The sun., 1917-06-01
GORKY EXPOSES
GERMAN PLOT
Russian Author Exposes At
tempt to Inveigle Him
Into Negotiations.

fETRoGRAD, May 81 tvia London FIJI
day).-Maxim Gorky publishes a sensa-
tional account OF an attempt by d.
Rizow. the Bulgarian Minister at Berlin.
to inveigle him into clandestine negotia-
tions for a separate peace. In the
Noc1ia ZhisN. oSHhich the Russian au-
thor is editor. he prints Rizows secret
despatch. occupying three columns. with
concrete peace proposals. and although
he himself Is an almost fanatical advo-
cate OF peace he denounces Rizow.
The peace proposal was delivered to
Maxim Gorky at Petrograd in duplicate
by two German agents acting individ-
ually. Rizow begins by proclaming that
already in January he had approached
the Russian Ministers at Stockholm and
Chrstiania with a proposal to conclude
IAN honorable peace" between Russia
and her foes. He received a rebuff
Immediately after the revolution
Rizow renewed his attempt with the
Russ an Minister at Christianla. who wa 9
an old acquaintance. and got through
the Minister a reply from Prof Paul
Miliukoff. then the Foreign Minister in
the temporary Government, that there
could be no question of o separate peace.
Accuses Ensisnd.
Notwithstanding his two repulses,
Rizow. Announcing himself as Russia 8
real friend, now approaches his ac-
Quaintance Maxim Gorky He attempts
to refute successfully the arguments Gus
tomarily used by the Russians and the
Allies against a separate peace. He
offers to guarantee that Germany and
Austria will not again undertake an Of
fensive against free Russia, and adds
that both Powers are willing to evacuate
the occupied territory without the ex-
penditure of another drop OF Russia n
blood. He declares that Germany and
Austria in no wise menace Russia's new
freedom He accuses England of being
the real militarist State, not Germany.
and declares that Russia has no moral
obligation to keep her treaty with the
Allies. because treaty breaking has been
common in the present war.
The provisional Government. adds
RizOw, must be forced to answer the
question, "who. after three years OF
massacre. gave you the right to continue
Sneuulne RUSSIAN DlOOuI"
Rizow thereupon makes the following
concrete proposal: Russia to conclude
an immediate armistice with her foes,
both belligerents retaining their pres
ent fronts. and to- summon Immediately
a Russian constituent assembly with the
aim OF deciding on peace or war"
Invited to Meetins.
This says Rizow, is the only means to
save the Russian revolution from disas-
ter. He invites Gorky to meet him at
Stockholm or some other Swedish town,
or. IL that IL impossible to send rep
resentative, who must be Russian of
| authority. He invites Gorky to ac-
knowledge the despatch and appoint a
meeting place by telegraph. and sug-
gests that he conceal his identity by
| signing the telegram with his Christian
name Alexei or by the name Max.
In his newspaper Maxim Gorky char
! acterizes Rizow's despatch as base and
! stupid" and declares that his only reply
will be Its publication
! The provisional Government to-day
approved the proposal OF temporary
Finance Minister Tereschtenko to raise
| 1000, ,000.000 rubles and take steps for
| securing for the treasury "the supply of
paper money which already has become
Indispensable, tle oiHciai news agency
announces. The Governments approval
of the measure was unanimous, IL is
stated.
The Government. or the proposal of
the Finnish Senate. has proclaimed the
complete or partial remission OF SEN
| tences pronounced on all Finnish citi-
zens for crimes or offences committed
prior to March 20. 1917.
The Government has also decreed re-
pressive measures against the abuse OF
| alcohol. Persons getting drunk or
drinking in excess in public places are
liable to eighteen months Imprisonment
Persons while drunk committing roo
| berries, acts OF violence or other offences
will be liable to penal servitude for six
| or eight years.