The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-18
FOUR AND ONE HALF
BILLIONS
Continued from page L..

va Rko -
ba, aiming to occupy Kharkoff (42(
miles southwest of Moscow, It was
reported here today. The Russians
have evacuated both places.
|, Tales of atrocities rivalling those OF
Belgium have reached here concern
ing the German occupation of Wchil
eff and Homel Gin the province oil
Moghileff, on the Dnteper river).
The Germans are reported to be
concentrating large forces OF artillery
and cavalry and armored automo-
biles at Orsha (fifty miles south OF
Virebsk on the Dnieper), threatening
an offensive.
Regulated Before Signed.
by ]. w. T. Mason. Written for the
United Press.l
NEW YORK, March 1S.-Russia's
acceptance of Germany's peace terms
has been repudiated even before the
signatures have been attached to the
ineffective document
The designations OF six commits
saries from the revolutionary govern
ment in protest against any agree
ment with German imperialism dem
onstrates that only a small clique
under the domination of Nikolai
Lenine is responsible for the un-
reasoned action of the ~pan-sovtets at
Moscow. Won Hindenburg's diplo-
mats are once more in a Quandary-
They cannot trust the peace they
have made, for fear Of betrayal; and
they dare not continue to treat Rus
STA as an active enemy lest this pro-
vide the very impetus for q recovery
of Russia's offensive power.
There is every reason to believe
hat the delegates to the pan-soviet
congress were men without expert
ence in public affairs, who were not
informed authoritattvely concerning
the terms of the peace treaty they
were accepting. They put their trust
in Lenine, who, practically alone, Is
responsible for the delivery Of the
paper pact to the German a%utocrats.
1t is impossible to believe the Ger
mans will ven attempt to carry out
all the provisions of the peace agree
ments at Russia. expense while the
continues on the west front.
The terms that press onerouly
upon the Russian people will prob
ably be ignored for the time being.
To attempt to exact them might too
easily the Russian MS to a new
fury.
The kaiser. In fact. wants a Rus
sian peace agreement primarily for
bargaining purposes with the western
democracies when he is defeated on
the west front. It IS now for the
revoluttonists who no longer
trust Lenfne to res from the Hohen.
zollerns yer their small comfort
The probabilities favor such a de-
Russia is historically the
land OF surprises. The revolutionary
spirit Is too dominant there for n
kind OF agreement with the Hohen.
zollerns to endure.
japaneee Intervention.
WASHINGTON, March 18.-The
States probably will ~interpose
new objections to Japanese propos-
ais for Intervention in Siberia. The
of1g1nal Withholding of assent and the
expression OF views against interven.
ton, will stand.
This vas indicated In reliable QUAR-.
ters today as the American position
the present moment.
The general viewpoint is that the
States has said its say, but this
Is framed in friendly language and is
not such as to prevent japan from act
Ing II she sees fit.
japan apparently ts marking time,
awaiting President Wilson's expected
remarks before the court OF world
on the proposed expedition.
Announcement by Premier Ter
1chi that nothing has been decided
with reference to the situation
with official announcement
here that negotiations between the
TWO governments are still going on.
There was some fntimation today
hat the president may make a visit
70 some nearby army training camp
the occasion to outline his views
ipon the Japanese and Russian situa-
and the war in generator simp-
issue a statement.
Deep satisfaction is felt here at the
wholly friendly manner in which
Japan Is proceeding in the negotia-
ions. It emphasizes, officials say,
he new spirit OF cooperation which
las developed between the two coun-
Significance vas attached to a con-
between Lord Reading. the
British ambassador and President Will
son this afternoon. II was held mora
han likely that the Japanese problem
would be discussed.
Francis Enroute for Hardin.
TOXIC, March 18-United States
Francis, with a party Of
:hfrty-six Americans. Japanese and
Chinese, passed Omsk on March 9,
,eade5 for Harbn according 70 adj
reaching here today.
Russla'a Two Bosses.
LONDON, March 1S.-Leon Trotsky
-emains in control of the situation in
.~etrograd, while Nikolai Lenine Is
managing at MOSCOW, it is agreed by
dispatches received here to-
the commissariat of foreign
,ffairs to NJ. Chfckerfn because he