New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Russia Sends
An Ultinaatun
To Ru11aanians

LONDON. Feb. 1.-THE Russian gov
ernment has sent an ultimatum to the
Rumanian government demanding the
evacuation of Bessarabia by the Ru-
manlan and counter revolutionary
troops and the right to transport Rus
sian troops through Rumanian and
Bessarabian territory The ultimatum,
according to the report, was TO expire
February 16.
The ultimatum also demands the ex-
tradition of Lieutenant General Dmitri
Stcherbatchef, commander of the Rus
sian forces in Rumania, who recently
was declared an outlaw by the Bolshe-
wiki as an enemy of the Russian people.
Rumania is ordered to hand over the
"murderers Of Russian soldiers and
sailors'
"A Russian government wireless COM
munication received here tonight con-
tains the following concerning the ulti
matum:
THE Rumanian General Staff dele
gates. Colonel Rodalcscue and Captain
CaVere, arrived here, and proposed an
armisticc, ending at o'clock in the
morning Of the 10th, to consider con-
ditions Of peace between Russia and
Rumania. We agreed on the subject,
both sides reserving unrestricted free
dom for the movements and concentra-
tions of troops. At the same time we
sent out an ultimatum giving the Ru-
manian government until tomorrow
! morning TO accept or refuse.
"Our conditions are, first. tie I'M =
mediate evacuation OF Bessarabia by
Rumanian troops and by national
counter revolutionary troops acting
under General Stcherbatchetf; second.
the immediate return of all property
taken by Rumanian authorities belong
ing to Russia on Bessaraban terri
tory; third, the unopposed transit Of
Russian troops through Rumauiam and
Bessarabian tcrritory; fourth, the
eXtradltlon Of StcherbatcheiT, and, fifth.
the eXtradltion OF the authors Of the
murder of Comrade Roschal and other
/ Russian soldiers and sailors
we consider 1T our revolutionary
and socialistic duty to declare that we
are fighting against the Rumanian gov
men, peasants and soldiers, whom we
offer TO support to deposc the Ru-
manian government Of bourgeoisie and
landlordS.'
The document is signed by Rakov-
skyv, president, and other members OF
the "High Collegium for the Struggle
Against the Rumanian and Bessarabian
Counter Revolutions"
The first intimation that the Ruman.
lans had crossed their border into
Bessarabla was contained in dispatch
from London January >, quoting tele.
gram from Petrograd, which said the
Eumanlans had occupied Loevo and ar.
rested there several Bolshovik leaders
Irotzky. the Bolshevik Foreign Min.
lster, immediately protested TO the
Rumanlan Minister at Petrograd. who
IN hls reply accused Russian troops oj
hAVlng plundered Rumanian villages
committee of Bolsheviki visiting Ru
mania was reported to have been ar
rested, and it was asserted they woul,
have been shot except for Intervention
by the Cossacks.
In the middle OF January the dis
putes between the Bolshevik govern
ment and the Rumanian government
rot having been settled, the Rumania,
sinister at Petrograd and his cntir,
staff were arrested. and orders eve,
were issued for the arrest OF King Fer
dlnand of Rumana. Later the Ruman
IAN munster and his encourage were re
leased after repres entations had bee,
made by the Entente diplomats and tn,
American Ambassador.
On February 6 the dispatches sal,
that Russian troops had cndcavored t.
cross the Russo Rumanian border bu
had been defeated in their attcmpt b.
Rumanlan forces.