The sun., 1917-12-03
PROTEST BY US.
MADE TO RUSSIA
Ambassador Francis. Follow
ing Allies, Objects to
Armistice Farley.
NEGOTIATIONS ARRANGED
Yesterday Named for Meeting
Between BOlshevik Repre-
sentative and TeutOns.

LONDON. Dec. a.-David r. Francis,
the American Ambassador at Petrograd.
has instructed Major Kerth, the Mill
tary Attache. TO enter a protest on the
part of the United States. similar to
that entered by the heads of the Entente
embassies TO Russia, TO the negotiations
for an armistice between Russia and
Germany. This information came to-
day in a despatch from Petrograd dated
Wednesday. The omission to Join the
protest entered by the other Allied Am.
bassadors was due to the fact that II
vas based upon the London agreement
! against a separate peace. to which the
United States was not a s!gnatory.
Ambassador Francis. however, has as
sumed the attitude that all aid that
America has extended to Russia and all
1 recommendations to that end by him,
I were made with the express understand
Ing, often reiterated. that Russia i'll
/ tended to continue in the war and that
therefore he believed himself justified. in
, the absence Of instructions from the
state Department at Washington, to
enter protest against the independent
action OF Russia in the matter of an
arnistice.
The .rerminology Of the protest en-
tered ~ Ma tor kerth Is believed to fol-
low the lines OF the Entente protest.
More details OF the report of the repre-
sentatives sent through the German lines
by Ensign krylcnko, the Bolshevik COM
ma nder in chief. 20 begin negotiations
for an armisticc were given out Ia Pc
trograd on Thursday. but have just
reached here. These details show that
the agreement 20 take up negotiations
was made on behalf of the German conf
mander In chief, II was agreed. accord
! ing tn the report, ;nnt the conference
! should be held to-day at the German
headquarters AT Brest-L.tovsk No de
tails Of the conference have been received
/ here The text of the report covering the
negotiations for the armistice as re-
ceived here follow,
How Negottntion> Were Conducted
I'VE crossed the line. preceded by 4
! trumpeter carrying IA white flag. Three
| hundred yards from the German entan-
! clements We were met by German OFF,
) GERS. Al o'clock, our eyes bl!ndfoded.
| we were conducted TO ba ttal lion stan
Of the German army. where We handed
over our written authorizatio tion from the
National Commissaries to two officers OF
the German General stan who had been
sent for the purpose.
The negotiations We're conducted in
: the French language, our proposal to
! carry on negotiations for an ar'nistice
! on all tn. froytS Of bciigcrent countries
in order later to make peace, was I'M
mediately handed over ~ the star of the
division. whence it was s"ut ty direct
! wire TO the STAFF commander Of the
! eastern front ana 10 tn. chief coiu-
mander of the German armies,
AT 6:2v o'cIock ~. were taken in a
motor car to the Minister'S house on
the road from DNinsii To ponsvyezil.
wherc we were received by divisional
Gen Won Uofmcister. who Informed ny
that our proposal mad been handed 10
tn, highest commander ana tina, re-
ply probahly would be received in
! twenty-four hours But at 1850 O'Clock
the first answer from the chief Of the
general command already had been re-
| ceived announcing agreement to our
| proposals and leaving the details OF the
next meeting to Gen. Won Hoffmeister
| and the Parliumentarians.
After an exchange OF opinion and
| further communication 10y wire from the
chief OF the general command at mid
night We were given ny Won Iioffmeister
a written answer to our proposal In
view OF the fact that ours was written
In Russian the answer was given In
German. The reply was:
Germany Ready tO Negotiate.
THE chief OF the German eastern
front is prepared 10 enter into negutia-
tions with the Russian chsf comma nd
The chief OF the German eastern front
Is authorized by the German commander
In chief 10 carry OH negotiations for an
armistice. The chief OF the Russian
armies is requested to appoint corn.
mission with written authority to be
sent TO the headquarters Of the com
mander OF the German eastern front
ON his side the German commander
likewise will name commission with
special authorization.
""The day and hour Of the meeting are
10 be fixed by the Russian commander IN
chief. It Is demanded that the German
commander be warned in due time to
prepare special train for the purpose
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