REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 25

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

ADJOURNED

PAX-GERMANS IN THE ASCENDANT. RUSSIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. FORCIBLY DISSOLVED. (By Cable.) THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Von Kuhlmann, German Foreign Minister, at the Brest-Litovsk peace negotiations with Russia, adopted the standpoint that portions of Russia were striving to dbtain separation, and were already qualified to conclude agreements with Germany. Trotsky replied that the present representatives' bodies could not prove that they spoke in the name of the entire people of Russia. Von Kuhlmann and Count Czernin, Premier of Austria-Hungary, intimated that they were willing to invite representatives of these sections to Brest-Litovsk. Trotsky replied that the territories concerned had no democratic representative bodies.

The Russian delegates then proposed strong conditions regarding the right of self-determination for these peoples.

Von Hoffmann protested that the Russians spoke as if they were the conquering party. The German Army Command refused to evacuate Courland, Lithuania, and the Gulf of Riga' islands. The negotiations were then adjourned. In the course of his reply to M. Trotsky and his co-delegates at the Brest-Litovsk Conference, von Hoffmann pointed out that the Russian delegates' demands for the rights of self-determination for occupied territories were for something which did not apply to their own country. The Government was founded purely on power, which ruthlessly suppressed all who thought differently from the authorities. Everyone holding different views from those in power was declared an outlaw. Von Hoffmann instanced the ■ Maximalist outrages upon the bourgeoisie and counter revolutionary people. No date has been fixed for the next meeting. A German message states that at the Brest-Litovsk negotiations on the 14th von Kuhlmann said the Russian proposals regarding the occupied regions were not acceptable, as they represented a one-sided Russian demand. Von Kuhlmann emphasised that peace with Russia-was not connected with a general peace, as the Central Powers were compelled to continue the war against their other enemies. Regarding the constitutional organisation of the newly-created Sates, von Kuhlmann quoted the United States Supreme Court decision that the United States sovereignty existed from the date of the Declaration of Independence, irrespective of Britain's recognition. Von Kuhlmann affirmed that' Austria and Germany did not intend to incorporate the occupied territories into their respective countries or to compel them to accept this or that form of State, but reserved a, free hand for the conclusion of treaties ; of every kind. He said it was impossible to withdraw their armies during .the war. Von Kuhlmann said the Central Powers were prepared to agree to the principle of a people's vote, but were opposed to a referendum, pointing out that Ukraine and Finland were created independent by resolutions of the National Assembly. An understanding between Russia and the Central Powers was impossible unless Russia saw the question from the Central Powers' side instead of formulating dictatorial, one-sided aims.

_ The Admiralty states that a wireless Russian report of the Brest-Litovsk conference states that von Kuhlmann indicated that Germany was willing to organise not later than a year after general peace had been declared an extensive consultation of the {>eoples of Poland, Lithuania, and Courand. for self-determination.

M. Trotsky urged that the date should depend upon peace on the eastern front and not upon a general peace. Von Kuhlmann, after several attempts at evasion, declared that Germany could not undertake any obligation to recall the army in occupation. _ A German report of separate negotiations between the Central Powers and the Ukrainians states that the results achieved justify the hope of a satisfactory conclusion.

The German report of the Brest-LitoVsk conference" says: A private meeting between Count Czernin and Ukrainians on the 16th of January settled in principle the future political- relations between the Central Po_w.ers and Ukraina. M. Trotsky at Monday's sitting of the Austro-German-Russian Commission took a note of von Kuhlmann's declaration that territorial negotiations rested exclusively on the political will of the German Government. M. Trotsky denied that his Government ha<T"outlawed anyone differing from it, and added: " When Rumania resorted to force on Russian territory against revolutionary soldiers and workmen, he and his fellow delegates recommended the Petrograd Government to arrest the Ambassador and his staff, and he was informed that this had been already done. Von Kuhlmann emphasised that Baron von Hertling had issued instructions regarding the whole field of foreign policy, and there was no divergence between von Kuhlmann's and von Hoffmann's conceptions. The fundamental difference between the Central Powers and the Russian delegation was that the Central Powers wished to see an orderly stat-e arising in those regions without a* break or violent transition. They were opposed to the idea of creating a vacuum and allowing the establishment of a State within the racuum. M. Trotsky denied that the withdrawal

