Arizona republican., 1917-12-31

larations of both the contracting par ties that they cherish no bellicose plans and desire to conclude peace without annexations. Russia will with draw her troops from all parts of Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Persia occupied by her, while the powers of the Quadruple alliance will withdraw theirs from Poland. In accordance with the principles of the Russian government, which has declared the right of all peoples living in Russia to 1 self determination including even sep 1 aration, the populations of these dis tricts will be given an opportunity, within the shortest possible period, of deciding entirely and freely the ques- | tion of their union with one or the other empire, or their formation into | independent states.
 | Tn this connection the presence of any troops apart from national or To- | cal militia in the territories winch are voting shall not be permissible until the question is decided. The govern ment of these regions will remain in the hands of representatives of the local populations, elected democratic- ally. The date of evacuation and other | circumstances and the commencement of demobilization of the army is to be fixed by a special military commits l sion.''
 | Germany then proposed the follow ing form for the first articles of pre- liminary treaty which is to be con- cluded:
 l "First-Russia and Germany are to declare the state of war at an end. | Both nations are resolved to live to- gether in the future in peace and friendship on conditions of complete reciprocity. Germany will be ready as soon as peace is concluded with Russia and the demobilization of the Russian armies has been accomplished to evacuate her present positions in occupied Russian territory, insofar as no different differences result from Article 2.
 Second, the Russian government, having in accordance with it's princi- pies proclaimed for all peoples without exception living within the Russian empire the right of self determination, including complete separation, takes cognizance of the decisions expressing the will of the people demanding a full state of independence and separation from the Russian empire, for Poland Lithuania, Courlaud and portions of Esthania and Llvonia.
 The Russian government recog- | llIZeS tIldl III the present circumstances these manifestations must be regarded as an expression of the will of the people and is ready to draw conclu- sions therefrom. As in these districts to which the foregoing stipulations apply, the question of evacuation is not such as provided for in Article 1 a special commission shall discuss ant fix the time and other details in con- forni!y and ill accordance with tn, Russian idea Of the necessary pleb iscite on bread lines and without an, military pres sure whatever of tle al ready existing proclamation Of sep aration."'
 The Austrian delegation made !; similar statement.
 The Russian delegation took cog. nizance of these statements and SC forth it's standpoint as follows:
 "Our standpoint Is that only sucr manifestation of will can be regarded as a de facto expression of the will O the people as results from free vot' taken in the districts in question, witt the complete absence of foreign troops We therefore propose, and must insis thereon, that a clearer and more pre-
 else formulation of this point be made 1 We consent, however, to the appoint ment of a special commission for thu