The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-20

TrotSky declaring the peoples com
missaries have been forced 20 declare
their willingness TO sign the peace
dictated by the central powers. was
the basis OF considerable speculation
here
Would Evade Showdown.
This willingness might indicate a
disposition TO evade a definite show
down with Germany as long as pos
sibIe.
Trotsky, speaking before the cen
trail executive committee Of the So
Wet last Thursday, announced the
Germans at Brest-Litovsk reduced
the indemnity they asked OF Russia
from $4,000. 100000 to S1,5O0.OOo.o 900,
according to a PetroErad dispatch,
dated February Is, received today.
At the same time domestic condi-
The general belief. however, was
that the Bolsheviki are now willing
to make peace with Germany on any
terms.
Advices from Petrograd to this ef-
feet have caused suspicion in some
circles as to the whole course the
Bolsheviki regime has adopted since
Richolai Lenine and Leon Trotsky
same into control
Accusations Recalled.
When the BoIsheviki government
was first established there were ac-
cusations that the chief leaders were
pro-German. This was strengthened
when an armistice was effected on the
eastern front and peace negotiations
were begun at Brest Litovsk. When
the Bolsheviki ENJOYS rejected Ger
many's terms and announced they
would parley no further. hope stirred
in the entente nations that Lenine
and Trotsky, while visionary. were
not dupes OF the Kaiser. Within
twenty-four hours after the breaking
Of the armistice OF the eastern front
Germany announced the capture OF
two Russian fortresses, virtually
without opposition while Petrograd
announced the willingness of the Boil
sheviki government to accept Ger
many's peace terms. :.
lions in Russia are such as TO add to
the confusion. The area OF civil war
is evidently charging and sanguinary
battles are reported from various dis
tricts between Petrogrsd and the
Black sea.
Anarchy Rampant.
In many districts absolute anarchy
reigns, with bands engaged in guer-
rilla warfare without any fixed object
other than loot and rapine.
Germany has recognized the indie
pendence OF Finland and the Finnish
White Guard is engaged in warfare
against the Bolsheviki. Germany is
in a state OF war against Roumania,
and yet Roumsnia and the Bolshevik
are at war.
Roumania and Ckrainia are allies
ChavinE effected a treaty OF peace),
although Ukrainia and the Bolshiviki
are lighting each other. The whole
situation presents a picture OF chaos
and bloodshed that will probably re-
quire many weeks before a definite
outcome can be seen-even II then.
Germany's peace treaty with Rus
STA, II signed under the threat OF
arms, may not stand in the last
reckoning at the big peace table.
Some international authorities here
believed today that the allies and
America will insist that it IS not
binding-with its grab of the border
lands, and its reported indemnity Of
81, 900 900 900. in view of the fact that
# will be signed by Russia under
duress.
With German armies sweeping into
Russia against an unresisting and
hopelessly dlsorEanized people, the
Lenine-Trotsky announcement that
the Russians would sign the treaty
was regarded here as a step in self
protection. The fact that it will be
signed by a regime not even recog-
nized as a de facto government will
also have weight in the final de-
Examinations.