Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-14
FEAR FOR RUSS|A'S
FUTURE INCREASED
Resignation of War Minister
May ForeshadoW Collapse
of Government.
INTRIGUE WEAKENS ARMY

The political situation in Russia is
demanding increasing attention and
causing, if possible, added concern
among all the allied nations. Under
the continued harassing course of the
radical elements in Petrograd the pro-
visiona1 government, which has held
Russia together at least in semblance
since the overthrow of the old regime,
now shows signs of breaking up.
The first gap in the government
ranks was created yesterday, when M.
Guchkoff, the minister of war and ma
rine, handed in his resignation. Goad-
ed by interference with the army and
navy to an extent which he declares
threatens 1.-The defense, the liberty and
even the existence of Russia he felt it
impossible to share longer the respon-
sibility for the grave sin being COM
mitted against the country"
simultaneously there comes from
Petrograd news of more encouraging
character in denial of report that
the council of workmen'S and soldiers
delegates was favoring an armistice.
On the contrary, it is declared, it has
never raised such question, and. IN
fact, is about to appeal to the men at
the front not to fraternize with the
enemy, and pointing out to them the
inadyisa bility of a separate peace.
Russia's Existence Menaced.
By the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, May IA. via London.
1898 p.m.-Gen. Guchkoff, minister of
war, has resigned.
In announcing his resignation at yes
terday's meeting of the congress of
delegates from the front, NJ. Guchkoff
read the following letter, sent by him
to Premier Lvoff:
"In view of the condition in which
the power of the government has been
placed, especially the authority of the
minister of war, in relation to the army
and the navy, a condition which am
powerless to alter, and which threatens
to have consequences fatal to the de-
fense, the liberty and even the exist
ence of Russia. I can no longer exercise
the functions of minister of war and
marine and share responsibility for the
grave sin being committed against the
country"
Gen. Korniloff. commander of the
Petrograd garrison, resigned yesterday.
The general explained to an interview
er that his resignation was due to an
impossible position arising from the
efforts of various organizations to con-
troll the garrison, and added: We'll,
then, let them take the responsibility"
Call for Armistice Denied.
The semi-official news agency today
gave out the following:
"The report that the council of work.
mems and soldiers delegates has called
for an armistice is denied. The ques-
ton of an armistice has never been
raised by the council, which on the con-
trary is engaged at present in drafting
an appeal to the soldiers at the front
pointing out the inadvisability of a
separate peace or of fraternizing with
the enemy"
Addressing congress of delegates of
the field army. Minshiviki Tseretelli,
member of the council of workmen's
and soldiers delegates. declared that
the German and Austrian proletariat
had not yet emerged from the state of
Chauvinistic intoxication into which
they had been plunged by DR.. Won Beth-
mann Hollweg. the imperial German
chancellor. and the imperialist bour-
geoisie.
LAS long as the German proletariat
marches with Emperor William" said
the speaker, "our position is clear
Should we now stretch fraternal hand
toward the peoples of central Europe to
conclude a separate peace, it would be
an eternal shame which would lead in
evitably to the downfall and annihila-
ton of Russia"
u ryov PaipC nemora Jfzed