The sun., 1918-02-20
RUSSIAN PACT IS
BOON TO ENEMY,
CAPITALS VIEW
Washington Says Russian
Peace Will Still Murmur.
ings Over Ukraine Deal.
TREATY OPEN RIO ATTACK
Made Under Duress and by
Representatives of Frac-
tiOn Of Nation.
TREATY OPEN RIO ATTACK
Special bespatch to TEE Sun.


WASHINGTON. Feb. l9.-Acceptance Of
0ermany's extortionate peace terms by
the Bolshevik leaders indicates q signal
triumph for autocratic militarism against
all obstacles and virtually grinds all the
so-called principles OF Russian democ-
Prussian war lords VINO threw. discretion
to the winds and resorted to their IA
vorite doctrine OF sheer force have been
rewarded. at least temporarily. beyond
their most sanyuine hopes
The effect on Germany's future war
programme and the Strengthening OF the
pam Germans Is evident in advance. The
ideals for which President Wilson and
Entente leaders are lighting admittedly
have been brushed aside ruthlossly as
irrelevant to Germany's plans.
Washington Not Surprised.
Officials here are not altogether sur
prised at the news. for they have plainly
realized that the German war party was
prepared to dominate strife torn Russia
at the point OF the sword and enforce its
own demands. ..
According to LsSn Trotzky. the Boil
shevik Foreifn Minister, the German
terms as outlined at the recent Brest-
Litovsk conference included the taking
Moon Island and other slices Of territory
and the payment OF an indemnity Of
$4,000. 100000
Presumably these terms. with other
concessions. have been agreed to by tho
Bolshevik leaders. who found them
selves faced with the alterna tive Of see
ing PvUeotAa ~AordEs march further into
Russia. take their spolls by brute force
and incidentally smash the power OF the
Bolshev!ki that attempted to oppose
them
Judgment is suspended here with re-
gard to the role played by the Bolshevik
leaders in the present case. 1t Is
realised that their acQuiescence In Ger
many's terms has been obtained under
duress and that they were asked to
agree TO the terms with the understand
ing that guns were ready to exact full
toll for refusal.
The fact that the Russians in their
present state OF disorganixation. long
for peace and have relied on the Boil
sheviki to obtain 1t for them doubtless
has had much to do with the speedy
decision OF Lenine and Trotzky to ca
pitulate before German threats. The
power OF the Bolshevik leaders has
been built to a certain extent on tho
prospects OF peace and it is assumed
here that both Lenine and Trotzky have
followed their present course primarily
to save themselves.
Peace Demand Irresistible.
An Irresistible demand by the great
masses Of the Russian people for peace
had brought about the downfall in turn
Of three successive Governments. that OF
Car Nicholas. that OF Prince Lvoff and
that Of Kerensky. Lenine and Trotzky.
according to the sofIlcial understanding
here. were fully aware that their regime
would share the same fate II they failed
to respond to the overwhelming demand
OF the public.
There was danger Of overthrow from
the more patriotic Russians through ac-
cepting degrading terms Of peace. but It
Is believed here that Lenine and Trotzky.
having carefully calculated the chances,
finally decided in the face Of the re-
newed German advance into Russian ter
ritory that their only hope Of maintain
ing control OF the Government lay In
complete submission to the German de-
mands.
Such a peace treaty as now may be
signed according to tho official view
here. must depend for Its vitality and
legality entirely upon the outcome Of
the great war. 1t being made under alb
solute compulsion and by what Is re-
garded as nothing more than a faction
Of the Russian people the Allies In q
peace conference would demand that It
be dlsregarded.
1t is fully expected that an effort will
be made to show that what the German
Reichstag meant in declaring against
indemnities We're punitive exadtions and