Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06
Might Perpetuate Own Power
and AIIay Charge They Are
Paid by Kaiser.
SUCCESS WOULD HAVE
FAR-REACHING EFFECT
Growing Opposition in Russia Would
Be Curtailed if They
Succeed.
WANT ALLIED RECOGNITION
Lenine and Trotzky Also Might Win
Statement Of Entente Terms,
Which Germany Is DESTROYS
Of Knowing.
WANT ALLIED RECOGNITION
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Are the holShevik leaders OF Russia
sincere?
Do they actually spurn Germanic
proposals on nationalistic and loyal
grounds or do they threaten TO refuse
German peace proposals at the present
5uncture simply to remove the stigma
of being hireIings of Germany
Are not these leaders. known to have
accepted German gold for disorganizing
Russia. seeking only to perpetuate
themselves in power?
Are they not cleverly using the pres
snt peace negotiations to counterfeit the
charges that have been made against
them in order that they may continue
with the support of the majority Of the
bolshevik party. which may be well In
tentioned, but misguided, as well as
win others In doubt as to their trust
worthiness?
Are not the bo1shevik leaders raising
obstacles to immediate conclusion OF
q separate peace through diplomatic
camou1age that the disciples of rsdi-
calism may have time to SOW their seeds
Of sedition in all entente allied countries?
Are they not merely seeking. by OPP
posing Germany at the present juno
ture. to convince the entente allies that
Lenlne ana ITOtZHy. are TO De tTuBtSu
and that the powers arrayed against
Germany should recognize them and
state their true war aims. aims which
Germany is very DESTROYS of learning?
These are some of the questions which
naturally arise in connection with the
European war situation which has been
predomfnate1y interesting during the
past week chiefly through the develop
ments in the Brest-Ltovsk negotia-
tions. where the bolsheviki of Russia
debating the pros and cons Of an adj
1ustmeut between Russia, the central
powers and their allies.
The world was not at all amazed or
In the least startled when Germany de-
manded of the Russian peace delegates
at Brest-Litovsk that Germany retain
control over Poland. Lithuania, Estho-
mia and Courland, with naval bases at
Riga and Libau. That was to be ex-
;pected But general surprise was man
Russian bolshevik leaders had abso-
1utely refused to listen to Teutonic
terms as long as it was plainly mani
lest that the p Baltic a, provinces ana Po-
Gliding for themss Ives their future stat
MS and afiiliatior 3.
~
The Germans argue that these prov
I'm es already have expressed their wish
to come I'M
Insist Germany der TeutonIc
Remove Her Troops. Rnss,sn. asnv
II and insist that Germany move her
troops from these provinces and that
the affairs of these regions be placed
In the hands Of local committees which,
in turn. shall hold elections truly rep
resentatfve of the peoples wishes and
without military pressure being exert
ed to swing the tide of election either
one way or another. The Russians
Also demand the return from Germany
Of hundreds of thousands of people
who are native to these regions. The
German delegation. which now includes
Foreign Minister Won Kuehimann and
Count Czernin of Austria Hungary. re-
fused and these latter officials FASTENED
to Berlin and Vienna for further con-
ferences
The bolsheyiki of Russia insist that
the claws of German imperialism have
been shown: that though the German
government. including the kaiser, has
been forced TO accept bolshevik princi-
ples In the general plan to bring the
present war to conclusion. the mill
tary and governmental imperia1istic re-
xine in Berlin is attempting to drive
home the sharpest of territorial and
economic bargains with the Russians.
The Russians declare that they VIII
light before consenting TO the German
demands
This In brief manner sets forth the
separate claims of the two Rrest-
Litovsk groups and the reasons why
the negotiations are at deadlock at
the present moment. Inasmuch as Count
Czernin and Foreign Minister Won
kuehlmann have again returned to
Brest-Litovsk after having had con-
ferences with the emperors of Austria
and Germany there is a possibility that
negotiations will be resumed Though
the dose which the German doctors In
recent days have prepared for the Rus
SLAMS may be sugar-coated to a large
extent. Russia eventually will wake I'M
70 the fact. should she eventually he
beguiled by Germanic tenders and
promises. that she has swallowed the
bitterest of pills.
As ha~ been stated repeatedly. there
Is little doubt In the minds of the en-
tente powers
Entente Learns that the lead
Character of Lenine. sa OF e
Petrograd were placed there by the
kaiser in the hope of disorganizIng
Russia. Great Britain and the United
States have received reliable informa-
tlon that this is true. For time the
bolshevfki were firmly seated behind
the guns Of a disgruntled army which
was led to believe many things. chief