of the army of occupation would creato a vacuum. The peoples of Poland, Lithuania, and Courland would in nowise find themselves in a difficult situation if the army were withdrawn. Finally, at von Kuhlmann'g instance, it was agreed to discuss the four Russian pornts seriatim. 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 the German Government reserved to itself the right to delete everything tending to excite the German masses. A Russian message states that M. Trotsky, in a proclamation, accuses the Germans of misrepresenting the BrestLitovsk proceedings with the intention of. misleading the German public. The Germans have erected 400 trading •booths on the Russian front. The Russian soldiers are so anxious to obtain playingcards that they readily barter their machine guns for a pack. THE GERMAN CRISIS. A Berlin wireless message states that the Kaiser has summoned von Kuhlmann, von Bulow (an ex-Chancellor), and Bernstorff to Berlin, also the German Ministers at The Hague, Berne, and _ Copenhagen, to consult them regarding impending Ministerial changes. The Berliner Tageblatt says that von Hertling, the Chancellor, is seriously ill, owing to overwork. The Morning Post announces the impending resignation of von Valentine, the Kaiser's Chief Civilian Secretary. Great political changes in the upper personnel are foreshadowed. Messages from Berlin indicate that the Military Party has gained the upper hand. It is semi-officially announced tha"t there is no change in the official decision on the Polish question. The Socialist paper Vorwarts says it is stated that the pan-Germans are trying to induce the Kaiser to consent to wholesale annexation in the east and west, which would involve the immediate resignation of Baron von Hertling and von Kuhlmann.

The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent says that events at Berlin and Brest-Litovsk show that the annexationists are complete masters of the situation. A mere hint of the fall of Hindenburg produced a flood of telegrams containing resolutions demanding a German peace from all over the empire. The Reichstag is helpless throughout the crisis, and has left the Government a free hand to deal with Russia.

Admiral von Tirpitz, speaking at Berlin, said: "We need only hold out in order to obtain a peace in accordance with our wishes. Hindenburg and Ludendorff will secure our interests in the west, a surrender of which would ruin Germany's political and economic future." Swiss advices confirm the gravity of the difficulties at Berlin over the Brest-Litovsk proceedings. These j negotiations have reached a deadlock, owing to the N 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.

Dr Dernbei'g, speaking at Frankfort, bitterly attacked the Pan-Germans. He ridiculed their demands for annexations and indemnities. There was not enough gold in the world, he declared, to pay the cost of the war. Germany had no power to compel payment of long-dated instalments' from England or America. The value of the mineral-producing districts of Longwy and Briey was £150,000,000, which amount was about the cost of the war for 25 days. The idea of taking the German colonies was equally illusory. Germany's capital outlay upon her colonies before the war produced only £5,000,000 a year, which was the cost of the war for one day, from 6 o'clock in the morning to 8 o'clock at night. A general disarmament wasi essential. The cost of the air-war alone was equal to the whole German Army Budget before the war, and the cost of armaments on the new scale would obviously be unbearable. RUSSIA'S ARMY. ( Official reports from Petrpgrad that the demobilised Russian officers have been ordered to report for service immediately is interpreted to mean that the Bolsheviks plan an armed demonstration against Germany. Five thousand volunteers for the new Socialist army have left for the front to protect the border. The populace were tremendously enthusiastic. A Russian appeal has been issued to the whole nation, -which says: " Immediate help is necessary. The army is perishing of famine; provisioning has ceased, and several regiments are without bread, and their horses are without fodder. Every citizen of Russia, do ycur duty and work." The appeal directs the Council of the Soviets to do everything necessary, even making work compulsory, to ensure the feeding of the armies. It says that the attempts by the railwaymen and others to capture military food will be severely punished. BOLSHEVIK DECREES. The Superior Council on National Property has drafted a decree cancelling all national loans issued by the Imperial and bourgeois Governments. Only short-term loans on the National Treasury are considered valid. An unconfirmed report is current of an unsuccessful attempt to shoot Lenin in Petrograd. 111-will between Lenin and T r °tsky is increasing daily. Owing to the shortage of clothes, in many cases thieves aro stripping wayfarers, who are compelled to wander naked in the snow-bound streets. The People's Commissaries for Food and Communications drew attention to the dis-

