The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
RUSSIA AGREES ID RESUME BUSINESS ELATIONS WITH CENTRAL POWERS Liberation of War Prisoners Another Provisional Agree
 ment Reached MORE DETAILS FROM PEACE CONFERENCE PUBLISHED TO WORLD Bolshevik Delegates Want Precise Understanding as to What Is to
 Be Done About Occupied
 Territory

&tlH London and Berlin, December 3O.) N Provisional agreement on n series of important points, including liberation of war prisoners and resumption of commercial relations was reported to- day by the delegates of Russia and the central powers in discussion of is- sues which In the event of n general peace, would have to be settled among the nations representa- in the negotia- lions here.
 The pro 5siOna1 discussion was ter minated today, the basis of an agrec- ment adopted being reached under the reservation that 1t was to be exam incd by the governments represented by the delegates.
 In respect of treaty relations an un- derstanding was arrived at regarding the restoration of the situation as it ex-. isted when the war began. It was provided that certain laws adopted during the war shall be can. celled ard that those affected thereby shall he restored to their previous rights or indemnified
 QUESTION OF WAR COSTS
 The rules in regard to payment of war
 
 detail. Provisions were made concern ing damages sustained by civilians out side the war area.
 An agreement in principle was reached regarding the reciprocal return to their homes Of war prisoners and interned civilians and also for the return of cap | tured merchant vessels.
 Speedy resumption of diplomatic and consular relations is embraced in the understanding. It is set forth that there shall be immediate stoppage of economic Farfarc, establishment of commercial in- Y tercatrsc and the organized exchange of commodities.
 substantial understanding was ar- rived it on which the basis of econcmic relations shall be sertled permanently. OCCUPIED TERRITORY Regarding the question of occupied 'Sterritory, the Russians made the fol- ! lowinL proposal.
 Tn fuii accord with tte public declar- ations Of both tae contracting parties that they cherish TO hellicose plans and desire to conclude iscace without annex alions, Russia WI w:rhd, aw her troops from all parts of Austria, Hungary. Tur- Key and Persia occupied by her, while the powers of the 1uadruple alliance vii. withdraw theirs rom Poland
 In dance with the principles of the government, which has ue- cls tght Of all peoples living in ! R. 2Lls self determination, including evenk Aparation, the ropula tons of these districts will be given an opportunity within tEe shortest possible period of deciding entirely and freely the ques- ton of their union with one or the other empire. or their formation into independ- ent states.
 ONLY LOCAL TROOPS
 Tn this connection the presence of any n oops, apart from national or local militia, il. the territories which are vot- ing shall not be permissible until this question is decided. The government of these regions will remain in the hands of Representatives of the local populations, elected de,nocratcally. The date of evac- uation and other circumstances and the commencement of demobilization of the army is to be fixed by a special military .comnlittee."
 { Germany then proposed the following form for the first articles of a preimi- InAry treaty which is to be concluded: First Russia and Germany are to de- clare the state of war at an end.
 PROMISE TO EVACUATE
 Both nations are resolved to live to- IEether in the future in peace and friendship on condition of complete i |reciprocity. Germany will be ready as Isoon as peace is concluded with Rms ! sia and the demobilization of the Rus ksian armies has been accomplished to evacuate her present positions in occu- pied Russian territory, in so far as no different infersnces result from arti- cle ?.
 Second, the Russian government, having in accordance with it's princi- ples proclaimed for all peoples with but exception living within the Rus