RUSSIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145999, 4 December 1917, Page 3

RUSSIA.

GREAT ACTIVITY OF TROTSKY. I PEACE INTRIGUES CONTINUED. PETROGRAD, Dec. 3. Trotsky announces that if Tchitchtrin and Petroff, two Russian agitators, are detained any longer in a concentration camp in England, the Russian Government will take similar measures against Englishmen in Russia. It is understood in London that Tchitchtrin and Potroff are quite unimportant personages. They were interned for refusing to comply with the British regulations regarding recruiting Russian troops. Trotsky has appointed Tchitchtrin as British Ambassador.

The Cadets are polling heavily in the provinces. Ttotsky has dismissed M. Maklafoff, Ambassador to Paris, because ho attended the Allied conference.

Trotsky informed the Allied diplomats that Germany is prepared to negotiate for a democratic peace on all fronts.

Sir James Buchanan did not acknowledge the letter. Russian officers and soldiers in automobiles arrived at Czcrnovitz to take part in the conference with tho Austrian Commandcr-in-Chiof. Other Russians arrived in the German linos at Dvinsk and opened negotiations on behalf of General Krylenko. PARIS, Dec. 2. Lo Matin publishes a Copenhagen message stating that Sweden has agreed to become the peace mediator between Germany and the Bolsheviks. Tho paper adds: “It will be rcraarkabli if a neutral uses its good offices in carrying out a manoeuvre engineered by a combination of Lenin, Trotsky, and tho Kaiser’s agents.” COPENHAGEN, Dye. 2. The Russian Legation lias received Trotsky’s telegram asking whether it IT> prepared to carry out tho Workmen’s, Soldiers’, and Peasants’ Dolegates’ international policy. The Legation wired that the other Russian Legations were intimating they had no intention of answering a telegram emanating from usurpers and enemies of the Fatherland and traitors against the Allies. LONDON, Dec. 2.

Mr. Bourcbier, writing on the 30tll inst., says General Krylenko, in an army order announcing negotiations, ordered fraternisation on all fronts immediately, though vigilance should be observed regarding tho enemy. General Krylenko says the army is starving, being without boots or clothes, whilst horses are dying, tlie.ro being no transport, adding that soon they will have a general peace. Benin is replacing tho Militia with tho Red Guards. PARIS, Dec. 3. T/ie Russian troops in Franco and at Salonika have refused to recogniso the Leninist Government. Titov state that they remain in strict alliance with tho Allies. ENORMOUS INFLUENCE. OF LENIN AND HIS FRIENDS. (Received Doc. 4, 11.10 a.ra.) PARIS, Dec. 3. Tho Matin says that, in tho absence of the full terms of tho Russian peace offer, tho impudence of Lenin and his confreres was not fully realised. It now appears that they proposed ponco negotiations, not only in their own names, nut in tho names of France, England. Italy, America, Belgium, Serbia, Roumauia, Japan and China. REPORTED ATTACKS.

ON GENERALS’ HEADQUARTERS. (Received Dec. 4, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Doc. 3. A Potrograd telegram states that the Military Revolutibnary Committee has sent a force composed of the reserves of the famous Guards Regiments and several machine - gun detachments against the General Staff headquarters. The Daily Mail’s Petrograd correspondent says that M. Trotsky states that General Dukhonin’s headquarters are surrounded. 1 BUNCOMBE FROM TROTSKY. ABOUT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

(Received Doc. 4, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Deo. 3. Addressing the Soldiers’ and Workmen’s Council M. Trotsky declared that Austria had accepted Russia’s terms regarding no contributions and no annexations and the freedom of the nations to decide the future, but throughout the negotiations they would confront their enemies at the table with questions permitting no ambiguity. Every word spoken would be written and sent by wireless to all the peoples, who would be the judges of the negotiations. GERMAN ALLEGATIONS. AS TO LOCAL ARMISTICE. (Received Dec. 4, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. A German wireless official message says:— Several Russian divisions have agreed to a local armistice. The Russian army between the Pripet and southward or the Lipa and several general commands have decided on a truce and negotiations are proceeding. The Russian deputation which arranged the general armistice has arrived at the headquarters of Prince Leopold of Bavaria,

LONDON EMBASSY OFFICIALS,

AWAITING THE NEXT CHANGE. (Received Dec. 4, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. All representatives of tlie Russian Government in Britain have refused to recognise the Maximalists, but are carrying on their work until a duly elected Russian Government is formed. AN ARMISTICE CONCLUDED. (Received Dec. 4, 11.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 3. An armistice has been concluded between Russia and Germany.