orders ..and excesses at railway stations by soldiers and others. They declare that the railways are in the mob's power, and this state of anarchy ha? disorganised the transport service, preventing supplies going to starving regions and the armies. They invite the couzicil to take drastic measures to establish order. The commissaries announce the stoppage of main-line passenger trains on numerous railways from January 20 to February 2, owing -to the urgency of transporting food to the/front and to Moscow and Petrograd. An All-Russian Conference of Railway Employees carried a resolution in favour of the formation of a Government responsible to the Constituent Assembly.

DISGRACEFUL ORGY. A crowd entered! the cellars of a distillery and drank freely. They then set fire to the building, and 200 were burned to death. THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. OMINOUS PREPARATIONS. According to the Petrograd correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, the Bolsheviks prepared l for the meeting of the Constituent Assembly by sailors setting up machine guns at the Taurida palace, where it-he meeting was to be held'; and by bringing Kronstadt the cruiser Aurora and several destroyers to guard the city. They prepared to confront the Assembly with an ultimatum that the supreme power belongs to ithe .Soviets and that the nationalisation of land and labour control which have been already enacted by the Bolsheviks must be confirmed. If the Social Revolutionaries will not accept the programme in toto a struggle tor power will commence. The correspondent of the Daily News added that during the past few days the Bolsheviks have dismissed all officials of the Ministry of . Finance, and decreed compulsory labour. Religion must not be taught in the schools. Four hours previous to the meeting of the Assembly a body of Maximalists attacked a procession of . a society for the defence of the Constituent Assembly, tearing down the banners. The first command to fire was followed by machinefun and rifle fire, and a number were illed, including M. Lojrvinoff, a member of the Executive Committee of the Peasants' Deputies. Many persons were wounded, including several women.

THE ASSEMBLY MEETS

FORCIBLY DISSOLVED

Official : Comrade Sverdlaw, president of the Central Committee of all the Soviets, opened the Constituent Assembly on Friday, 10th inst. There were popular manifestations in the streets, but the soldiers, sailors, and workmen did not participate in them, though they assisted the Red Guards to maintain order. Comrade Chernoff was elected President. M. Sverdlaw, in the name of the Council of the Soldiers, Workmen, and Peasants' Deputies, submitted a request that the Council's authority be recognised; also that all decrees issued by the Council of the People's Commissaries be recognised, pending a clear definition of the relations between the Assembly and the council. Subsequently the Bolsheviks and the Left Wing of the Socialist Revolutionaries withdrew from the Assembly. The sitting of the Constituent Assembly lasted all night. M. Tseretelli read a declaration by the minority Social Democrats demanding full power for the Constituent Assembly and the creation of a democratic republic, and proposing to erect a special instrument for regulating the existing truce, and offering to all the belligerents to commence negotiations on a general scale. This declaration further opposes the Bolsheviks' Socialistic and Utopian ideals. The Assembly voted by 237 to 146 against any immediate discussion of the Bolsheviks' declaration regarding peace, land reforms, and workmen's control. The Constituent Assembly was dissolved by the sailors at four o'clock in the ingTho allied and neutral diplomats were not invited .to the opening of the Constituent Assembly. No Cadet member appeared. Many people were killed or wounded at Moscow owing to the Red Guards firing on pro-Constituent Assembly demonstrators. CIVIL WAR. A despateh from Rostoff states that the Don station of Debaltzovo, on the Ekaterinoslav railway, thrice changed hands. The Cossacks, on Thursday night, 10th inst., learning by a despatch from Luganskaya that considerable Bolshevik reinforcements, with artillery, had left the station, took up a position near the railway, awaiting their own reinforcements from Tarnopol. Fighting was renewed on Friday morning, 11th inst., when the Bolsheviks advanced in the direction of Taganrog. During ErLday a strong force of Don, Terek, and Kuban Cossacks traversed Taganrog, going northwards. _ It is stated that General Kaledin is also going north. A despatch from Ufa states that Bolshevik artillery has arrived, and the town is in the hands of the Bolsneviks, who seized the banks and Government buildings. The Bolsheviks are sending considerable forces, with artillery. to_ Che'ia.binsk, where serious fighting is anticipated. A despateh from Kharkoff states that the Maximalists disarmed the Second Ukrainian Regiment after surrounding the barracks with armoured cars and machine guns, which opened fire, whereupon the Ukrainians surrendered, with 7000 rifles and 13 machine guns. Petrograd telegrams report that the newspapers publisn accounts of a pitched battle fought in the streets of Odessa between the Ukrainian troops and the Maximalist soldiers and sailors. The Ukrain--ians held the theatre and the Rada Buildl-

