Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23

true Russian democracy. At least. the
prospects are that they will reveal the
wisdom in negotiating Tor peace that
they have in negotiating an armistice,
which IS little. Germany will gain
everything she hopes to gain in the
east. Germany has made 1t plain that
she consents to the policy of no an
nexations and indemnities lin prin-
cipie."s but whether or not she consents
"fn fact" and acts accordingly. remains
to be seen, but 1t is highly in1proba bic
that Germany ever will consent to re-
lease the tentacies which now grasp
greater portion of western Russia,
without first seeing to it that .!Isse re-
gtons will be Teutonic in fact if not in
name.
The very fact that Teutonic delegates
have demurred to the principle of self
definition of nations" one of the ideas
proposed by the bolsheviki, shows which
way the wind is blowing.
Should Germany sign a treaty with Rus
sla agreeing to every bolshevih principle
which she will
Would Germany not-is there rea-
Respect a Treaty. that such a naet
would be respected more than those
with Belgium and other nations?
The bolsheviki. had they the best in
terests of Russia at heart would not
so easily forget what the history of the
past four years has been, insofar as
Germanic respect for tho rights OF 9TH
ers is concerned. The blatant pro-
nunciamentos from Berlin that treaties
are only written to be torn up should
be sufficient warning. The fact Of the
matter Is the bolsheYikf leaders now
are accomplishing what they set out to
nj 70 Ton
Russia
While flirting with the Teuton the
bolsheviki has been forced to defend
himself through the means of civil war.
Throughout Russia conditions continue
exceedingly chaotic. The most striking
event OF recent weeks has been the a b.
solute revolt of Ukrainians against the
bolsheyikf The Ukrainians have been
a stumbling stone to the bolshevik OPP
erations against Gen. Kaledines, who
apparently has not been captured, as
announced some time ago by Petrograd.
The Don regions are growing stronger
marshaifng a force of huge proportions.
which Is to be hurled against the boil
sheviki at the opportune moment
Kaledines, who is known to be slow in
preparation. but powerful in execution.
is going about his effort painstakingly,
and as the days go by new units join
his forces.
The Ukrainian rada has absolutely
refused to heed the boishevik ultima
tum that boil
Ukraine Refuses shevik forces
to Heed Ultinatum. Ks1edtn :
should not be obstructed and that
Ukraine should not in anywise assist
the Cossack leader. Trotzky. in his I'LL
timatum, declared that unless the rada
abided by the ultimatum war would be
declared A state Of war already exists
and at Kiev there has been fighting and
the bolsheviki have been ousted. At
Odessa a battle between the rival fac
tions was raging at last reports.
Roston has been reoccupied by the
Cossacks, while Tcheliabinsk has been
seized by another Cossack army. In
the Don regions. in Kuban. Tersk, Oren-
burg. Yaltzk. Astrakhan. Siberia
Amour, translated Semiretchtnsk. En-
issey and Ussdutysk the Cossacks
show steadily increasing power and ac-
cording to reliable advices which have
been received in Washington they are
receiving the support Of a large pro-
portion Of the political parties not i'm
mediately identified with the bolshevi
XII.
The action Of the bolsheviki In ad-
journing the constituent assembly
through various coercive means direct
ed against the constitutional democI ats
and socialist revolutionaries opposed
to the radical principles Of Lenine and
his cohorts. has created great dissatis-
faction among the peasants Of the ma
ton who looked upon the constituent
assembly as the truly representative
organ Of the people which was to con-
Arm the distribution of lands.
Instead Of the constituent assembly
tnfy% ~ xrvf11 49, Aor~fa Arl~
Wiki by terrorist methods, are preventing
the voicing Of the will of the people and
notwithstanding their pronunciamentos
in regard to land and machinery distribu-
tion. the peasants see their ono hope 60
ing giimmering through the arbitrary acts
Of q political party which Ia not truly
representative Of the best interests OF
the nation.
Peasants have appealed 10 several milf
tary units. composed Of peasants, asking
these soldiers why they fight against the