Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-19
\ Russian Political Leader
Says His Country Is Ready
For War Lasting Two. Years

Rome, April 1S.-Vla Paris, April
19-121O A. M.-The Sunday Messa-
gero publishes today a long interview
had in Petrograd by it's correspond
ents with Prof. Paul N. Milukoff, lead
err Of the Constitutionalist Democratic
party in the Russian Duma. Prof.
Milukoff said Russia was ready to
fight for one year. or two years, If
necessary. The momentary success
of the Germans did not disturb Rus
sia's patience, as the. people knew
that this was a war of resistance ana
wearing down and that time was the
Nest ally of Russia.
1.-The Russian program, Prof. Milu-
koff continued, was liberty in the
Black Sea with the possession. OF the
straits leading from it, evidently i'm
plying that Russia purposed to occu-
py Constantinople in the event Of the
success of the Allies. A written
agreement in this sense, Milukoff said
already had been concluded between
Great Britain, France. and Russia. He
was not sure whether this agreement
included the islands of TenedOs and
Imbros, which, according to the con-
ference of London in 1913, it was de-
cided should belong to the power in
possession Of the straits.
Protection in Turkey 1.
NJ Milukoff said the many internation-
al interested centers in Constantinople
would be protected by Russia. An inter
~,
question of the Ottoman public debt.
International commerce through the
straits would be guaranteed even during
war. The six vlayets comprising Ar
menia would become autonomous, under
the suseranty of Russia Some persons
were advocating that Gilicia the ancient
division Of Asia Minor, bordering on the
Mediterranean and now belonging to
the Turkish vilayet of Adana, be added
to Armenia, thus giving Armenia an
opening on the Mediterranean with ports
at Elxauretta. M;lukoff expressed the
firm belief that the present war would
be the end Of Turkey and would result in
the dismemberment of Austria. Greece,
he said, perhaps would have Smyrna
with the little hinterand inhabited by
the Greeks. and besides the coast of Asia
Minor facins Mitylene and Chios. An
Other great Islamitic Empire was prob
able under British rule, going from
Egypt to India with the latter country
the seat of the caliphate.
The principle of nationalit, NJ. Milukoff
continued would be strictly enforced at
the end of the war concerning Austria.
Thus lie said Serbia would have Bosnia
and Herzegovina with the Dalmatian
coast south of the Narenta river Crota
would be independant with the Dalma-
tan coast north of the Narenta river
and bohemia also independent while old
Rumania territory would be added to
Rumania.
Galcia he said would be annexed by
Russia to form part of Poland, which
would become autonomous, without dis
cussion at the peace conference, because.
he said, the Polish nation was Russia s
internal question. Russia, he added, also
would grant equal rights to the Jews,
although this step was much opposed. es-
pecially by the military party.
Bulgaria. to Join
NJ. Milukoff said he thought Bulgaria
would join the Allies after having re-
ceived the same amount of money as
the loan she had contracted in Germany.
Russia, he declared. had offered to Bull
garia that part of Macedonia which, ac-
cording to the Serb-Bulgarian treaty of
1912, was assigned to her, and also the
territory occupied by the Bulgarians liz
Greek Macedonia, like Kastoria, vodena
and Filornia.
The Bulgarians, according to NJ Miluk-
off. had asked in addition for the dis
tricts Of Uskup and Kumanovo. The
agreement between Bulgaria and Ruma-
MIA. he said. was perfect on the basis of
the protocol signed in Petrograd. under
which Rumania will return to Bulgaria
the territory taken after the second
Balkan war, while because she had re-
manned neutral the Triple Entente al
ready had guaranteed to Bulgaria that
they would reconquer Adrianople and ex-
tend her frontier to the Enos- Midia line.
If Italy should joint the Allies, Miluk-
off said. she would have, If the Allies
were victorious. Trent. Trieste and Pola
and in addition q share in Asia Minor.