The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-11-24
ARM|ST|CE is
'NOT move FOR
FINAL PEACE
BoIsheviki Claims in New
Report
OPPOSING AUTOCRACY
OPPOSING AUTOCRACY
Administration Is Puzzled To ceter
mine Status Of Russia In Peace
ParIeys.

In connection with the order to Gen.
Dukhonin, commander-in-chief of the
Russian army, to open negotiations
for an armistice with the enemy com
manders, the Associated Press today
interviewed Leon Trotzky the Bolshe-
Wiki foreign minister. Trotzky EN-
phatically declared that the soldiers
and workmen's government was
against separate peace with Ger
many. He voiced his conviction that
Russia's initiative in offering peace
will be supported by the proletariat
OF all countries. allied or belligerent,
which will make impossible contin-
uation OF the war, even if the govern
ments do not accept the offer.
What are the plants and inten-
iions OF your government the cor
respondent inquired.
The plans and intentions of the
government are outlined in the pro-
gram of the bolsheviki party, to
which the all-Russia congress of sol
diers' and workmen's delegates in
trusted the formation of soldiers
and workmen's government the
foreign minister answered.
First, there will be the immediate
publication of ali secret treaties and
the abolition of secret diplomacy
Second, an offer of an immediate
armistice on all fronts for the conclu-
sion OF d democratic peace.
Third, the transfer of all lands to
the peasants. ~ lg ~
Fourth, the establishment of state
control of Industries through the
medium Of organized workmen and
employees. the naturalization of the
most important branches of industry.
Fifth, the delivery of all authority
70 local soldiers and workmens depu-
ties
sixth, the convocation of con-
stituent assembly which will intro
duce its reform through the medium
OF the soldiers and workmen's depu-
ties, and not through the old bu-
reaucracy, on an appointed date
THE offer of an immediate peace
already has been made. . The de-
cree transferring the land to the
peasants has been issued. Power has
been assumed by the soldiers and
workmen's deputies in most of the
important places"
What will the government do IL
Russia's allies refuse to enter into ne
gotiations for peace" the correspon-
dent asked.
IF the allied governments do not
support the policy of a democratic
peace" Trotsky replied, the allied
peoples will support us against their
governments. Our international policy
Is calculated not for capitalistic di'
plomacy, but for the support OF the
working masses
Does the government think sep
arate peace with Germany is possible
in the existing circumstances"
we are against a separate peace
with Germany--we are for a uniyers
al peace with the European nations
What will the government do Il
Germany refuses to negotiate peace
will 1t continue the war;" was the
question.
We rely IN the German army anc
the working classes TO make con
tinuation Of the war impossible.
Trotzky replied IF, however, oul
frank and honest offers of peace NEE
no response, we would declare @ revo
lutionary war against Germans i'm
perialism, we would mobilize all oul
forces. coniiscate large food supplies
and prosecute the war as energetical
ly as we did the revolution But, W.
have every ground to think that Uu'
offer of peace will make impossib |
continuation of the war on al
fronts
What is the country's attitude to
ward the governmental changer
"All the .bourgeoisie is against us
The greater part of the intellectual
is against us or hesitating, awaitin
final outcome. The working clas
is wholly with us The army is wit
us. The peasants. with the exceptlo,
of exploiters,. are with u.s. The so
diers' and workmens government |
government OF workingmen, solt
iers and peasants against the capits
lists and land owners"