Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-27
RUSSIA Asked To WAIT
FOR HUN Pence REPLY
Germany Sets january Fl as Date
for Answer to Slay
Terms.
PEOPLE ARE DISAPPOINTED
kaiser's Subjects Had Been Prom
ised Agreement With BoIshevilii
for Christmas Present Tcutons
May Take Advantage of Time.

AAISTERD AM. December 26.-Nil-
heinnstrasse has asked Russia to wait
until January "A for Germany's reply
tc the Russian peace terms.
Tho peoples of tho Teutonic empires
bitterly disappointed because Christ
mas has not brought them the gift
that has been held before their visit
full eyes for many weeks now, peace
with Russia. are asked to contain
themselves in patience. ShrewdIy, a
date has been fixed we'll calculates
to stimulate hope anew, for January
"A is just three days before tho
kaiser's birthday. and that is the
greatest. most solemnly observed nom
religious holiday in the empire.
The Berlin Foreign office. political
observers pointed out Tonight, delays
the parleys with Russia because she
expects to gain in the interim a de-
cis!ve military victory over italy. That
accomplished. she hopes to be able to
dictate to the Bolsheviki, which she
cannot to-day.
In one quarter the theory was ad-
ranced tonight that tho delay has for
'ts object y gain OF time in which to
launch the much heralded drive in tho
west so as to put the western allies
into peace-seeking frame OF mind by
the time the Russo German conferences
are resumed.
In other circles kept informed about
the doinGs of the International Social
lists the delay was linked with the
mysterious visit of Philip Schcidemaun.
German majority Socialist leader, to
Stockholm.
WANT TO HUMBLE
nOLsHEVll<I LEADERS
While these and other factors arc
fully believed to have had their share
in deciding the request for postpone
mcnt. those whose business it is to
study notives rather than decisions
were strongly inclined to believe the
Guidin. logic OF the Berlin Foreign
Office is substantially this:
The Bolshcviki are too independent.
They must be humbled and made to
understand that we. not they, dictate
the terms. We need them. but as tools.
not as equals. Yielding one inch TO
them might be fatal to us. Delay can
only harm them, but may benefit us.
Therefore. We shall delay"
Meanwhile. the Germans have various
things to accomplish between now and
January "a. Here are some OF them:
She hopes to have done her share
toward gripping Russia completely az
n national and political entity; that Is,
to have Russia split UP into a prob
ably dozen or more separate states.
She hopes to have laid the founda-
tions for commercial and financial pene-
tration OF Russia with view to re-
constructing Russia. and at the same
time helping herself to Russian food
and Russian raw materials.
She hopes to have the eastern front
entirely stripped of Russians.
She hopes to have completed her pro-
gram involving the destiny OF the Bal
tic provinces and Poland.
She hopes TO have the bulk OF Teuton
prisoners in Russia released.
Swedish dispatches to-day spoke OF
a reoues. by Finland for recognition on
the part OF Germany Of Finnish inde-
pcndence. Diplomats have suspicion
that this request is similar TO that
which came from the Courland Diet
the other day in which that body ex-
pressed the wish for the closest pos
sltle rapprochement with Germany.