Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-12-06
hteraI|ied War Conference in
Paris Opens With Russia
the Big Topic.
.LENINE DEALS WITH BocHEs
Germans Accept Bolsheviki Proposal
Of ArmIstice-siens of Collapse Of
Radical Government" - ltal-
= ian Crisis Considered Over
y Supreme War coun-
!. Gil for United States.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARp.

Ihe 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 climax, for during the week the
representatives of the bolsheviki gov
efnment crossed over TO the German
side and made their proposition of an
nrmistice on all fronts of the lJplligor.
ent countries. Since this plan coin
rides with Germany's desires and
doubtless WAS inspired by her, the
German authorities accepted the s,lg-
gestion and set December 9 for a con-
ference on the subject Meanwhic
members of the German general staff
were in Petrograd advising Leninc and
TrotZky.
The conference in Paris took under
consideration the, issuance of Il '.rc;l-
soned statement for the guidance and
warning of the Russians as to the
serious results that are likely to fol
low IT separate peace is concluded"
to quote the conservative language Of
Lord Robert Cecil. This means moth
ing less than that the Prtrograd 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
lies 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 Il control
that may save their distracted co,in-
try from the talons of the prussial
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 Bolsheviki 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
| less exploitation and the Germans
would gain infinitely more than they
| possibly would lose in western l1u-
rope.
The hopefulness in the situation lies
far away from Petrograd. A great or
ganization 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-growing part of
Russia, the territory that feeds the
rest, and steps are being taken to add
to the union the cOrn-prodlcing part
Of Siberia. In all this territory, rough
ly speaking, General Kaledines, het-
man Of the Cossacks, is In control, and
be, in turn, is controlled by leaders