The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-13
LEON TROTZKY TALKS AS A LION AND ACTS
 AS A LA M B J U $ T
 READY FOR SHEARING
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means or supply.
 "The Russian government, however. wrote the word peace at the head of it's programme. The great sympathies of the Russian people for the peoples of the allies, strengthen the desire to attain the speediest peace based on an understanding among the peoples.
 ITO remove from the quadruple al- liance a pratext for breaking off peace negotiations on technical grounds, the Russian delegation accepts the demand to remain in Brest-Litovsk. in order not to leave unutilized and possibly defeat for peace. In announcing it's proposal regarding the transfer of ne- gotiations to neutral soil, the Russian delegation proposes continuation of ths negotiations"
 DENIES GERMAN CHARGE
 NJ. Trotzky said he considered it necessary to remove a misunderstand- ing which had arisen. He referred 70 the statement made at the previous sitting by Dr. Won Kuehlmann, the German foreign minister, that the semi official Russian agency had dis seminated fictitious account of the reply made at the sitting on Decem- Der 2S by M. Joffe, of the Russian delegation, M.a Trotzky said the off, cial account of the sitting, published
 
 accurately the speech of M. Joffe and that the Russian delegation was en- tirely ignorant of any real or ficti- tious telegrams on the subject. such as those to which Dr. Won Kuehl- mann referred. The speaker said the matter would be investigated and in the meantime he exphessed regret for a misunderstanding which was in no way connected with the work of the delegation.
 RIGHT OF PROPAGANDA
 As for the protest made by General Hoffman in the name of the German chief command against Russian wire- less messages containing appeals of revolutionary character to the Ger man troops, M. Trotzky stated that neither the conditions of the armistice nor tho character of the peace nego- tiations limited freedom of press or speech.
 Dealing with the declarations at the previous session by Dr. Won Kuehl- man and by Count Czernin, Austro- Hungarian foreign minister. respect ing the failure of Russias allies to participate in the negotiations which visited the peace offer of the central powers and resolved the discussions to questions of a separate peace With Russia, M. Trotzky said:
 DESIRE TO NEGOTIATE eve are in full accord with our former resolution. We desire to con- tinue the peace negotiations quite apart from the question whether or not | the entente powers take part. "We note by the statement of the quadruple alliance that the basis for a general peace formulated in their l declaration of December 25 is null and void, as the entente countries in l the period of 10 days allowed them | did not join in the peace negotia- tions. We on our side adhere to the principles of democratic peace pro- | claimed by us.'
 The desire of the Russians to trans. Il fer the negotiations to neutral soil M Trotzky explained, arose from theii I wish for equally favorable conditions | on both sides. He continued:
 Public opinion in Russia. moreover | taken umbrage at the fac< that tht T Russian delegation is conducting th' negotiations in fortress occupied b, I German troops, especially as they in volve the fate of peoples"