Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-31
NEGOTIATE PEACE
ON PRE-WAR BASIS
Germans and Russians Reach
Provisional Agreement on
Important Points.
BEGIN COMMERCE AT ONCE
Evacuation of Occupied Terri
tory Provided With Indemni-
ties for War Losses.
BEGIN COMMERCE AT ONCE


EnEST LlTcySN. Friday. l,cccnl5c: Il
IS Cvsa Berlin and London. December
DISTRIBUTIONS agreement on Sc
rics &C important points, including Nb-
Grafton Of war prisoners and rcsuinp-
ton of commercial rotations, was re
STA and the central powers in discus
sion Of isaucs which. in the event o:
a general peace, would have 20 be set !
tied among the nations represented i" |
the negotiations ncrc. This provisional (
discussion was terminated to-day, the !.
basis OF an agreement adopted being |
reached under tho reservation that IL i
was 10 be examined b. the govern =,
nlcnts represented by tho delegates.
In respect OF treaty relations. Al un-
Outstanding was arrived 1t regarding
! the restoration OF tho situation as il
existed when TIC war began.
/ 1t was provided that certain laws
I adopted during the war shall l." can
| cclcd, and that those affected thereby
4 shall be restored Ia their previous
I rights or Undermined.
+ The rules in regard to payment o.
! war costs and damage We're defined in
ucinil. iFpNlSlcHS were Illit.S
concerning damages sustained by civil
ians outside the war area.
IN agreement in principle was reach
cd regarding the reciprocal liberation
and return TO their homes of war pris-
oncra ard intcrucd civilians, and also
for tho return or captured merchant
vessels.
speedy resumption of diplomatic and
consular relations is embraced in the
understanding. i is ret forth .ha;
there shall he immediate stcprasc Of
economic warfare, establishment Of
commercial Intercourse and the organ
lied exchange Of commodities.
y substantial understanding was ar
rived al which the basis Of cco-
nomic relations shall he settled per-
!. mancntly.
DENY DESIRE FOR
IIoLDING TERRITORY
Regarding tho question Of occupied
territory the Russians made the follow
, ing proposal:
$ In fun accord with tho public de-
clarations OF both the contracting par
r tics that they cherish no hciiicosc pia rs
and desire 10 conclude peace without
anncXations. Russia will Withdraw her
troops from all parts OF Austria Hun :
gary, Turkey and Persia occupied ny
her, while tho powers OF the quadruplc
!. alliance Will withdraw theirs from Po-
land. In accordance with the princi-
pies OF the Russian government, which
has declared the right OF all peoples
. living in Russia to sc!f-detcrmination
Including even separation, the pcpula
. tions OF these districts will be given ar
: opportunity within the shortest pos
siblc period Of deciding entirely ano
freely the question of their union will
one or the other empire, or their for
nation into Independent states.
. I'm this connection tbs presence O
: any troops, apart from national or 10
cal militia. in the territories which arr
voting, shall not be permissible unit
q this question is decided. The govern
ment Of these regions will remain i,
the hands OF prcsentativcs OF the loca
populations. elected Economically
The date OF evacuation and other cir
cumstanccs and the commencement o
dcmibol!za;ion or the army are to b
: fixed by spccia! military committee.
~ Germany then proposed the follow
ing form for the first articles Of
preliminary treaty which is to he con
;. Guided:
NJ HUNS AND Si.ANS WILL
ID DECLARE WAR At EN-
i'll "First--Russa and Germany are I
lie declare the state of war At an enc
"a Both nations are resolved to live to
is cethcr in the future in peace an