The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-04

London, Jan. s.--Tns Teuton "carnou-
tagged" peace clause, which by its
phraseology pledges the central powers
against annexation. but in spirit aims
at swallowing five Russian border
lands. came back to Berlin and vsenn&
today, a boomerang.
Affixed to IL was the verdict OF tho
Russian people, passed at a executive
session OF the all-powerfui. sll-repre-
sentative, council of workmen's ana
soldiers delegates. It reads:
This will never be accepted by the
Russian revolution"
Along with the boomerang came =
message from Foreign Minister
Trotzky, addressed to the German and
Austrian peoples. II called the Tsuton
terms "hypocritical" and sounded this
appeal:
IAN immediate democratic peace
rests with you You compelled your
governments to accept the principle OF
no annexations or indemnities. Now
compel them TO keep their word
And from the Russian army. sttA
100000 strong. came warlike assur-
ances to the Soviet.
We will defend the revolution. but
we demand bread and boots"
Every utterance from Lenine and
Trotzky and their iieutenants, every
statement by the Russian plenipoten-
tiarses who are back from Brest~
Litovsk. sounds but one and the same
keynote:
Russia is striving for real. gem
eral. democratic peace, and viii not let
herself be duped."
The two men at the head of the
Bolsheviki government. who have BEEN
decrted by all the world as paid agents
of the kaiser. suddenly appear in thu
light of the most consistent. most dam
gerous foes of Teuton imperialism. In
moment when the world expected
them to sign a humilating bargain
with the Hapsburg and Hohenxoilsrns-
they hold up the two kaisars and their
governments to all the world as UNI
trustworthy schemers.
But in this moment. too. when this
Bolsheviki policy is suddenly insep-
arably linked with the chief war aim
of the allies. London and Paris were
dumbfounded by the news from Pstro-S
grad that the British ambassador. Sir
George Bucha man, who stuck to hts
difficult post throughout ten month"; Of
the most trying crises. Is about to
leave soon for London. on account OF
go all the members of tho British mis-
sion to Russia.
Meanwhile all Indications tonight
were that the central powers delega-
lions will be STRANDED" when they get
back TO Erest-Lltovsk. Trotzky was
quoted by Petrograd dispatches as say
Ing 1t was unlikely the negotiations
there would be resumed. He said Rus
STA favored the transfer of the conser-
ence place to neutral soil. preferably
Sweden. This plan If opposed by the
Teutons, however, mainly for the reA-
son. 1t is believed. that the present poll
icy OF the Eolsheviki. that of expos
ing the Teuton ennsxationist machtnA~
tions, might have an influence upon thu
Swedish people--and on those OF 1on~
mark and Norway. the latter already
bitterly hosti!e--that might wreck all
future prospects of the Teutons align
ing these countries on their side In
the event the eastern war Ia renewed
or the allies launch naval drive on
Germany.
Al last accounts from Berlin. DR..
Won Kuehlmann,, the German foreiEn
minister. was dy 10 return to Rrest-
L,tovsk This was reported EfmnltA~
neously with an account. as vet SALT
vague. of an extraordinary hnstte eM&
hustle In thu high council ehamhof1
Of the empire. The hnndereth eMH
the crown councjir--both bodies tk44b
confer only on decisions 1f sr8nUc
dent s1gnt0eanco--end fhe pelQ>