THE ARMISTICE CONFERENCE

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18468, 7 December 1917, Page 3

THE ARMISTICE CONFERENCE

ABORTIVE PROCEEDINGS INCONCLUSIVE' RESULTS. LONDON, -December 6 A Russian official report says: The armistice conference opened on December 5 in the presence of inilitaa'yi a^'esemitotives of Germany, Aaitstjrjja., Hungary,. Turkey, and Bulgaria. Our delegates made a declaration of thedr peace aims. . ■ Tble (e|neany >Me|gatei3 represented that it was a question for ■ politicians. They,. .«Ls soldiers, were empowered ■only to negotiate an aiinistice. They could add nothing to the declarations of Count* Czernin or Dr. Kuehlmann. . I Our delegates, taking note of this •evasive dec||.aa.-ation, proposed immediately addressing, to all tie belli-' 1 gierents and States unrepresented.at the conference a further proposal, for a general- armistice. r The enemy replied ■wa^ivefy that; they- possessed tjo such powers. ;. . I We proposled that they isihouid laisk their Goyemmjemtis fior authority. . • ' 1

This was accepted, but the reply so far ha® not been communicated. We proposed an' aMndsbice on all fronts and the retirement of the Germans from the Moon. Islands. The enemy delegation proposed an armistice from the Baltic to the Black Sea. i Our military experts are now examiningl this proposal, and .negotiations have been adjourned till to- 1 morrow. I The enemy, in rejecting our ( armistice, said that such demands could only be addressed to a conquered! country. Our delegates replied' that they were aiming at a general .democratic • peace on the basis established by i tike panrßussian Congress of Soviets. The enemy again evasively ieplM thatl they were authorised only to negotiate with Russia.. I In view of the absence of the latter'f Allies we replied that we wished 1 to ' draw'al jtpie bel%erenta together and negotiate for a general peace. | The Germans agreed to a prolongation of the armistice to twcmtyeight days, beginning with December 10.—Admiralty per Wifeless.

' The Bulgarian Minister has Tasked , the State Department to transmit. ! President Wilson's statement d&rect' 1 to Bulgaria. He believes there is a ■ email chance of the United States? j 1 •brejaiking with, Bulgaria!—^A. and ; N.Z. Cable.