THE MAILED FIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17215, 18 January 1918, Page 5

THE MAILED FIST.

GERMAN AUTHORITIES

PERPLEXED.

EXTREME MEASURES

' ADVISED.

ROME, January 16. (Received Jan. 17, at 7.50 p.m.)

Swiss advices confirm the gravity of the difficulties at Berlin over the Brest-Litovsk proceedings. These negotiations have reached a deadlock, owing to the determination of the Russian delegates in demanding a constitution for Poland. Consultations at Berlin have raised the question of the necessity for a military demonstration in order to bring the Russian delegates to terms—even to the extent of threatening the occupation of Petrograd and Moscow.

GERMAN DISTORTION.

A BOLSHEVIK PROTEST.

Router's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, January 16. (Received Jan. 17, at 7.50 p.m.)

It is officially declared that the German version of the peace pourparlers distorts the- real meaning. Herr von Kuhlmann, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that tho German Government reserved to iteelf the right to delete everything tending to excite tho German masses.

ARREST OF RUMANIANS

EFFECTIVE ALLIED PROTEST.

RUSSIAN" ULTIMATUM TO RUMANIA

Beuter's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, January 16. (Received Jan. 17, at 7.50 ,p.m.)

Tho representatives of the Allies have strongly protested to Lenin against the arrest of the Rumanian Legation and demanded their release. The Rumanian Minister and a few other Rumanians were released on Tuesday afternoon. The Russian Government accuses Rumania of hostile acte against Russian troops, and also of arresting the committee of a Russian regiment and Austrian officers who were visiting the regiment. The Russian Government sent an ultimatum to Romania, demanding -their release and the punishment of the authorities concerned, and a guarantee against the repetition of such acts. Failing a reply with 24 hours, Russia will break off relations and take energetic military

THE EX-CZARINA.

SAID TO BE HOPELESSLY INSANE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, January 6. (Received Jan. 17, at 7.50 p.m.) German newspapers state that the exCzarina is hopelessly insane, and is confined in a sanatorium at Tobolsk.

BRITAIN AND THE BOLSHEVIKS. UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS. MR BALFOUR'S EXPLANATION. Ecuter's Telegrams. LONDON, January 16. (Received Jan. 17, at 7.50 p.m.) In the House of Commons, replying to a question regarding our attitude towards the Bolshevik Government, Mr Balfour said that Great Britain did not recognise the present Administration at as de facto or de jure the Government of the Russian people. He added: "We are carrying on the necessary business with that Administration in an ■unofficial manner through an agent attached to the Embassy. We are establishing similar official relations with M. Litvinoff, wliom the Bolsheviks have appointed Russian representative in London. These arrangements are irregular, but they are the best suited to the circumstances. We instructed the Consul-general at Helsingfars to enter into relations with the de facto authorities there."