The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-28
PEACE WITHOUT
ANNEXAII0NS
Germans Also Against Paying In
IDENTITIES, Czernin Tells
Russians.
ASKS RETURN OF COLONIES
Teutons Will Not Bind Themselves to
Terms Without Guarantee Ina.
Russia's Allies WoL.d
Recognize Them.

nOSSid'S .AllieS WOL-lI
Recognize Them.
Petrograd Dec. 2S.-The central
powers are ready to make an imMe-
diate general peace without corpGl-
sorry anneXations and without contribu-
tons. This is their answer through
Count Czernin, the AustroHung2ria
foreign minister, made on Christmas
day at Brest-Litovsk to the Russian
proposals, which they are ready 10
accept in most particulars as the basis
of negotiations. They insist, however,
that the central powers canGot bind
themselves one-sidedly to such condi-
tions without a guarantee that the al
lies of Russia will recognize and fulfill
these conditions.
The Russian delegates asked for a
ten-day recess in the negotiations in
order to put the prennsal hnf"re Rms
sia's allies.
What Czerls sagS.
Count CZernin's ST ee1s Fellows:
''The delegations g. T3e G5aeG u
tonic) powers, actin asa chs la r
ly expressed will of fa.r is
and peoples, will co sso is
possible a general nea1g He & e.
cations, in complete a wita lie
repeatedly express -af Of
their governments, t l e5. r8~ ic
principles of the { Russian .ee n
can be made the bas sg 9.
'"The delegations aa saz.aEss e
alliance are agreed 5na eiT o
conclude a general ls4e r
chile annexationS aaa 5.
Repudiste g
1.-THE statement O. #taa l.
tonic) governments ia aEe lld d
statements have EN- G1 I'D
again that for the tasgo6s st
they will not prolonG aa @ s.uale
day. The governme- aI ae lies
unswervingly have fra his y-ew
all the time.
''They solemnly de aie le re
Immediately to Sigr e'ru II pet re
which will stop this e rs
sian terms, equally j .ls r
ents without eXceptif
SIT is necessary, however, to indicate
most clearly that the proposals Of the
Russian delegation could be realized
only in case all the powers particiBat-
ing In the war obligate themselves
scrupulously to adhere to the terms in
common with all peoples.
'The powers of the quadruple alli-
ance now negotiating with Russia can
not, of course. one-sidedly bind them
selves to such terms, not having the
guarantee that Russia's allies will rec
ognize and carry out these terms hon
,estly without reservation with regard
to the quadruple alliance.
What Teutons Propose.
"Startirg upon these principles, and
regarding the six clauses proposed by
the Russian delegation as a basis of
negotiations, the following must be
stated:
"Clause I-Forcible annexations of
territories seized during the war does
not enter into the intentions of the
allied powers. About troops now oc-
cupying seized territories it must be
stipulated in the peace treaty, if there
is no agreement before regarding the
evacuation of these places.
CLAUSE 2-It is not the intention of
the allies to deprive the political inde-
pendence of those nations which lost
1t during the war.
CLAUSE 3-The question of subiec-
ton to that or the other country of
those nationalitieS which have not DO-
litical independence cannot, in the
opinion of the powers of the quadruple
alliance, be solved internationally. In
this case it must be solved by each
government, together with its peoples,
in a manner established by the consti-
tuition.
CLAUSE 4-Likewise, in accordance
with the declarations of statesmen of
the quadruple alliance, the protection
of the rights of minOrities constitutes
an essential component part of the con-
stitutionaI rights Of peoples to self
determination The allied govern
ments also gNlnt validity to this prin-
ciple everywhere, in so far as it is
practically realiZable.
CLAUSE 6-Of tAe four allied pow
ers Germany alone possesses colonies.
On the part of the German delegation,
in full accord with the Russian pro-
posals regarding that, the following is
declared:
"The return of colonial territories
forcibly seized during the war consti-
tutes an essential part of German de-
mands, which Germany cannot re-
nounce under any circumstances Like
wise, the Russian demand for immedi-
ate evacuation of territories occupied
BIZ an adversary conforms to German
intentions. Having in view the ma
ture of the colonial territories of Ger
many. the realization of the RIGHT. OF