The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-20
Petrograd Still Insists II 10 u
General European Peace 1t
10 Striving For
SEVERAL FACTORS
HURRY CENTRAL. POWERS
Austrian Peasants w ould Abol-
ish Nobility, and German
Socialists Fear Military Par
ty's Reviving Power

Amsterdam December Ie.-The for
eign ministers of the central empires
began at Brest-Litovsk today their ne
gotiations with Russian plenipoten-
tiaries for peace.
Petrograd leaders still insist 1t is
general European peace" they are
striving for. Not the slightest doubt is
entertained in responsible quarters In
the allied capitals. however. that Ber-
lin and Vienna are trying frantically
TO complete a separate deal with Rus
STA before the week is over, so that
they can present the Teuton peoples
with a diplomatic Christmas gift.
The central powers are not believed
to delude themselves for a moment
with the idea that the western allies
would even discuss peace az this stage
Foreign Minister Balfours statement
In the commons today. and sre news
from London that the allies are fgnor-
ting the Brest -Litovsk pourpariers. re-
moved all doubts on that score.
II developed today that one OF the
several factors urging DIR, Won Kuehi-
mann and Count Cxernin to redoubied
speed In driving home the bargain is
the Socialist confab now going on at
Stockholm. Philip echeidemann, the
German majority Socialist leader 10
there. and so is Or. Weltner. the Hun
garian Socialist spokesman. Dispatches
from the Swedish capital tell of q
strong fear fer the present Teuton So
eialists that q separate peace will
mean the death knel TO Socialism In
Germany and Austria Hungary. since
IL would return the sniiitarists to un~
disputed power. g---s--~~.ss
wans. to Line Up Socialists.
The story is making the rounds OF
diplomatic circles that Scheidsmann.
who Is persona grata with the Berlin
foreign once. left Berlin with a pledge
from his government that nothing
conclusive would be signed at Brest-
Litovsk until he. Scheidiemann, had
had reasonable. time" in which to en-
deavor to line UP the Socialists OF Eng
land and france for O movement to
force the governments Of those coun-
triss into a frame of mind susceptible
TO peace talk.
want Nobility ASciisne4.
Meanwhile news came from Aus
triR- Hungary today showing that the
Bolsheviki propaganda 10 beginning to
bear fruit Demands much like those
made hy the Mujika of Russia are
said to be made by the Austrian peas
ants They want nobility abolished
and the land of the mobiles distributed
80 them. the peasants A resolution
20 that effect already has been intro
duced in the reichstat by Czech
deputy, IT Is reported. II this is true,
tho Boisheviki are realising their
, fondest hope TO bring about social
revolution in other countries
The story of recent Hungarian
peace gathering attended by 10000
persons, was brought to Stockholm by
DR.. weltner. the Hungarian Socialist
leader. He declares the Hunsariana
| conssder separate psscs ''the greatest
possible danger to democracy.
| Meanwhile civil war goes on uncon-
fined In the interior Of Russia. The
latest big city to be struck by the nor.
| rors OF fratricidai slaughter Is Odeasa
/ the great Russian Black sea port
There the Bolsheviki are struK Cling Il
| retain control against the stir reaist.
ance OF the Ukrainians. Bitter street
| fshting IS reported. with machine .guni
| planted in windows ana on roofs. Boil
| sheviki forces also are reported march
/ ing on Kief.