The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-12-21
SEPARATE PEACE IF
BOLSHEV|K| RULE
Separate Peace Is In
evitable Resul; of
Bolsheviki Rule
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS AT
WASHINGTON DESPONDENT
Germany Fastening Negotiations
So That Peace Can Be Concluded
Before Fall of Lenine and
Trotzky.

Washington, Dec. ia separ-
ate peace between Russia and Ger
MANY is inevitable and nothing less
than a miracle will prevent its con-
summation unless Russia shakes her
self free from the stranglehold of
Bolsheviki, Russian officials predict
ed today.
"The effects of a separate peace
between Russia and Germany can
not be overestimated," Russian Of
fetal stated. "Once separate
peace has been signed, the action
will be irreparable. Germany real
ICES, this and will let no obstacle
stand in her way. She will even
make concessions which she has no
intention of keeping in order to fur
ther the criminal actions of the Boil
sheviki.
Officials forecast at the embassy
is that Germany and Austria will
comply with Trotzky's ''no annexa-
ton, no contribution and self-defin-
ition of boundaries" demands.
The Teuton foreign ministers,
probably will also agree not to use
any forces now on the Russian front
against the allies-because the Ger
mans no longer have formidable
force stationed there. What forces
formerly stationed along the Rus
sian front have not been transport
ed to other front, or replaced by
weaker units, have mostly been
withdrawn far enough from the line
to place them out of the jurisdiction
of the "joker" in Trotzky's peace
program.
y"Conclusion of a separate peace,
which now seems inevitable an
official said, twill be an irreparable
wrong to loyal Russia and her al
lies. Once separate peace articles
have been signed, Russia will be
permanently out Of the war. The
fact that such a peace agreement
will be illegal, having been consum-
mated by an irresponsible power,
will in no way mitigate its effective
ness.
Germany's Game.
That the BolsEeviki will continue
in power long enough to put over
their peace program is predicted by
Russian officials. Latest reports in
dicate that more than one-half of
Russia territorially and numerically
has repudiated the Maximalist regi-
me. At the present rate of disinte-
grafton, their downfall should come
within a month, it was stated, but
this will be too late.
"German's game is to sign a
separate peace before the downfall
comes," high Russian official said.
"The central powers will not push
their demands for contributions at
present because they know it will
be virtually impossible to collect.
It would make a separate peace
more difficult. Germany also can
afford to agree, in her hypocritical
way, to no annexations because Ii
,thunia, Poland, Courland and Fin
lands insistence upon autonomy will
make them easy victims for German
absorption after the war"
The Lenine-Trotzky threat Of ter
rorism to be instituted against their
opponents is no idle boast, officials
believe. IT has always taken an
iron hand to rule Russia, and the
Bolsheviki are not inclined to ig-
more Kerensky's experience. They
would inaugurate a reign of terror
ism as readily as they are now in
sisting upon separate peace. But,
in the bloody excuses which are
bound to come, Russia will again
regain her sense of political equili-
-roJsof