Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-06
RUSS DETECT
EvASIvEIDEA
OF GERMANS
sparring for An Opening
In Negotiations Over
Arnistice.

Berlin, Dec. 9 (via London-)--
Suspension of hostiiities over the
whole Russian front for 10 days,
beginning at noon Friday. has been
arranged, the war office announce
ed today.
Petr0grad. Dec. ), via London,
Dec. g. british Admiralty per
Wireless Press. )-Representatiyes
OF Germany, Austria-Hungary,.
Turkey and Bulgaria. met the
Russian emissaries at Brest-Li-
t0ysk to discuss terms OF an ARM
istice.
The delegates of the central
powers informed the Russians
that they had power TO negotiate
only the conditions of an armis-
tice. which Russian official e0m-
municati0n calls an @eyasiye dec
larati0n."
The request of the Russian dele
gates that all the belligerents be ask
ed to take part in reaching an armis-
tice on all fronts was met by the en-
envy that 1t did not possess. such n9ws
<ers.
The Russians then presented a pro
feet for an armistice on all fronts, the
principal points of which were the
promise that the Austro-Germans
would not send forces from the east
ern front to other fronts and that the
Germans should retire from the is
lands around Moon sound.
Proposal for East Front.
The Russians were handed pro-
posal for an armistice on the eastern
front, which is now being examined by
the Russians. The official communi-
cation then says:
1.-THE enemy delegation declared
that our conditions for an armistiee
were unacceptable and expressed the
opinion that such demands could be
addressed only to conquered coun-
try. On the categorical statement by
our plenipetentiaries that they were
treating for an armistice on all fronts
with view to the conclusion of q
general democratic peace on the basis
established by the all-Russian con-
gress OF councils, the enemy delegates
again replied eyasively that they
could not consider the question in
such manner because they were au-
| thorized at present only to negotiate
with the Russian delegation in vie"
tof the absence of Russian allies IRON
| the conference.
| Scent German Evasion.
| "Our delegates again replied that
| their task consisted in drawing al
belligerent countries into negotiations
! for the purpose of securing a genera
peace. Having regard for the evasiyt
replies Of the enemy, our delegates
as already stated, submitted the en-
envy conditions for an armistice to oul
military experts for their criticism
from a purely military point Of view
and in order that they may indicate
] in what respect notifications are nee
/ essary in the interest of our army ant
navy from the Black sea to the Baltic
"The first point regarding the pro
posed enemy armistice was the dura
ton of the armistice, which was frs
indicated as fortnight, to begin Dec
is. After discussion, the German dele
gates expressed their readiness Il
agree TO q prolongation to % days
/ This term may automatically be pro
/ longed, provided there is no refusal
which must be made within sever
fdavs before the expiration of th'
arnistice. which is to begin Dec. 10 /
our delegation leaves Brest-Litovsl
tomorrow; but if 1t leaves later, th'
armistice will begin later.
Before the commencement OF TIL
official armistice it must be defnitel,
established that hostilities shall cease
Insist on a True Record.
From the beginning cur delegate
insisted on true record Of all ne
/ gotiatfons and their determination Il
publish them in their entirety. Tn
minutes and language of the session
are in Russian on our side and L
/ German for the German side. A spe
/ eiaI commission was appointed Z
i compare minutes after each session
We have requested that the next meet
ling of the plenipotentiaries be held O
j Russian territory and that there b
! an interval of seven days in the ne
! gotiations in order that our delegate
Imay return to Petrograd.
CJFpt 1t0nTFJES TFNSnRSHIp