Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-31
ECONOMIC WAR
ENDS AT ONCE
CONTINUED from Page ~


T. (Continued from Page ~
Persia occupied by her, while the
powers of the Quadruple alliance will
withdraw theirs from Poland. In ac-
cordance with the principles of the
Russian government, which has de-
in Russia, to self-determination. in
Guiding even separation, the popula-
tons Of these districts will be given
an opportunity within the shortest
possible period Of deciding entirely
and freely the question Of their union
with one or the other empire. or their
formation into independent states.
NO TROOPS TO
BE ALLOWED.
"In this connection the presence of
any troops, apart from national or To-
cal militia, in the territories which
are voting shall not be permissible
until this question is decided. The
government of these regions will re-
of the local populations, elected DEM
ocratically. The date of evacuation
and other circumstances and the
commencement Of rehabilitation Of
the army is to be fixed by a special
military commission"
Germany then proposed the follow
ing form for the first articles of a
preliminary treaty which is to be con-
First, Russia and Germany are to
declare the state of war at an end.
Both nations are resolved to
live together in the future in peace
and friendship on condition of COM
plete reciprocity, Germany will be
ready as soon as peace is concluded
With p,,ccio o~1 Tho dom 1h}1i1 finn
of the Russian armies has been ac-
complished to. evacuate her present
positions in occupied German terri
tory. insofar as no different differences
result from article 2.
Second-The Russian government,
having in accordance with it's princi-
pies proclaimed for all peoples with
sian empire the right of self deter
mination. including complete separa-
tons takes cogniZance of the deci-
sions expressing the will of people
demanding a full state Of independ-
ence and separation from the Rus
sian empire, for Poland, Lithuania,
Courland and portions of Esthonia
and Livonia.
The Russian government recognize
es hat in the present circumstances
these manifestations must be regard
ed as an expression of the will of the
people and is ready to draw conclu-
sions therefrom. AS in those districts
to which the foregoing s%tipulations
apply, the question of evacuation is
not such as provided for in article /,
a special commission shall discuss
and fix the time and other details in
conformity and in accordance with
the Russian idea of the necessary
ratification by a plebiscite on broad
lines and without any military pres
sure whatever of the already existing
proclamation of separation.
The Austrian delegation made a
similar statement.
The Russian delegation tool cog
nizance of these statements and set
forth it's standpoint as follows:
REFERENDUM
TO BE TAKEN.
Our standpoint is that only such
manifestation of will can be regarded
as a de facto expression of the will of
the people as results from a free vote
in the districts in question. with the
complete absence of foreign troops
We therefore, propose. and must in
slst thereon, that a clearer and more
precise formulation of this point be
made. We consent, however. to the
appointment of a special commission
for the examination of technical CON
ditions for the realization of such
r~eferenduns and also for the fixing
OF a definite time for evacuation.
In view of the course which the
negotiations hitherto have taken. il
may be stated with satisfaction that
regarding settlement of the most i'm.
portant questions, the views of the
represented powers tally in man,
points. which regarding others theil
views approach each other to such ar
extent that hope for arriving at ar
agreement on the latter points is wei
founded" w.