Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-20
w - Was Prepared for
the News That the BoIshe-
wiki Had Agreed to Make No
Further War on Germany.
STEPS MADE NECESSARY
BY DEMAND OF PUBLIC
Lenine and TIotzky Realized
That They Must Heed the
CIamor of the Masses or
Government Must Collapse.

| .sY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEAsse Wig,
Washington, Feb. 19.--Anno0ncs-
ment of the purpose Of the BolsheViiz
government of Russia to sign peace
treaty based upon humiliating condi-
tions imposed by the Germans. caused
no surprise in official circles here in
view of the failure of the attempt OF
i the Russians to influence the German
socialists to prevent an attack on un-
resisting people.
An irresistible demand by the great
masses OF the Russian people for
peace had brought about the DOWN
| fall in turn of three successive gov4
ernments, that of Car Nicholas. that
of Prince Lvoff and that of Kerensky.
Lenine and T'rotzky, according to the
official understanding here. were fully
aware that their regime would share
the same fate If they failed to respond
to the overwhelming demand of the
public.
There was danger Of overthrow
from the more patriotic Russians
through accepting degrading terms OF
peace, but having carefully calculated
the chances, it ia believed here the,
Lenine and Trotzky finally t3
the face of the renewed { ~
vance into Russian territor, tgel
only hope Of maintaining go1. ID UF
the government lay in complete sub
mission to the German demands.
No Standing With Allies I.
| Such a peace treaty as now may DO
signed. according to the official view
here, must depend for its vitality and
| legality entirely upon the outcome OF
the great war. Being made under
absolute compulsion and by what is
regarded as nothing more than fac-,
| ton of the Russian people, the allies
in peace conference would demans
that 1t be disregarded.
Accepting as accurate the state-
ments credited to Trotzky in his re-
port upon Brest-Litovsk negotiations.
! that the German terms included the
retention of Poland, LLthuania. Riggs
and Moon island and an indemnity OF
eight hundred million pounds, 1t Ia
pointed out that the proposed treaty
will be in direct violation of not only
all peace principles laid down by the
entente spokesmen and President
Wilson, but of the often quoted Teu-
tonic declaration of mo annexations
and no indemnities." However. 1t is
taken for granted that there will be an
attempt to disguise these demands
and deny they constitute either in
demnity or annexation.
Huns viii Find Excuses.
| 1t is fully expected that the effort
will be made to show that what the
German reichstag meant in declaring
against indemnities were punitive ex-
actions and not repayment for the acs
tual damages sustained through the
tremendous Russian drives into Poi
land and Galicia In the early days OF
the war. Also 1t is anticipated that.
the claim will be made by the Ger
mans that their continued occupation
of the western Russian provinces Ia
not really annexation in the objection
able meaning of that term: the. oc-
cupied provinces are to be held only
as pledge for the payment of the in
ldemnity.
1t is realized IN diplomatic circles
serve to strengthen tremendously the
military parties in Germany and Aus
tria where they have been seriously
threatened by the socialistic elements
because of the inadequate peace ar
rangement they have made with the
Ukraine.
Troops for Western Front.
AS the treaty must mean cessation
Of the Bolsheviki's attacks upon the
Ukraine, the German troops which
were to have been sent to the defensa
of Ukraine will be released for west
ern service. Otherwise, II is not per-
| ceived by the officials here how the
compulsory signature Of a Russo
| German treaty can have any further
effect upon the conduct OF the war as
the transfer Of the German eastern
army to the western front has been
fully anticipated by the entente mill
tary commanders who are confident
of their ability to cope with the rein
forced German armies. ~
1t developed today that officials here
are awaiting with keenest interest
confirmation of reports that Turkish
and Bulgarian troops in large num-
bers are being sent into Belgium. 10
may be stated on authority that such
a movement would have the gravess
| cnnseatIenceS 80 Ear al Afnarfra 10
concerned. and that it would be re-
garded as justifying an Immediate
declaration of the existence Of q stars