Evening star., 1918-01-16
ESCAPES
ASSASS|N'S FIRE
BoIshevik. Premier Target.
One of Party Wounded-Ru-
manian Minister Freed.
DIPLOMATS PROTEST WINS

| Inc peace NeXOtidtiOHS ~
Brest-Litovsk were resumed
Monday afternoon, according
to the Berlin Volks Zeitung.
By the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, January 16-An auto
mobile carrying Nikolai Lenine, the boil
shevik premier, it is reported, was fired
upon Monday night. Premier Lenine
| was not hurt.
| The attempt on the life of Premier
Lenine was made just outside the hall
in which he had been addressing 5000
of the red guard who were going to the
front. AS his automobile swung
through the crowd four shots flashed
! in the darkness. One Of the bullets
missed it's mark by only a few inches
and the other lodged in the hand Of a
Swedish socialist Who was in the auto
mobile. Scores of arrests were made.
Rumanians Are Freed.
NJ. Diamandi, the Rumanian minister,
and the members of his staff, were set
free by the bolshevik government
Tuesday afternoon. according to Reu-
ter dispatch sent out from Petrograd.
The diplomatic corps. headed by
David R. Francis, the American am
bassador. went to the Smolny Institute
at o'clock Monday afternoon to lay
before Premier Lenine protest against
the arrest and imprisonment Of NJ. Di-
amandi, the Rumanian minister, and
attaches of the Rumanian legation.
They had agreed to present to the boil
shevik leader the following demand,
signed by the representatives OF the
nations named:
"aThe undersigned diplomatic missions
of all the nations represented in Rus
sia-as follows. the United States, ia
pan. France, Sweden. Norway, Switzer-
land, Denmark, Siam, China, Serbia.
Portugal. Argentina, Greece, Brazil.
Persia, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy
nant because of the arrest of NJ. Dia-
mandi. the Rumanian minister, and af-
firming the unanimity of their senti-
ment on the subject of the violation of
diplomatic Immunity, respected throug
out the ages by all governments. de-
mand the Immediate release of NJ Dia-
mandi and the other members of his
legation"
Arrested During Dihner Hour.
Minister Diamandi was arrested at
the Rumanian legation during the din
ner hour Sunday night. A group of red
guards. headed by an officer demanded
and received admittance to the Legal
uon, when they informed Diamandi that
he was under arrest. At the same time
they arrested Lieut.. Kray, attached to
the Rumanian military mission. The
prisoners were permitted to take with
them their personal attire. and they
were taken away, presumably to the
Fortress of st. Peter and st. Paul. At
midnight the red guard returned and
arrested Col. Pallada, head of the mill
tary mission, who was not present at
the time of the first arrests.
Though explanations of the arrests are
not obtainable officially it is reported that
NJ. Diamandf and the others were ac-
cused OF counter revolutionary plots in
connection. with the disarming of boil
shevik regiments on the Ukraine and Ru-
manian fronts.
Forty-Minute Conference.
The diplomats were met at the en-
trance by the premiers personal guard of
soldiers, workmen and sailors. They were
escorted to the premier's private room,
american Ambassador Francis in the lead.
Premier Lenine spoke to the diplomats in
French. The conference lasted forty min
utes and was carried on behind closed
DOORS The diplomats left the Smclny
Institute under the impression that moth
ing definite had been accomplished.
Premier Lenine is said to have explained
to the diplomatic corps that he realized
the Imprisonment Of NJ Diamandi was a
breach of International law. but declared
it was designed as protest against a
similar breach on the part Of Rumania
in arresting and disarming bolshevik
troops. Lenine told the diplomats that he
himself could not order the release of the
Rumanian minister. but would have to
refer the question to the council of peo-
PIES commissaries.
Ultimatum to Rumania,
The council of national commissioners
Monday sent an ultimatum to Rumania
demanding the release of the bolsheviki
arrested recently in that country. the pun
ishment of officials who ordered the dis
ar1ning Of Russian troops and a guaran-
tee for the future. A reply was demanded
within twenty-four hours. failing which,