Evening journal., 1918-02-20
RUSSIA WILL SIGN
Hun Peace TREATY
Dvinsk Captured Without
Resistance Nay to
Petrograd Open
LUTSK TAKEN IN
SOUTHERN ADVANCE

LONDON, Feb. 20-After declaring
In The most positive manner that they
would end the war. so FAR as Russia
was concerned, but would not sign a
peace treaty Nicolai Lenine. head Of
the Bolshevik, and Leon Trotzky. his
foreign minister, announced yesterday
that they would sign the peace treaty
proposed by Germany.
The terms Of this treaty are not
definitely known, but apparently they
include all tho territory claimed by
Germany along the eastern coast OF
the Baltic Sea. comprising the west
ern part OF Esthonia, almost TO Reval,
Courland, with the Moon Islands, in
the Gulf Of Riga, most Of the provinces
Of kovno and krodno and nearly all
Of Wilma. The city Of Dvinsk, captured
by the Germans Immediately after the
resumption Of hostllties yesterday, is
included in the German area
According to one report, the terms
Of peace which the Germans imposed
specified the payment Of an indemnity
by Russia Of about si,O0O.O0OOO0 in
stead Of the mo annexations and no in
IDENTITIES" 10 which the German dele
gates 10 Brest-Litovsk subscribed in
principle.
Message toy Russian Fronts.
The Russian Government, according
TO en- Official statement received here,
has addressed the following message
10 headquarters and all the fronts:
The Council Of Peoples Commits
ssries has offered to the Germans TO
sign peace Immediately ! order that
in all cases where Germans are en-
countered massed that pour parlers
with the German soldiers should be
organized and the proposal to refrain
from fghting made TO them. II Ger |
mans refuse then you must offer to |
them every possible resistance.
iSignedl KRYLENKO.
The Official statement, signed by Le-
nine and Trotzky and sent TO Berlin,
says:
The Council OF Peoples Commits
saries protests against the fact that
the German Government has directed
its troops against the Russian Coun-
ellis republic. which has declared the
war as at an end and which is de-
mobilizing its army on all fronts.
The Workmen's and Peasants Gov
ernment Of Russia could not anticipate
such a step because neither directly
nor indirectly has any one Of the
parties which concluded the armistice
given the seven days notice required
IN accordance with the treaty Of De-
cember IS for terminating IT,
The Council OF Peoples Commits [
saries in the present circumstances re- |
CARDS itself as forced formally to de-
clare its willingness to sign peace
upon the conditions which had been
dictated by the delegations OF the
Quadruple Alliance at Brest-Litovsk.
The Council OF Peoples Commits
saries further declare that a detailed
reply viii be given withot delay to
the conditions Of peace as proposed
by the German Government.
(Signed)
For the Council OF Peoples Com
LENINE.
TROTZKY. |
According to Vienna dispatches /
Trotzly has forwarded wireless mes
sage to Count Czernin, the Austrian |
Foreign Minister, reading:
The German Government having re-
established a state Of war with Russia
without even giving the seven days
previous notice. have the honor 70
ask you to inform me whether the
Austro-Hungarian Government also
considers itself in a state OF war with
Russia, and II not, whether It believes
It possible to reach a practical realiza-
ton Of the agreements worked out at
Petrograd.
Despite the complete surrender Of
Lenine and Trotzlyy the general ad-
vance OF the German forces along the
whole front OF about 400 miles has not
been stayed apparently. BY the cross
ing OF the Dvna and the capture Of
Dvinsk the Kaiser's troops have opened /
the way to Petrogad while on the
southern end Of the line the seizure Of
Lutsk. a famous fortress in the Vol
hynian triangle, gives them the gate
way to Kiev, the present capital Of
the Ukraine. No resistance was made
by the Russians to the German ad
vance.
Renewal Of the German attack on
Great Russia fulflls the expectation |
widely held here since Germany
consented to negotiate with the Boil
shevik at Brest-Litovsk. The view I
often has been expressed that Germany /
had peace less in mind than TO secure /
possession OF what was valuable in /
Russia. and that the temporazing atti-
tude toward the Bolsheviki would be
maintained only until the moment she /
awaited had arrived.
The manner in which Germany play
ed OF the Ukraine against the Boil
sheviki IS regarded as a characteristic
example Of German diplomatic tradi-
tlon9 It is felt that the Ukrainian call |
for German help has been issued at
cermany's instigation TO give her
plausible pretext Of taking advantage
Of the anarchy there in order TO gain
control Of the natural resources Of the
Ukraine.
As late as last Saturday Trotzky was /
urging guerilla warfare against the I
Germans. provided they attempted an /
invasion Of Russian territory In an I