Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-01
Present Slavic Provinces
Would Be Under Yoke OF
Teuton Domination.
SHOW OF MAGNANIMlTY
TOWARD RUSSIA HERSELF
Terms of Agreement With Lenlne
Hegime Forecast - Campaign of
ealumny Against Allies Planned.
By BAssETT DIGBY.

BY BASSETT DIGBN.
C.hlerram to The Evening star and
chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, December l.
Through neutral friend, who is closely
acquainted with German diplomats, 1 am
in "a position to forecast the terms of
the impending separate peace between
Russia and the central powers. 1t will
be ostensibly "no-annexation peace" on
which stress will be laid as a fraternal
concession to the soviet's appeal for no
annexation and no indemnities and as a
demonstration to the world of Germany S
unimperialistie aims
Germany. however, will gain valuable
ends by other means.
One of the Teuton plans is to make a
further bid for popularity with the
ignorant peasant masses by insisting
upon the granting of autonomy to the
kingdom of Poland as a buffer state.
which unofficially but Enthusiastically
win be dominated by Prussian infiu-
enee. Poland likely is to be given a
strip of territory reaching the sea at
Memel. Prussia.
Domination Desired.
Germany intends also to demand the
formation of the new autonomous
states Of Esthonia and Lithuania. but
win take care that in their case. as in
Poland's commercial treaties, the
Tehton will procure domination for
German trade.
It will demand that Finland shall be
allowed to decide her own fate. which
decision is certain to be for an autono.
nous republic.
My informant declares that no par
fisan commercial treaty will be in
fiicted on Russia and that this act of
alleged magnanimity will be much pa
raded.
He says that Germany relies upon
the proximity of Russian territory for
the immediate resumption of trade, and
coupling this-with q cazapaign Of sassss
der against the entente VIII speedily
regain its footho1d In the markets Of
Russia, bearing in mind the destitutfon
of the country and the necessity of
obtaining goods.
It is presumed that the Russians will
buy Immediately from the first comers
The merchants of Germany are con-
fdent that by means OF propaganda
carried on by their skilled statesmen
they will regain complete control of
the market before the end Of the war.
Loath to Free Prisoners.
The German government much re-
Hrets, my informant says, the ap-
parent necessity of releasing 1000, 900
Russian prisoners wh& are working in
Germany and whose places will not be
entirely filled by the Teutonic prisoners
in Siberia. numbering less than 1,750.-
o00- Germany, however. is eager to ex-
change officer prisoners, as these are
not working.
The German government even now Is
casting about to find some means of
OBTAINING the bulk of the Russian
prisoners 1t may prove a scheme by
which the bolsheviki demagogues will
visit the internment camps in Germany
and make speeches showing Germany S
ragnanimity and desire for peace and
the entente's hypocritical Imperialism.
They will then ask the prisoners to
volunteer to work as paid freemen in
return for good wages and guarantees
Of grants of lands from the sequester-
ed estates in Russia when they return
home after the war.