The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-05
GERMANS TRYING
SECRET DEAL IN
PEACE DICKERING

London, Jan. 5-Pending the re-
sumption of conEerences in Brest-
Litovsk today no fresh developments
are reported from Russia regarding
the peace negotiations Dispatches
from Petrograd report attempts by
the German delegates in Petrograd to
make some sort of clandestine agree
ment with the members of the con-
stituent assembly.
The correspondent Of the Daily
News says the Germans are trying
through a neutral diplomat to get
into communication with members of
the assembly. Their object is OBJ
vious, he adds, as the parties opposed
to the Bolshevili are quite ready to
profit by the Bolshevik refusal to
make peace and to tell the people
that the Bolsheviki promised them
peace but gave them war.
The version of the correspondent
Of the Daily Mail is that the Germans
hive been putting pressure, direct or
indirect, on the government i'll con-
nectton with the summontng OF a
constituent assembly as the Germans
have been making it pretty obvious
that they are unwilling to recognize
the Bolshevild as representatives OF
a majority OF the Russian people or
even as temporary trustees of the
sovereign power. The Daily News
dispatch expresses fear that Ger
many will find the constituent as
sembly more amenable than the Boil
sheviki in regard to making peace
and quotes Foreign Minister Trotzky
as saying that the bourgeois are pre-
pared to give away half the country,
if they can obtain control of the
government of the other half.
Regarding the attitude of the Uk-
ralne toward the Germans, the Daily
News says the rada is willing to strike
bargain with the Germans. The
Petrograd correspondent Of the
Times, who Is now in London, writes
the Ukrainians are determined tc
send a mission to Brest-Litovsk, not
to negotiate a separate peace but tC
ascertain Germany's intentions toward
Little Russia. The Germans are
willing, he says, to recognize the
rada on the basis that the Ukraine
supply Germany with foodstuffs ant
recognize German economic interest!
In the Ukraine Neither of thest
points the correspondent adds, is t.
sdGttle Rnssfa's taste, but If the Allies
fail to help the Ukrainians or adop
a policy of compromise with the Boil
sheviki the rada may have to yielt
and the Ccssacks, too
Newspapers in Petrograd contfnu
to report fighting in the south where
according to the correspondent of tn
Times, civil war is waging fast an
furious. In several places there ar
reported to have been scenes of fierc
lighting These include Ekaterino
slav where it is said fighting alread,
has lasted five days. However, a
communication south and east o
Petrograd is precarious at the best
the reports convey little Information
The AusTo-German delegations i
Rs4EoErad profess to have informs
nCH that the Allies have decided I
break relations with Russia. Per
haps this is the reason why the off
Gals OF the British embassy hav
taken pains to assure Trotzky that tn
departure Of Sir George Buchanan
purely On account of i'll health an
that he would have left last Marc
but for the persuasion of forme
Foreign Minister TerestchenkC
Trotziy also was told that the othe
members of the embassy have n
intention to leave Petrograd at pre-
emit. +. O. IAndley. councillor of tn
embassy, remains in charge of III
embassy.
The BcAsheTik government has foun
StaznO smnA the rush Of events 10 d.
cree that Russia shall adopt ph0net
k4pe1MnE ON Jan IL Three vowe
and one consonant will be drOpp<
from the Russian alphabet