Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-12
RUSST0L0SE
N0CHANCET0
/. Make PEACE
Will Use Every Means to
Gain Aims-Parley Goes
On at Brest-Litovsk.

Amsterdam, Jan. lZ.-LeOn 1TOtZky,
the Bolsheviki foreign minister to the
conference at Brest-Litovsk yesterday,
said that in order not to leave any
possibility in the fight for peace I'M
utilized, the Russian delegation &C.
copied the demand that the negotia-
lions be continued at Brest-Litovsk.
The chairman of the Russian dele
CATION said that in full accord with
their former resolution the Russians
desired to continue the peace nego-
tiations, quite apart from the fact
whether or not the entente powers
participated.
Russ Stick To Own Peace.
Trotzky said he had noted the state
ment of the central powers that the
basis of general peace as formulated
in their declaration of Dec. Is was
null and void and added 1--WE adhere
to the principles of democratic peace
as proclaimed by u.s."
Referring to the objection raised by
the central powers that the transfer
of negotiations to Stockholm or some
other neutral point as requested by
Russia might enable the entente ma
lions to interfere, M. Trotzky said the
Bolsheviki government had been con-
sistent and Independent in its peace
policy, and that there was no reason
to assume entente diplomacy would be
able to oppose the conclusion of peace
more successfully on neutral soil
than in Petrograd.' NJ. Trotzky con-
sidered that the greater forces Of the
Russian people had been awakened
and developed by the revolution, Just
as the reformation Of the sixteenth
century and the revolution of the
eighteenth century had vitalized the
creative forces Of the German and
French peoples. He added: 1.-THE
Russian government, however. wrote
the word peace at the head of its pro-
gram. The great sympathies of the
Russian people for the peoples of the
allies strengthen the desire to attain
the speediest peace based on an un-
derstanding among the peoples.
Leave No Stone Unturned.
ITO remove from the quadruple alli-
ance a pretext for breaking off the
peace negotiations on technical
grounds, the Russian delegation &C
cepts the demand to remain in Brest-
LitOvsk in order not to leave unutil-
lied any possibility in the fight for
peace. In renouncing its proposal re-
garding the transfer Of negotiations to
n0ntroJ coil no Ill
proposes continuation Of the negotia-
tions."
Freedom Not Limited.
Regarding the protest made by Gen.
eral Hoffman, in the name of the
German chief command, against Rus
sian wireless message containing ap-
peals of a revolutionary character to
the German troops, H. Trotzky stated
that neither the conditions of the ar
mistice nor the character of the peace
negotiations limited freedom of the
press or speech.
Dealing with the declarations at the
previous session by DR.. Won Kuehl-
mann and by Count Czernin, Austro-
Hungarian foreign ministers, respect
ing the failure of Russia's allies to
participate in the negotiations which
vitiated the peace offer of the central
powers and resolved the discussions
to question of separate peace with
Russia, NJ. Trotzky said:
Russ Policy Unchanged.
I'VE are in full accord with oul
former resolution. We desire to con.
tinue the peace negotiations quite
apart from the question whether OF
not the entente powers take part.
I'VE note the statement of the quad.
ruple alliance that the basis for q
general peace formulated In their dec.
laration Of Dec. Is Is null and void
as the entente countries in the period
of 10 days allowed them did not joir
| in the peace negotiations. We, or
our side, adhere to the principles of Z
democratic peace proclaimed by u.s.
! The desire Of the Russians to trans
fer the negotiations to neutral soil
M. Trotzky explained. arose from theil
wish for equally favorable conditions
on both sides.
NJ. Bolubowysch, Ukrainian delegate
in celebrating the Ukrainian peacs
policy said that any annexations O,
the surrender Of territory without thu
consent of the people involved was in
admissible, as likewise we're war in
IDENTITIES. Material assistance should
be extended to small states which hat
suffered from the devastating effects
OF war.