RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

DOWNFALL OF LENIN. ARMISTICE MAY PROVE ABORTIVE EVENTS MOVING WITH DRAMATIC SWIFTNESS. Reoeived Nov. 30, 10.45 p.m. London, Nov. 20. Events in Russia are moving with dramatic swiftness, and have taken another amazing turn. It is a coincidence that with the news of Germany's acceptance of Lenin's offer of an armistice there comes the announcement to-night of the downfall of Lenin's Government, and the possibility of it rendering the armistice abortive. Russia is now trying a third experiment for composing the Revolutionary Parliament. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that the Peasants' Conference meeting.a few days ago was split fnto a small anti-Bolshevik pro-war section, and a larger section of the Lefts, sharing Lenin's views. Lenin, last night, addressing the Lefts, antagonised them. The peasants and soldiers forming the majority of the audience interrupted frequently, and jeered at the reference to Krylenko's appointment as commander-in-chief. Lenin retired, not daring to put the resolution of confidence in the Government to the meeting. Then came the announcement that Germany had accepted the armistice proposal. A Bolshevik delegate moved to send a telegram of congratulations to Krylenko, but an uproarious discussion resulted in the defeat of the resolution. The Bolsheviks then walked out. It became apparent last night that the Bolsheviks wore not securing a sweeping majority at the Constituent Assembly election, even in Petrograd, which is the citadel of Bolshevikism. A coalition of the Bolsheviks with the other extremists thus became an urgent necessity, and negotiations proceeded on Wednesday and Thursday. In the meantime Tchernoff made a powerful bid for the leadership, and received a tuniultupus reception from the Left peasants.

_ .J BOLSHEVIKS DEFEATED. A COALITION GOVERNMENT FORMED. RAY OF HOPE FOR ALLIES. Received Nov, 30, 11 p.m. London, Nov. 30. M. Tchernoff concluded triumphantly, and the meeting was adjourning, when the chairman made the dramatic announcement that a Coalition Government, conssiting of Anti-Bolsheviks and Internationalists, had been agreed upon, the delegates representing the army, the trades unions, the All-Russian executive committee of Soviests and Left peasants. The conference then retired, in order to form a temporary Soviet Parliament, which will appoint committees to nmnage the Government departments. The chairmen of these committees will be the Cabinet.

It is difficult to foresee results, but it is obvious a new organ has arisen, and the government may slip out of the hands of the Bolsheviks,

CONFLICTING FORCES. AN APPEAL TO STOP ANARCHY. PROGRESS OF POLLING. Received Nov. 30, 5.5 p.ni London, Nov. 29. Tho Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent reports that main headquarters and those of the Roumanian, southern, and Caucasian fronts, refuse to recognise the Bolshevik Government, while on the west front some of the troops protest against the Bolshevik peace tactics, and others support the Bolshoviks. M. Krylenko has issued an order to stop fighting and fraternising on all fronts, and only to fire if the enemy fires. The observance of the truce terms by the Germans is conditional on complete cessation of hostilities by the Russians. Stanevitcb, who is the headquarters commissary, refuses to transmit Krylenko's orders to Dukhoin. Stanevitcb, in the name of the army, appeals to civilians to end the civil war and anarchy, and to supply the necessaries for the army at the front. Krylenko has abandoned his journey southward, and is returning to Petrograd. ; The result of the pollings in Petrograd for the Constituent Assembly show that the Bolsheviks and Cadets arc running neck and neck, the Cadets slightly leading, while the Social Revolutionaries are i far behind.

The treaty made hy the Allies with Italy was published to-day.