Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-22


A dispatch from Rotterdam says
the Germans take the view that Trotz-
ky's declaration, though it did not end
the war automatically ended the arm
istice. cine armistice expired Feb. 14).
The Germans now consider that they
have a free hand and mean to use the
opportunity.
This, does not mean necessarily that
the Germans will Immediately try to
reach Petrograd, but more probably
that they will support the Ukraine by
force of arms. The Germans, he says,
are carrying on an active propaganda
in the Ukraine for the purpose of sug-
costing to the Hada that the new state
is endangered by the Bolsheviki. 1t
is declared that this is all part of Ger
manys scheme for breaking up the
former Russian empire with a view
to extending her own power and in
fluence over the new states of whom
it Is posing as a protector
It is certain that the Bolsheviki are
now moving troops against the
Ukraine, q Berlin dispatch says, and
the Central powers do not intend to
allow themselves thus to be robbed
Of the fruits of their lately concluded
peace. The newspaper adds that it
probably has been decided at the
conference, at imperial headquarters
to resume operations on the northern
Russian front for the protection of
the Ukraine.
An Amstedam dispatch says peace
with the Ukraine was made not only
50 the Central powers might obtain
.. 70 h
in the eastern front, it is indicated in
a dispatch from Vienna A statement
from a well informed source dealing
with the conclusion of the Brest-Iit-
ovsk negotiations says:
''As Trotzky's attitude, particularly
concerning the application of the prin-
cipls of self determination, made a
satisfactory conclusion impossible, il
became the political task of the pow
ers who were working for peace to
make a breach in the eastern front
that is, to arrange a peace with the
Ukraine, thereby also arriving at a
settlement of the Russian and Ruman-
ian questions. Peace with the Ukraine
had to be made if only because a way
was opened by it to eastern Europe:
richest granary. True, the country i.
not yet organized properly, but oppor
tunity to effect improvements is nov
given, and in conformity with thu
agreement stocks of food will be i'm
ported here as far as they are avail
able"
The statement adds that peace will
the Ukraine was obtainable only OF
condition that Cholm should be cedet
to the Ukraine, the desire for which
could be fulfilled by the application O
the principle of self-deterninatioI
which is recognized as applying t.
Russian territory. Cholm, it is de
clared, is such a mixed country eth
geographically that there cannot be
question of its belonging to Poland
Opposition to the arrangement i
combatted by the statement that de
clares it is unintelligible, inasmucl
as the principle of self-determinatio
is appropriate for all Russian terri
tory and, therefore, for Russian Pc
land. 1t adds that the arrangement
did not surprise the Poles, who neve
received a definite promise and VIII
often advocated the principle now ap
piled to the demarcation of the from
tier.
The statement says '"Trotzky an
his government, recognizing the i'm
possibility of continuing the war ur
der the present conditions, preferre
to lay down their arms with a eel
tain eclat and to assume the pose {
an oppressed people. Russian tactic
however. appear to be the worst fc
them because we are in no wis
bound by their declaration, and frol
the standpoint of international Ia
we are still in state of war wit
Russia, qualified at present by til
temporary armistice.
The Russian government gave l
opportunity to denounce the armistic
and continue the war, or to make
Rimilar peace declaration. tt
Austro- Hungarian government has I
reason to denounce the armistice.
''In Germany a more skeptical opil
SON appears to prevail, but an e.
change of views should soon tai
place. On the other hand it would
a great mistake on our part to al
nounce a state of peace now and thu
md our hands. That would not