router's Telegram*. (Receivod November 25, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 21. The Bolsheviks’ move is regarded : n official circles as placing Russia almost in the list of unfriendly nations. It Is pointed out that, should peace negotiations succeed, it will bo difficult to deal with Russia as a neutral. TROOPS DISGUSTED. WHOLESALE DESERTIONS THREATENED. Tho Times ” Service. LONDON, November 23. Mr J. B. Bourchior, writing from Petrograd, states that the prospects of starvation on the northern front are intensifying. Tho troops, exhausted and disgusted with the political quarrels and lack of clothing, threaten wholesale desertions unless reinforced. ENEMY PEACE OVERTURES. RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT’S STATEMENT. STOCKHOLM, November 23. . A Russian diplomat states that a special train is going to Petrograd •with orders to hand to the Russian Revolutionary Government proposals for peace from the Central Powers. RUMOURS FROM DENMARK. COPENHAGEN, November 23. The ‘‘Berlingsko Tidende ” states that the Bolsheviks claim that M. Kerensky’s troops have all surrendered. Tho Ukranian Government has sent an army of 150,000 against General Kaledin. General Ivrasnow has gene to General Kaledin’s headquarters to negotiate with him.