Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1918 — RUSSIANS SCORN GERMAN PEACE [ARTICLE]

RUSSIANS SCORN GERMAN PEACE

Slavs Will Resume Fight If Necessary to Free Poles? BOLSHEVIKI BACK TROTZKY Kaiser’s Intention to Hold Territory Leads to Drastic Action by Radical Bodies —Teuton Mask is Off. London, .bin. 4.—A dispatch to tlie Daily Mail from Petrograd, dated Wednesday, says the Russians have made counter-proposals to the Teutonic allies which embody the immediate evacuation of occupied territory pending a referendum, the evacuated districts to be governed by locally elected representatives of the people, who are to be assisted by the local militia. Petrograd, Jan. 4.—The bolshevik! foreign minister, Leon Trotzky, declared that the government of the Russian workers would not consent to the German peace proposals. M. Trotzky’s declaration was made before the central committee of the council of workmen’s and soldiers’ delegates, during an address in which he denounced in scathing terms “Germany’s hypocritical peace proposal.’ Asserting that the government of Russian workers would not consent to such conditions, he said that If the central powers did not agree to free disposal of the destiny of the Polish and Lettish nations, It would be urgently necessary to defend the Russian revolution. He said the needs .at the front would be satisfied, whatever efforts might lie necessary. Representatives from all the fronts who attended the meeting declared the troops would defend the revolution, but said bread ami boots were necessary. -r Fight Talk Resumed. The Russian peace delegation officially has suggested to. the central powers that the meeting place of the peace delegates be transferred to neutral Roll. The halt In the negotiations and indications of a German refusal to remove the conference to Stockholm have revived universal discussion in Petro- f grad of a resumption of fighting, with a greatly reduced army, probably 3,000,000 men. Even the most radical bolshevik! and the most ardent pence advocates have been aroused by the German position. They declare that a resumption of hostilities Is imminent and express the .belief that it is possible to organize and make effective a small army. Indications are that the German attitude Is harmonizing domestic differences and Is convincing Russians that they must fight to save their revolutionary principles.

Suggests Stockholm. Chairman Joffe of the Russian peace delegation sent tin official telegram to the chairman of the Austro-German, Bulgarian and Turkish delegations, saying the Russian republic deemed It necessary to conduct further peace negotiations on neutral soli and suggesting a transfer of the conference to Stockholm. The telegram declares that replies to the message are expected by Russia In Petrograd. Teuton Mask Off. Petrograd newspapers are unanimous In declaring that the Germans and Austrians have, after one week, thrown off the mask and made it .clear that the central powers do not want a’ real democratic peace.