New-York tribune., 1918-02-14
[Staf Co9respoadencc]

N~'''""'"'SJ
WASHINGTON, Feb. Russian
diplomats here to-day denounced the
so-called separate peace between
Ukraine and the Central Empires as
fictitious, purely military in it's char
octer, and arranged with the double
object Of affordng benefits to Ger
many and removing the possibility of
revolution in Austria. 1t was
charged that Austria Hungary was
represented in the Ukrainian Rada.
1t was also asserted that the Bolshe-
Wiki had, through their failures, finally
convinced the entire world Of their
unfitness, and that recent events in
Russia would convince the Russian
people themselves Of the incapacity Of
the Maximalist government to serve
the nation. Anarchy throughout the
country, it was declared. is threatened
in the rehabilitation of the army, as
the soldiers will demand Immediately
the distribution of land. and san
culinary conflicts between the peasants
themselves are predicted.
A high Russian authority said:
"The Bolshevik action is a direct
surrender to German imperialism. The
fact that the peace declared was not
signed by the nipotentiaries of the
MaXimalists and Of the Central Pow
ers does not change that fact. They
set out to obtain democratic peace,
and failed; then they sought to cause
revolution in Germany and Austria
Hungary, and in that also they were
unsuccessful. They destroyed the Rus
sian army, believing the German and
Austrian peoples would follow their
example. What they have achieved.
however, is further to strengthen the
governments and military power of
the Central EmpI-ns
A Situats : Danger
"What has happened creates an en-
tirely new situation in Russia, which
probably will be destructive one
Vhe soldiers returning home will want
an immediate distribution Of the land,
and this cannot be effected except by
anarchistic seizures between the peas
ants themselves, and clashes are Ger
tain to result, because the weil-to- do
peasants will resist the efforts Of the
others to dispossess them, and the
greatest disorder is threatened
"The military results of the demob-
lllzation OF the Russian army will not
be quite so serious as the moral re-
suits, as Germany will be compelled
to maintain on the Eastern front a line
of troops sufficiently strong to prevent
contact between Germany and the Boil
shcvist propaganda, to ward off con-
taglon and to prevent agitation.
THE moral effects. however, will be
more distressing, and they are the last
touch to the picture of Russia's mis-
fortune The Bolsheviki have revealed
their manifest weakness in its fulness;
they lack the power to perform great
world function and they have been
unable to supply Russia's needs. Their
complete breakdown, with its conse-
quent benefits to the enemy nations,
means that revolution in Austria and
in Germany is postponed fer a long
time, If not entirely averted
sit is doubtful If the peace with
Ukraine is genuine; it is doubtful if
the persons who negotiated it bad the
support of the population of Ukraine.
1t is questionable whether the sepa-
ratist idea was sufficiently DEVELOPED
in Ukraine to warrant the negotiation
by persons claiming to represent it Of
a separate peace with the enemy pow
ars. 1t is true, however, that the
in Ukraine wanted peace, order
and prosperity restored oscillation
Of the economic and political life, but
it is probable they have only a vague