The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-11

DecOHlc Hull dHu NOIu, IHC oCIM
Brest-Litovsk yesterday.
Amsterdam, Jan. 11.-The CEN
trail powers have withdrawn their
peace terms made public at the
Brest- -Litovsk conference on Dec.
4 IS, it was announced by Or. Won
kuehlmann, the German foreign
secretary, in his speech at the
Brest- -Litovsk conference with the
Russians yesterday.
Owing to the nom acceptance by
all the enemy powers of those
terms, Dr.. Won kuehImann stated
/. that document had "become null
and void.v
The failure of Russia's allies to re-
spond to the invitation to participate
in the conference has resolved the
question, into one Of separate peace
between Russia and the central pow
ers, il was deelared by Count Czernin,
the Austro- Hungarian minister, who
originally propounded the peace terms.
The attitude of the Russians was not
reflected in the dispatches reporting on
the Brest-litovsk proceedings, which
were evidently of German origin and
came through by way of Amsterdam.
The Russian delegates have been
strenuousIy objectins to the continue
aien Of the negotiations at the German
eastern headquarters, but the firm de-
termination Of Germany and her allies
not to consent to their transfer to
Stockholm was reiterated yesterday.
Amsterdam, Jan. 11.--Count czernin,
the Austro- Hungarian foreign min
lister, # full sitting Of the peace con-
SSrsnss - aDvsst- Eitovsk On Thursday,
ssid that az Russia's allies had not re-
piled to the invitation to participate
in the negotiations, it was now ques-
tion Of separate peace between Rus
sia and the central powers.
He gave reasons for not wishing to
transfer the negotiations to neutral ter
ritory and said that if the Russians
were animated by the same intentions
as the central powers the result Of the
negotiations would be satisfactory. IN
not, responsibility for war would fall
exclusively on the Russians.
kuehlmann Presided.
DIR. Won Kuehlman, the German
foreign minister, said he considered
that the difficulties which had inter-
rupted the previous negotiations were
not sufficient to justify the failure of
the peace work and a presumable re-
of hostilities. He said that
it was the fixed and Interchangeable de-
termination of the central powers not
to conduct the peace negotiations be-
gun at Brest -Litovsk.
A Brest-Litovsk dispatch giving an
account of the session yesterday says
it was opened with all the delegations,
including the Ukrainians, participat-
ing. DR.. Won Kuehlmann, who pre-
sided, said:
'Inasmuch as changes have oc-
CURED in the composition of some of
the delegations it will not be out of
place to give a short survey of the
history of the course of the negotia-
tions."
Mitigates Difficulties.
After a legnthy review of the pro-
ceedings to date DIR. Won Kuehlmann
said he hoped they would lead to a
result. His hope was based
on knowledge gained during the ne
gotiations and on the expression by
the Russian delegation of the Russian
peoples wish for secure and lasting
peace. He continued; 81 consider
that the difficulties met with up
to the time the negotiations were in.
terrupted were not great enough to
cause the failure of the peace work
and presumably resumption of war in
the east, with its unforeseen conse-
quences."
Atmosphere Important.
DR.. Won Kuehlmann said the first task
Of the conference was to resume ne
gotiations at the point where they
were broken off at the time of the
Christmas adjournment. Referring to
the fixed determination of the central
powers not to .accede to the Russian
of transference OF the ne
gotiations- to neutral territory, he said
Germany and her allies were not, in
position to conduct elsewhere the
discussions begun at Brest- Litovsk, al
though they were willing to have final
formal negotiations carried on and the
signatures to the preliminary agree
ment affixed at some place to be agreed
lpon after the debate. He continued:
AS for the conduct of the negotia-
tons, the atmosphere in which they
lake place is extremely important 1t |
must be mentioned that since the con-
,lusion of the exchange of views be- !
'ore the temporary interruption of the
negotiations much has happened,
which appeared calculated to create
toubt as to the sincere intention of
he Russian government to arrive at /
speedy peace with the powers of the |
luadruple alliance. / may refer to /
he tone of certain semiofficial |
declarations of the Russian govern |
nent against the central powers, espe-
Tally the declaration of the Petrograd |
Telegraph agency. which is regarded ,
'broad as the semiofficial Russian
lgency.
5lames Report.
1T reproduced in detail a reply NJ. /
Iofte. Ga member of the Russian dele
:ationD is alleged to have made at
he sitting on Dec. IS which, as the
shows. originated solely in the
of its author. This en-
irely unfounded report has had a
'ood deal to do in confusing judg-
nent in regard to the course OF the