The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-03

ent at the conference. according to
information in Amsterdam and they
informed DIR. Won Kuehlmann that
they adhered strongly to the demand
that the reichstag be summoned as
speedily as possible. 1t lis expected
ut Thursdays session of the reichs-
tag main committee which Chancel-
Tor Won Hertling viii attend.
Plain Talk From Socialists.
The feature Of the conference is
said to have been the outspoken
speeches Of Philip Scheidemann
and Friedrich Ebert, for the official
Socialists, and Hugo Haase. for the
Independent Socialists. They are
credited with having told Won
Kuehlmann that his attitude in the
Russian negotiations was prejudicial
to peace. They told him that to say
one day that Germany wanted no
Russian territory and to say the
next day that it wanted virtually
territory occupied by German troops
justified entente statesmen in declin-
ing to place confidence in the word of
Germany's leaders. The foreign sec
retary is said, however. TO have made
complete explanations" 1T is re-
ported that both Won Kuehlmann
and Count Ezernin. the Austro- Hun
garian foreign secretary, returned to
BreBt -Litovsk where they were ex-
pected to arrive yesterday with new
instructions.
The Leipsic Volks Zeitung, the
leading Independent Socialist news
paper, commenting on the Brest-
Litovslx situation and the activities
of Won Kuehlmann and the govern
ment says:
Germany now reveals her eastern
peace aims. Everybody in Germany,
Russia and entente countries now
knows that she is not aiming at a
just peace without annexations and
indemnitfes such as Won Kuehlmann
depicted, but at a peace providing
for an enormous increase in Ger
many's military, political and econ
onlic strength.
rThese Intentions must strengthen
the war viii of the entente. Ger
many intends really to annex all ter
ritories she now holds. Her excuse
that the populations Of these terri
tories have declared their willing
ness TO be severed from Russia is
untrue. Individuals may have done
so, but they always have been irre-
sponsible, acting on some German
suggestion"
Differences Develop.
Petrograd dispatches indicate that
differences developed at the first
meeting there Of the Russian and
German commissioners for the dis
cussion OF economic relations. The
Germans desired to reach an under
standing with the Russians regard
ing regulation OF railroad transit be-
tween the two countries. The Rus
sian delegates strongly emphasized
their unwillingness to 60 beyond the
lines indicated in the armistice, and
refused to fix regulations without
precise definition ais to what classes
OF persons and goods the railroads
were to carry.
The Bolshevik foreign minister,
Leon TrotzlSy, is quoted in an in
terview as having said that the COM
mission which Is discussing priso-
ners was taking up only the question
of civilian and invalid war priso-
ners. He said the exchange of able
bodied war prisoners could be UNDER
taken only after the signing of
peace.
Prisoners Content.
"A Petrograd dispatch to The Post
says a very large proportion of theI
German war prisoners and still
larger proportion OF the Austrians
viii return to their fighting fronts
not been confined in prison camps
but have lived among the people.
Many OF them are getting on better
than they did at home and are more
than contented to remain in Russia.
Furthermore, it is improbable, the
dispatch says. that Germany desires
the return from Russia of a majority
Of her war prisoners. She win get
back the officers and non -comnis-
stoned officers in any case and manyl
of them already have returned. But
for both Germany and Austria, the
dispatch continues, IL is a sounder
policy to regard the rank and file
of these men as the advance guard
OF commercial conquest
The correspondent adds:
"Allied diplomacy Is credited with
having conceded TO Russia the right
TO make a separate peace and with
endeavOring to save its face by rais-
ing the question Of the return of
German prisoners which, says diplo-
macy, viii be regarded as an act
hostile to the allies"
The correspondent contends that
diplomacy would be better employed
in obtaining strategic position in
the commercial and industrial future
Of Russia He Is convinced the
country win fall into the hands of
the enterprising and industrious
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