The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-17
S0VIETS RATIFY
PEACE TREATY
Many Other Delegates Join
Bolsheviki in Accepting
Terms of Germany.
SOME ELEMENTS REBEL
Reply to President Wilson's
Message Directed Mainly
to "ExplOited Classes"
SOME ELEMENTS REBEL
BY the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, March 16.-The All Russian
Congress. OF Soviets has ratified the
peace agreement with Germany by
large majority. This action was clearly
forecast on Thursday night when the
Bolsheviki. who have 13o delegates in a
total OF 1854 in the Congress. voted. 4o3
! to 80. that the peace terms imposed by
Germany should be accepted.
A Bolehevik resolution approving the
acts OF the Government Of the Work.
mems and Soldiers Delegates and Of the
peace delegation and calling for organi-
cation of the defence Of the country by
the creation OF n national army Of both
sexes was adopted after Ienines resto-
ration o. peace among the warning fac
tons and his statement that this action
was the only way out, intimating that
the treaty might be broken under
changed circumstances.
The opposition. notably the Social
Revoutionaries OF the Left, who had
thirty weight delegates. made valiant
but futile effort to prevent the accept
ance Of the treaty. which was charac-
terizei by the Minister of Justice as
being "anti-revolutionary and anti-so-
cialistc" He announced that the Social
Revolutionary party repud!ated the re-
sponsibilty for the acceptance of the
peace treaty. would resign from the Gov
,-'nment and devote all Its power ami
influence to the organization OF armed
resistance to German imperialism.
( Replies to Wilson Message.
. President wilson's message OF SYM
. pathy to the Russian people was re-
ce!ved with marked applause when /.
was read Thursday night at the opening
session Of the Congress. which Inn
n,ediately adopted q resolution af ap-
probation. The resolution reads:
The all Russian congress OF Soviets
expresses its appreciation to the Amer
ican people. and first Of all the labor
ing and exploited classes in the United
states. for the message sent by Presi-
dent Wilson 10 the congress Of Soviets
in this time when the Russian Social
Is, Soviet Republic is living through
most difficult tr!als.
The Russian Republic uses the occa-
sion of the message from President
Wilson to express To all peoples VINO
are dying and suffering from the hor-
rors OF this lmperialistic war ills warm
sympathy and firm conviction that the
happy time Is near when the laboring
masses in all bourgeois countries Will
throw of the capitalist yoke and es-
tablish a Socialist state or society,
which is the only one capable of as
suring a permanent and just peace as
well as the culture and wellbeing OF
all who toll.
Lenine Receives Ovation.
The congress is being held in the
splendid banquet hail OF the Nobility
Club, where former Emperors often were
entertained Soldiers. sailors and peas
ants formed q majority OF the l,l6i del
egates present. NJ Sverdlon, chairman
Of the central executive committee of the
congress. presided.
Premier Lenine made tho pr!ncipa
speech and received a great ovation. Ht
reviewed the history of the revolution
and emphasized the necessity Of signing
a peace treaty, NJ Tchitcherin. the act
ing Foreign Minister. read the peace
terms 1t was decided that peace should
h.. considered f,rst and after that the per
manent removal OF the capital from
Petrograd and the election OF new
central executive committee.
Strong forces OF guards were about the
hall, but there were no attempts a. dis
order Moscow is quiet, Bolshevik CON
troll apparently being absolute,