BOLSHEVIKS AS GUESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOLSHEVIKS AS GUESTS.

GERMAN HOSPITALITY.

CHAMPAGNE AND BANQUETS.

It is learned from a German source that during the peace negotiations at BrestI.itovsk everything seems to have been done to mako the Russian delegates feel at home. Their Teuton hosts spared no expanse in the way of entertainment. Prince Leopold of Bavaria, temporarily in rMid -nee in an ancient Russian castle, presided at various little banquets, with j General Hoffmann. First came the Ausi trian and Russian delegations, Count CzerI inn alter dinner making the acquaintance of the Bolshevik representatives. The : arrival of the Turkish, German, and Buij garian delegates was celebrated with a ! feast organised by Prince Leopold, and I the time was spent merrily in an atmo- | sphere of peace and plenty.

ho negotiations were, conducted in a r ' large barrack, formerly nn officers' club. ' , The room was carpeted and decorated L I with Cowers. The seances were inter- • Irupted at midday for lunch, presided over -I by General Hoffmann. At 7.30 the dele- !' gates knocked otf for the day, and Prince 1 i Leopold presided at dinner, which consisted of five courses, with cigars, wine, " I and liqueurs. Champagne was served by ' i Herman orderlies. The evenings were ' ! spent in a similar atmosphere of cordiality. I '1 here was no special Christmas banquet, I a'though later, as if to make up for the I omission, a concert was given by German ' ! artists, who tame from Berlin for the puri POM- | (hie or two interesting thumbnail por--1 : traits, principally of Russian delegates, flat- ' mgly drawn, have been produced. M. 1 ■ Joffe seems to ha\e an intelligent face and ' the air of a scholar. He has a b'ack beard. ' M. Kanieneff is elderly, fair, and mobile in 1 feature. He is a brother-in-law of M. t Trotzky, who is depicted in particularly glowing colours, of the characteristic '' great Russian' 1 type, with blue eyes and fair beard. M. Pokiovsky is a scholar by J vocation, history being his forte, but he is j also a man used to the ways and wiles of diplomacy. Mme. Yitskenko is between 40 and 45, dressed very simply. She does not look like a suffragette, and is credited j with some beauty, especially at emotional | moments. I Generally, from th« German point of view, the Russian delegate? were ener- ; getic, cultivated people of the world, exI perienced in diplomacy and debate.