Evening star., 1920-03-29
SPEEDY PEACE
AFTER PARLEY
ESSEN IS SEEN
Berlin Trades Unions and
Communist Authorities
Reach Agreement.
So CITIES STILL AGREED
TO STRIKE IF NECESSARY
Berlin Hears Heartening News
From ALI Districts
Stricken.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ESSEN March IS Prospects Of q
speedy peace in the revolutionary work
mems movements in the Ruhr region
seemed bright tonight. following con-
ference of representatives of the Berlin
trades unions and the communist au-
thorities. There were signs of discord
in the worknfeffs S army and a conflict
between the military and civil leaders
of the movement, and the conference
declared strongly for supremacy OF the
political leaders.
DIR. Levy Present.
All the parties OF the left sent their
leaders to the conference from Berlin
and these united in urging peace and
the cessation of warfare. The strongest
advocate of the communists was DR..
Iaul Levy, president of the communist
party of Germany who was recently re-
leased from prison. where he was serv-
ing term for a political offense- DE-:
Levy denounced the commander-in-chief
of the workmen's forces, Herr Leitner
and the army itself in opposing an armi-
stice. as an attempt at military decta-
torship.
To Seize Munition Plants.
The conference decided to demand
control of all arms and ammunition
with seizure of the munitions plants
particularly the Krupp and Thyssen
works. To forestal the possibility OF
the governments rejection OF the
Nconferences's proposals, the threat OF
general strike, which had been pre-
viously made to support its demands
was incorporated in resolution by
which the conference, representing
he mi hffv-nlne
cities and districts, agreed. if neces-
sary to use all possible means to ef-
feet a most complete general strike.
Three of the Berlin representatives
were Herr Krasman. vice chairman OF
the Trades Union Federation. and
Deputies Brasse and Ostero1e. social
democrats. They said they came not
as government agents, but to seek to
mediate and adjust the differences
existing.
Hopes for Peace Today.
Among those most hopeful of 4 set
Element was DR.. Pevy. who told the
correspondent that hefoped fcf peace
by Monday or Tuesday at the latest
He agreed that he represented the ex-
tremists' element, but said he deemed
it impolitic and impracticable to try
for German soviet now with the Ruhr
district standing alone. He said that
unless the reichswehr were disarmed
the country would be in exactly the
same position as before the Kapp
revolution, and one might expect a
similar attempt at any time.
Essen Heart Of Ruhr S0viets.
Essen has become the heart and soul
of the Ruhr soviet movement. It Is
the most thoroughly controlled city OF
the district and the red army centere
there as well as the central committee
and the conferences of the various
executive committees. There is a muL
tiplicity of passes. the authorities
working according to a system that
to outsiders seems somewhat scram-
bled.
In the city hall the main officials
where drift in red army recruits
widows of fallen reds and long, rag.
ged streams of i'll assorted. beaten
looking men. nearly all with rifles
and heavily charged cartridge cases
ALI seem quiet and respectful. except
an occasional belligerent person, such
as a young truck driver captain, who
wanted to reQuisition clothing
When he was refused the necessary
authority he declared: II wish 1 had
my company here-Td shoot up the
whole lot of you"
The revolutionary tribunal of which
little is said. is officially reported
TO have effected it's first execution
that of an alleged 1ooter. last night
As one arrives at the city hall there
can be seen six field pieces and inside
all corners get an excellent view OF
two wooden coffin ends.