The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-16
THE UKRAINE PEACE

The Germans and AuStr!anS state OlllCldly
that peace with the Ukraine was signed at a. m:
on Saturday. No particulars of any kind, except
in the very precise mention of the hour, are an
nounced We hear nothing of the substance or
form of the treaty, nor are the names and charac-
ter of the signatories given. The representatives
of the Ukraine were no doubt the delegates from
the Kieff Rada. The question Immediately arises
whether they were at any time competent to blnd
the mass of their countrymen and whether, it they
were, the Rada still exists The Boshevists as
sert that "by 10 p m. on Friday nothing remained
of the Rada but sad memory" But, on the other
hand, the Rada may have survived and its dele
gates may have pledged it. In that case we have
to see whether the people of the Ukraine will
accept it's decision. Comrade Kamenetf, the Boil
shevist emissary on his way to this country ana
to France, has declared at Copenhagen that they
will not, but then he is not altogether impartial
The success of a separate German peace with the
Ukraine manifestly might prove as awkward for
Trotsky and Lenine as it's failure would be for
Kuhlmann and Czernin. The unusually piano tone
of the German press comments is rather remark
able The Vosssche Zetung rejoces that "a
young state has placed itself under the protection
of our friendship" but most of the papers seem to
confne themselves to warnings that milk and
honey will not flow from the new friend into the
Fatherand for a considerable time to come. That
will be sore disappointment in Germany and
sorer still in Austria.
With or without knowledge that. the signature
of the treaty was impending, the North German
Gazette of Saturday "ratted the sabre" at the
Bolshevists in it's most truculent manner 1t told
them that the resolve of the central powers not
to evacuate the western territories of Russia is
firm and unalterable," and that they will make
no further concessions-we did not know that they
had made any-about the frontiers of the terri
tories they have liberated" from her. They are
astonished at their own moderation in the self
Ofp.n oirof fhov hoy ,onfnn "a hpr
promised to grant-these provinces, but they will
not go farther The Bolshevists are informed that
II an agreement is made with the Ukraine the
development Of peace negotiations with M. Trotzky
may be a matter of indifference to U.S., and they
are reminded that if he forfeits this last oppor-
tunity his party and Russia twill have to pay the
bill" The Vorwarts thinks this means that an
nltimatum is coming. 1t would almost seem So
The tame" socialist organ summons up courage
to predict that if the Brest negotiations are
wrecked the German people will want to know the
reason why. 1t probably occurs to M. Trotzky
that the Russian people might be equally curious.
The Bolshevlsts promised them peace. What will
happen if he fails to deliver the goods?" His
position is undeniably difficult. and tho outside
world is as ignorant of it they are Of the state
OF the Ukraine. Germanys policy, on the contrary
is clear. She sees the ADVANTAGE of creotinp :.
number of weak states, nominally sovereign and
independent, beyond the old Russian Dorue4. Ger
many would then be able to intrigue in them and
to exploit them to her hearts content She might
play them off against each other or confederate
them, as it suited her. In either case they would
be her vassals, politically and economically, as no
united Russia could be- And from their geograph-
ical position they would open to her policy, her
commerce. and her armies and fleets just those
avenues to the east to the middle east and beyond,
which she most eagerly desires. The peace with
the Ukrain Rada, if it holds, will be far from USE
less to her. but it's real Importance is that it is in
tended to be only the first link in cabin.
Times.