ing, and posted machine guns in the streets. The chief of the Red Guards was mortally wounded. The ships in the roadstead opened fire on the town. Accounts differ, and it is uncertain whether the Maximalists have taken the arsenal. The Bolshevik Commissioners have resolved to break off negotiations with the Ukrainian Rada, owing to the Rada's failure to reply to the question whether it would cease to support General Kaledin's followers. The commissioners declare that the Rada is solely responsible for the continuance of civil war. The Secretary of the Rada has telegraphed ordering all Ukrainian troops to be ready to defend the independence of Ukraina, and not to admit Russian troops into Ukraina. The Bolsheviks cla.im to have captured 1500 counter-revolutionary officers at Debalpavo. They also claim successes against the Ukrainians at Skrevskaja and Voroshba. Austro-German prisoners in Central Siberia are contemplating mischief. They are expected to attempt to enter China. Telegrams from Finland indicate that there is fear of a Socialist coup de main on Sunday, when the Socialist Russian soldiers will celebrate the independence of Finland. It is expected that they will precipitate a revolution similar to that of the Bolsheviks. Turkestan has proclaimed itself an autonomous republic allied to the Russian Republic. A Provisional' Government has been appointed. POSITION AT VLADIVOSTOCK. The United Press correspondent at Tokio reports iihat disorder is increasing at Vladivostock, and a battle between the Bolsheviks and the Cossacks is imminent. The Bolsheviks, aided by reinforcements, defeated the Cossacks at Irkutsk. Japanese newspapers give prominence to a lengthy conference betwen Ministers and the Emperor. It is officially announced that Japanese warships have been sent to Vladivostock. Japan does not desire to coerce Russia, but foreign lives and property must be protected. It is feared that serious trouble is brewing at Vladivostock. Ships are ready to remove the Japanese residents, and the* Anglo-American authorities are taking steps to protect their own subjects. The Japanese Embassy denies that Japanese troops liave landed at Vladivostock, and declares that. Japan does not entertain the least intention of intervening in the internal affairs of Russia. The State Department is advised that two Japanese cruisers, one British cruiser, and possibly one American cruiser are off Vladavostock, ready for any emergency. TROUBLE WITH RUMANIA. - The Bolsheviks have arrested thee members of the Rumanian Legation at Petrograd. The reason has not been disclosed. The Bolshevik arrest of the Rumanian Legation is supposed to be a reprisal for the arrest of Maximalist agitators at Jassy The 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 the 15th inst. The Russian Government accuses Rumania of hostile" acts against Russian troop , 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 Rumania, 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 measures. The Bolsheviks are threatening to arrest the Rumanian King Ferdinand, and the order for his arrest has been signed. M. Diamandi, Rumanian Minister, was attending a New Year's dinner when the police arrived. M. Diamandi was immediately taken to the fortress prison of St. Peter and St. Paul. No charge was formulated against him, but the real reason is that the Rumanians have thrown in their lot with the Southern Union. M. Diamandi is well known for his Socialistic sympathies. When secretary of the Rumanian Legation at Berlin, he was forced to resign owing to pressure brought by the German Government. Lenin regards the arrest and release of the Rumanian Minister as a triumph for the Bolsheviks, as it compelled neutral Ambassadors to recognise the Bolshevik Government. The Bolsheviks have sent a second ultimatum to Rumania demanding that the Russian army be allowed a free passage through Jassy. It is not known whether the army will be used against the Rumanians or the Ukrainians. Rumania's reply to the Bolshevik ultimatum denies the allegations. M. Lenin considers it satisfactory. A REMARKABLE PLOT. A remarkable plot has been revealed as a result of the Diamandi incident. Recently the Bolsheviks, without the slightest provocation, sent troops to Jassy under the leadership of Rakowsky, a reactionary Bulgarian, with instructions to arrest and murder Tcherbatcheff and seize the Ruma nian Royal family and members of the Government. Tcherbatcheff was forewarned, and cap tured and interned the ringleaders, who included Rochal, a student, the instigator of the Kronstadt naval mutiny. Tcherbatcheff then secured the co-operation of the Rumanian army, and the Rumanians disarmed 15,000 Bolshevik irregulars. The whole of the Rumanian divisions are now employed in chasing the Russian units who deserted from the front, and who are looting and burning Rumanian villages. The Rumanian .Royalties are remaining at Jassy, practically cut off from the outer world, and sharing their people's hardships. They have lived for months en-

