Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-01-01
Main Factor Decided In Recent
Sessions Was Status Of
Prisoners Of War.

BRESr LITovsK, Friday. Dec. 2s
| (yfn Berlin and London. Dec. 3i.) ~
provisional agreement ON "a series OF
important points including liberation
or war prisoners and resumption or
commercial relations, was reached to-
day by the delegates OF Russia and
the central powors In discussion OF
issues, which In the event OF "a gem
eral peace, would have 10 be settled
among the nations Represented In the
negotiations here. This provisional
discussiOn was terminated today, tho
basis OF an agreement adopted belng
reached under tho reservation that
IL was 20 be examined by the govern
ments representated by tho delegates.
In respect OF treaty relations an
understanding was arrived nj regard
ing tho restoration OF the situation 90
II existed when the war began.
IL was provided that certain laws
adopted dllring the war shall bo-ohn-
collad, and that those affected thonsby
shall be restored TO their prevlous
rights or indemnified.
The rules In regard to payment OF
war costs and dnmaso were defined
IN greater detail. provislons were
made concerning damages sustained
| by civilians outside the war area.
An agreement In principle was
rea c he'd regarding the reciprocal lib
J Grafton and return 90 their homes OF
war prisoners and informed civilians
and also for tho return OF captured
merchant vessels.
| Speedy resumption OF diplomatic
and consular relations II embraced
| In the understanding II IL set forth
| that there shall be Immediate stop
pnKo OF economic warfare. establish
ment OF commercial Intercourse and
the organized exchange OF commodi-
| ties.
A substantial understanding was ar
rived nt On witch the basis OF COO
nomic relations shall bs settled per-
mancntlv.
Regarding the question of occupied
territory, ths Rissinns made tho fol-
lowing proposal:
In full accord with the public dec
lara tons OF both the contracting par
| ties that they cherish no belltcoHe
plans and desire to conclude peace
without annexatiOns Russia will with
draw bar troops from all parts or
Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Per
ala. occupied by hor. while the pow
err OF the qua 1ruple alliance will
withdraw theirs from Poland. In ac-
cordanco with the principles OF the
| Russian government. whiGA has de-
clRred tho wight OF all peoples living
In Russia to self-determination, In
Guiding even separation, the IDpulas
tions OF these districts Will bB RiNon
an opportunity within the shortcst
possible period OF deciding entirely
and freely the question OF their union
with ons or the other empire, or their
| formation into independent states.
| In this connection the presence OF
Iany troops, apart from national or
local militia, In tho, tsrritorisa which
arc voting shall not be HpermisHble
until this question In decided. The
tgoyernment OF these regions shall re-
main In the hands OF representatives
Of the local populations. elected dem
locratically The date or evacuation
land other circumstances and the COM
menusment OF demobilixntion of the
army Ia to be fixed by a special mill
ltary commission" Germany then pro-
posed tho following form for the first
articles of a preliminary treaty which
Is to be concluded;
| First Russia and Germany are TO
declare the state OF war at an end
The Russian delegation took cog
nixance of these statements and set
forth It's standpoint as follows.
"Our standpoint IN that only such
manifestation OF win can be regarded
ns do facto expression OF the will OF
the people as results from free vote
taken in the districts In question, with
the complete absence OF foreign
troops. We therefore propose, and
must insist thereon, that clearer and
more precise formulation or this point
bc made. We consent, however, to
the appointment OF n special commits
sion for the examination OF technical
conditions for the realization or such
lreferendums and also for the fixing of
Il definite time for evacuation.
| I'm view OF the course whiuh the
lregotiatiuns hitherto have taken, II
Imay be stated with satisfaction that.
Regarding settlement OF the most in-
portan questions, the views of the rep
resented powers tally In many points,
Iwhtle regarding others the views ap-
Ipronch each other 10 such an extent
that hone for arriving at an agree
ment on this latter points In well
founded"