New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-24
Negotiations With Russia
Are Solemnly Begun
at Brest-Litovsk
Bolshevik Delegate
States Nations Terms
German Foreign Minister,
in Formal Appeal, Ex-
presses Hope for Success

ceived by way of Amsterdam, from
Brest- Litovsk, Russia, dated Saturday,
says:
To-day at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
the peace negotiations were begun at
a solemn sitting. The meeting was a.
tended by the following delegates:
"Germany-Dr. Richard Won Kuehl-
mann, Foreign Minister; Herr Won Ros-
enberg, Baron Won Hook, General Hof-
mann and Major Brinckmann.
Austria Hungary Count Czernin,
Foreign Minister; Herr Won Mercy,
Freiherr Won Wiser, Count Collerds,
Count 0saky. Field Marshal Won CHS
ceries, Lieutenant Polarny and Major
Won Gluise.
Observation-Disclosures Popof, former
Secretary Coseff, Postmaster General
StOyanovich, Colonel Gantjiff and Or.
Anastasoff.
"Turkey-Former Minister G. For
eign Affairs Nessimy Bey, Ambassador
Hakki, Under Foreign Secretary Hex
nit Bey and General Zekki Pacha.
"Russia-Jofe, Kamencf, Bibenko
Pokrosky. Karaghan, Lubinski, Welt
man, PavIowich, Admiral Altvater, Gen
eral Tumorro, Colonel Rokki, Colonel
Zeplett and Captain Lipsky.
Won kuehlmann Chairman
prince Leopold Of Bavaria, as COM
mander in chief OF the German forces
in the East. welcomed the delegates,
and invited Hakki Pacha, as the senior
delegate, to open the conference. Hakki
Pacha, after an expression of a desire
for satisfactory result, declared the
negotiations formally open, and pro-
posed Dr. Won Kuehlmann as the presid-
ing officer. The German Foreign Min
ister was unanimously elected chair
man"
The most important speech before
the delegates was made by DR.. Richard
Won Kuehlmann, the German Foreign
Minister He said:
The purpose OF this memorable
meeting is TO terminate the war be-
tween the Central Powers and Russia
and reestablish a state Of peace and
friendship. In view of the situation it
will be impossible in the course OF
these deliberations to prepare an in
strument Of peace elaborated IN its
smallest details. What have in mind
is to fix the most important principles
and conditions upon which peaceful
and neighborly intercourse, especially
in the cultural and economic sense, can
be speedily resumed and also TO decide
upon the best means Of healing the
wounds caused by the war.
Strikes Humanity Note
"Our negotiations will be guided by
the spirit of peaceable humanity and
mutual esteem, They must take into
account. on the one hand, what has be-
come historical in order that we may
not lose our footing on the firm ground
OF facts, but. on the other hand, they
must be inspired by the great and new
leading motive which has brought US
here together.
"lt is an auspicious circumstance
that the negotiations open within
sight Of that festival which for CEN
turies past has promised peace on
earth, good will to men. | enter upon
the negotiations with the desire that
our work may make speedy and pros
porous progress
The German Foreign Minister pro-
posed the following rules, which were
adopted:
Questions of precedence will be de-
cided according TO the alphabetical
list OF the represented powers.
Pleuary sittings will be presided
over oy the chief representative of
each Of the five powers in rotation.
The following languages may be
used in the debate--German, Bulgar-
ian, Russian and Turkish.
Questions interesting only part OF
the represented powers may be dis
cussed separately.
Oficial reports OF the proceedings
will be drafted jointly.
Russian States Terms
At Won Kuehlmann's suggestion, the
chief Russian delegate stated the chief
principles Of the Russian peace pro-
gramme in long speech, which coin
cided on the whole with the well known
resolutions of the Workmen's ard
Soldiers Deputies.
The Russian terms include: First, no
compulsory annexation OF territory
taken during the war and speedy evsc-
uation of such territory; second. that
political independence shall be restored
10 all nations deprived of independence
by the fortunes Of war; third, that ma
tional groups not independent before
the war shall decide by referendum
whether they shall become independent
or give their allegiance 10 some power.
fourth, where mixed nationalities oc-
cupy any territory the rights of the
minority shall be defended by a sep
arate law assuring educational freedom
and administrative autonomy, II posi-
BILE; fifth, no belligerent country shall
be required TO pay contributions, and
private persons shall be compensated
FOR losses incurred through the war
from special fund contributed by sll
the belligerents on proportional
basis. The same principles shall be sp-
plicable TO colonies as to the parent
countries.
The final clause of the terms PRO-
hibits the boyeotting Of one country by
.-xsI.. a. A.