Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-20
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD.

The great interallied war conference
opened in Paris on Thursday and the
world is Justified in expecting momen-
'tous results from it, though they may
not be Immediately evident.
Aside from the question of unified
control of the war, one of the most
important matters considered by the
conference, of course, was the Russian
situation. This was rapidly moving
to a climax, for during the week the
representatives of the bolsheviki gov
ernment crossed over to the German
side and made their proposition of an
armistice on all fronts of the belliger-
ent countries. Since this plan coin
cldes with Germany's desires and
doubtless was inspired by her, the
German authorities accepted the sug-
gestion and set December for a con-
ference on the subject. Meanwhile
members of the German general staff
were in Petrograd advising Lenine and
'Trotzky.
The conference in Paris took under
consideration the issuance of a "rea-
soned statement for the guidance and
warning of the Russians as to the
serious results that are likely to fol-
low if separate peace is concluded"
to quote the conservative language of
Lord Robert Cecil. This means moth
ing less than that the Petrograd rad
lcals, and Russia If they are able to
impose their will on the country, will
be recognized as enemies of the allied
nations. The ambassadors Of the al
les and of the United States were
said to be waiting for the meeting Of
the Russian constituent assembly,
elections for which were held last
week though the results were not
known at the time Of writing.
Hope In Southeastern Russia.
There are growing indications that,
when the froth and spume of the pres
ent bolsheviki revolution In Russia
have blown away, the original revolu-
tionists of last March, men like Mil
.youkoff, who have brains and expert
ence as well as ideals, will come to
the surface again and regain control
that may save their distracted coun-
try from the talons of the Prussian
eagle.
The beginning Of the end for Lenine
was reported to have come on Friday,
when, according to dispatches from
PetrOgrad his cabinet was succeeded
by coalition ministry Of advanced
Socialists and other factions, with the
Bolsheviki in the minority
Despite the fact that the second and
fifth armies last week gave their ad-
herence to the Bolshevild govern
ment," Lenine and TrOtzky have
shown no slightest evidence of
their ability to rule Russia, and
whether or not they be knowingly
agents Of Germany, their actions are
all for the benefit of the central pow
ers. If the armistice they ask for
were followed by the kind Of peace
they advocate, Russia would lie open
to Germany as a ripe field for merci-
less exploitation and the Germans
would gain infinitely more than they
possibly would lose in western Eu-
rope.
The hopefulness in the situation lies
far away from Petrograd. A great or
sganlzation known as the Southeastern
union has been formed, embracing the
Don territory, most of Little Russia,
the lower Volga region and Turkestan.
This is the great grain-growlng part of
Russia, the territory that feeds the
rest, and steps are being taken to add
to the union the corn-producing part
of Siberia. In all this territory, rough
Iy speaking, General Kaledlnes, het-
man of the Cossacks, is In control, and
he. in turn, Is controlled by leaders