New-York tribune., 1918-01-12

tons, the atmosphere in which they
take place Ia extremely important. 1t
must be mentioned that since the con-
clusion Of the exchange Of views be-
fore the temporary interruption of the
negotiations much has happened which
appeared calculated to create doubt as
to the sincere intention Of the Russian
government to arrive at speedy peace
with the powers Of the qundruple al
lance. may refer to the tone Of
certain semi official declarations of
the Russian government against the
Central Powers, especially the dec
lnration Of the Petrograd Telegraph
Agency, which is regarded abroad as
the semioficial Russian agency.
at reproduced in detail a reply M.
Jofc "a member of the Russian dele
gation>. is alleged to have made at
the sitting Of December % which, AS
the protocol shows, originated solely
IN the imagination Of it's author. This
entirely unfounded report has had a
good deal to do in confusing Judgment
in regard to the course Of the negota-
tions and in endangering their re-
suits"
Count Czcrnin in his speech gave
reasons for not wishing to transfer the
negotiations to neutral territory and
said that If the Russians were ami
mated by the same intentions as the
Central Powers the result of the ncgos
tiations would be satisfactory. II not,
responsibility for war would fall cxclu-
sively on the Russians.
In explaining why the Central
Powers refused categorcally to trans
fer the negotiations to neutral tern
torv Count Czernin said both parties
had direct telegraphic communication
y1.i$
which neither could forego without in
terminably prolonging the negotiations
and rendering them difficult. He con-
tinued:
"Thc second motive is more impor-
tant. You gentlemen invited us to take AK
part in general peace negotiations. we
accepted the invitation and came TO an
agreement about the basis of general
peace On this basis you presented a
ten days ultimatum to your allies, who
have not answered, and to-day it IS no
longer a question OF negotiation OF a
general peace, but rather of a separate
peace between Russia and the Quad
ruple Alliance"
The count asserted that the transfer
of the negotiations to neutral territory
would give the Entente an opportunity
to interfere and endeavor to prevent 4
|
He added: "We refuse to give the
Western Powers this opportunity, but
we are ready 70 conduct the final nego
tiations and, sign peace treaty at
place to be fixed.
Regarding the questions on which
an understanding has not been reached
we came 20 binding agreement at tho
| last pIenary session 10 submit them to
commission, to begin work immedl
ately All the four members OF the
Quadruplc Alliance are entirely agreed
to conducting the negotiations to the
end en- the basis explained by Dr.. vol
Kuehlmann and myself and agreed
upon with the Russians. II the Rus
sian delegation is animated by tht
same intentions we shall attain resul
satisfactory to all. If not, then mat
ters will take a necessary course, bu
responsibility for war will fall eXclu
sively on the Russian delegation.
The Turkish and Bulgarian repre-
sentatives associated themselves Will
these remarks.
In the name of the German chic
command General Hoffman, protested
most strongly against wireless mes
sares sent out from Russian militar
stations containing abuse of the Ger
man military institutions and appeal
of a revolutionary character to tn
German troops. This, the general sale
transgressed the spirit OF the arms
tice. Representatives of the armies o
Germany's allies Joined in the protest