tirely on tinned foods, with bread throe times a week. THE ROYAL FAMILY. German newspapers state that the exCzarina is hopelessly insane, and is confined in a sanatorium at Tobolsk. There is no confirmation of the frequently reported rumour that the ex-Czar and bis family have escaped from Siberia, but the Administration is inquiring into the report. Maxim Gorky's newspaper, New Life, states that von Kuhlmann asked Trotsky to allow the Czarina and several of the ex-Imperial Family who aro related to the Kaiser to go to Germany. Trotsky refused, and instead determined to orde* the trial of the Czar and the other Romanoffs. * DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS. , The Daily Chronicle's Stockholm corraBpondent has interviewed Sir Georga Buchanan, the British Ambassador to Russia, who said : 'The Bolshevik* have attained such a position that at present nobody can overthrow them. Their trump cards are peace and the general war weariness. They will remain in power until the Russian people learn that they cannot realise their promises. The Bolsheviks cannot be regarded as representative of the whole of Russia. South Russia is going her own way. "It is Impossible to foretell the results of the Brest-Litovsk negotiations. Trotsky seem 3 to be trying to establish a separata peace, but he is also carrying on a propaganda in the German eastern armies; and this propaganda has had some results. " Kaledin, Kerensky, and Korniloff aro awaiting a chance to bring about order in Russia, but no change can be expected in the country's external politics in the near future. Russia has finished her role as ail active Power in this war." 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 Petrograd as de facto or de jure the Government of the Russian people. He added: "We are carrying on the necessary business v with that Administration in an unofficial manner through an agent attached to the Embassy. We are establishing similar official relations with M. Litvinoff, whom the Bolsheviks have appointed Russian representative in London. These arrangements are irregular, but they are the besfc suited to the circumstances. We instructed the Consul-general at Helsingfoi'3 to enter into relations with the de facto authorities there."

In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law stated that he had arranged for the Treasury to take over the rights of British holders of Russian treasury bills maturing on the 28th in exchange for 3 per cent, exchequer bonds, at par, with a currency of 12 years.