New-York tribune., 1918-01-17
Rurnania and
Bolsheviki
Near Break
24-Hour Limit Set in Pet
rograd's Ultimatum
Passed
Diplomats Force
Release of Envoy
Lenine Yields to Demands !;
Receives Promise of Aid
From Francis


Russia and Rumania is threatened at
any moment, judging from the latest
Petrograd dispatches received here
The Council of National Commits
sioners sent on Monday an ultimatum
to Rumania demanding the release of
Bolshevik representatives arrested
there, the punishment of officials who
ordered the disarming of Russian
troops and guarantees for the future
The ultimatum concluded:
Failure to reply within twenty-fou,
hours to our demand will be regarded
as equivalent to rupture Of relations
and we will take the most energetic
military measures"
The period set was passed yesterday
afternoon, and so far there are no in.
dicatons that Rumania has replied to
the ultimatum or that the Bolsheviki
carry out it's threat.
Rumanian Envoy Released
On demand Of the diplomatic corps
in petrograd, headed by the American
Ambassador, the government yesterday
afternoon released Constantine Dla'
mandi, the Rumanian Minister, who
was arrested with his staff on Sunday
BEFORE this action was taken, however
Premier Lenine received assurances
from Ambassador Francis that he
would "send in his own name to the
Rumanian government a declaration
portesting against the acts of repres-
sion in Rumania against Russian SOL
diers," according to official announce
ment
With the release Of NJ. Diamand
the incident was regarded as closed by
the diplomats The question of Ru.
mania's detention of Bo!shevik repre-.
sentatives remains unsettled, how
ever. The Russians were arrested on
Monday, reports say, charged with
striving to cause disaffection jn the
Rumanian army by preaching inter
natonalism. NJ. Diamandi and his
tionary plots in connection with the
disarming of Bolshevik regiments.
Diplomats Demand
Soon after the arrest Of NJ. Diamandi
the diplomats in Petrograd presented
to Premier Lenine the following de
mand:
"The undersigned diplomatic mis-
sions of all the nations represented
States, Japan, France, Sweden, Norway
Switzerland, Denmark, Siam, China
Serbia, Portu gal, Argentina, Greece
Brazil, Persia, Spain, the Netherlands
Italy, and Great Britain, profoundly
indignant because of the arrest of NJ
Diamandi, the Rumanian Minister. and
affirming the unaninity of their senti-
ment on the subject Of the violation
CT diplomatic immunity respected
throughout the ages by all govern.
ments, demand the immediate release
of NJ. Diamandi and the other mem
bers of his egation.'
Premier Admits Violation
The conference lasted forty minute:
and was carried on behind closed doors
The Premier, who addressed the diplo
mats i'll French. is said to have ad
mitted that the imprisonment Of N
Diamandi was a breach Of internationa
law, but declared that it was designed
as protest against a similar breach
on the part of Rumania in arrestins
and disarmng Bolshevik representa-
tives and troops He told the diplo
mats that he himself could not orde1
the release of the Rumanian Minister
but would lay the matter before the
Council of Peoples Commissaries.
The council was immediately callee
into session and decided upon the re
lease Of NJ. Diamandi. Premier Lenint
then gave the order by telephone te
the commandant of the fortress of SIS
Peter and Paul, which resulted in the