Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-04

type. The statement, apparently
Il based on a contribution '.by q
correspondent" which is printed
beneath it.
The writer says that owing to the
Bolsheviki discovery Of German du-
plicity anything may happen.
There are" he says, three alter
natives: The Bolsheviki may give way,
the Germans may give way or there
will be a rupture of relations. The
first is hardly likely in view Of For
eign Minister Trotzky's declaration.
The second is possible, for the Ger
mans are past masters in the art Of
spacious compromise. But the third
is most probable, since the Bolshev-
Xxi have exhibited perspicacity which
was hardly expected in this country.
Land Of Surprises.
Russia, the land of boundless sur
prises, may quite possibly witness a
revival of war, If not in the most ac-
tive form 1t might at least be sui
lenly defensive war, necessitating the
keeping on the frontier Of consid-
cradle German force. 1t would at
least prevent those pleasant and prof
table commercial exchanges which
Germany hopes for.
Assuming such a situation and the
consolidation of hplnhexilkt spowssy
provided failure to extract peace
does not wreck the Lenine regime,
then recognition of that power as the
de facto government follows.
Since that is so, a Socialist would
be the logical representative OF that
government and Maxim Litvineff, who
has been appointed, is likely enough
occupant of the embassy.
New Policy Planned!
I'VE may expect shortly some new
statement of policy with regard to
Russia, which, should 1t lean toward
the latest developments and democ-
racy. would undoubtedly strengthen
the allied cause in Russia.
Maxim Litvinoff, who has been ap-
pointed Bolsheviki ambassador to
Great Britain and who said yesterday
that he probably would return to Pet
rograd, has decided to remain in Lon
don pending receipt Of his instruc-
tons. His photograph is printed
prominently in the newspapers. He
is described as being broad minded
and it is said that he is attached to
English institutions and England,
where he has lived for decade.
NJ. Litvinoff's wife is an English
woman and he is an old friend and
associate OF Lenine. He Is declared
to be wholehearted supporter OF the
Bolsheviki with whom he apparently
is in close touch.
To Correct MISUNDERSTANDING.
"My task as ambassador" he says
in an interview in the Chronicle, will
be to disseminate the truth about
Russia and to dissipate misunder-
standings and misinterpretation OF The
motives, character and purpose of the
workmen's and soldiers government.
1T is grossly mischlevous to repre-
sent the Bolsheviki as prO-German
anti-ally or as mere pacifists. They
realize as clearly as anyone that kali
serism and junkerism are the greatest
obstacles to the self-emancipation OF
the International proletariat, but have
discovered that Prussia is not the only
soil for the congenial growth OF nox'
ious plants. They oppose replacing
Prussian militarism by Russian
French or English militarism.'
Brings kaiser's Downfall.
N. Litvinoff declared his emphatic
belief that by the present negotiations
ard propaganda among the German
soldiers in the east, Trotzky and Len.
Inc are contributing to the downfall
OF kaiserism more effectually than the
allies fighting in the west. He con
cludes:
Il am sanguine enough to imagine
that the Russian and German armies
on the eastern front some day viii
march together against the common
Zoe OF the worlds prOletariat In Ger
many itself and perhaps in othel
countries, too"
There were two distinct tendencie!
noticeable In the enemy delegation a
the Brest-litovsk meetings, the PetrO
grad correspondent OF the Daily New!
says. One was annexationist and wa
represented by General Won Hoffman
= A more moderate view was upheld b,
Foreign Secretaries Won kuehlmanI
and Czernin.
Agitate German Troops.
There were frequent disputes be
tween the two tendencies. Thes'
wre settled, 1t is added, by appeals t.
Berlin which always supported Vol
Kuehlmann and Czernin. Genera
Won Hoffman took the purely militar,
point of view and complained will
great bitterness that the Russians
were using the armistice to agitat'