The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-31
in the negotiations here.
Pact to Be Examined.

This provisional discussion was ter
minated on Friday, the basis OF an
agreement adopted being reached I'M
der the reservation that it was to be
examined by the governments repre-
sented by the delegates.
In respect to treaty relations, an un-
derstanding was arrived at regarding
the restoration of the situation as 1t
existed when the war began.
1t was provided that certain laws
adopted during the war shall be cam
celed and that those affected thereby
shall be restored to their previous
rights or indemnified.
The rules In regard to payment of
war costs and damage were defined In
greater detail. Provisions were made
concerning damages suffered by civil
ians outside the war area.
To Release Prisoners.
An agreement in principle was
reached regarding the reciprocal lib
GRAFTON and return to their homes of
war prisoners and interned civilians,
and also for the return OF captured
merchant vessels.
Speedy resumption of diplomatic and
consular relations is embraced in the
understanding. 1t is set forth that
there shall be immediate stoppage of
economic warfare, establishment of
commercial intercourse and the organ
lied exchange Of commodities.
A substantial understanding was ar
rived at on which the basis of economic
relations shall be settled permanently.
Regarding the question Of occupied
territory the Russians made the fol-
lowing proposal:
''1n full accord with the public
declarations of both the contracting
parties that they cherish no bellicose
plans and desire to conclude peace
without annexations, Russia will
withdraw her troops from all parts
Of Austria, Hungary, Turkey and
Persia occupied by her, while the
powers of quadruple alliance will
withdraw theirs from Poland.
Germanys Proposals
Germany proposed the following
form for the first articles of a prelim-
mary treaty which is to be concluded:
1. Russia and Germany are to de-
clare the state Of war at an end. Both
nations are to resolve to live tOgeth-
er in the future in peace and friend
ship Oh a condition of complete reci-
prOcity. Germany will be ready as
soon as peace is concluded with Rus
sia and the rehabilitation of the Rus
sian armies has been accomplished
to evacuate her present positions in
occupied Russian territory, insofar as
no different differences result from ar
ticle g.
2. The Russian government, hav-
Ing In accordance with It's principles
proclaimed for all peoples without ex-
ception, living within the Russian en-
pire, the right Of self-determination, in
Guiding complete separation, takes
cognizance Of the decisions expressing
the will of people demanding a full
state Of independence and separation
from the Russian empire for Poland,
Lithuania, Courland and portions of
Esthenia and LivOnia.
See Will of People.
The Russian government recognizes
that In the present circumstances these
manifestations must be regarded as an
expression of the will Of the people,
and is ready to draw conclusions there
from.
As IN those districts. to which the
foregoing sfipu1atfons apply the ques-
ton OF evacuation is not such AS pro-
vided for in article 1, a special com
mission shall discuss and fix the time
and other details in conformity and in
accordance with the Russian idea of
the necessary ratification by plebis-
cite on broad lines and without any
military pressure whatever of he al
ready existing proclamation of sepa-
ration.