‘PEACE WITH RUSSIA’ TROTSKY’S SURRENDER ‘WAR AT AN END’

A message transmitted through the wireless stations of the German Government yesterday and forwarded to us by the Admiralty per Wireless Press last night states:

Brest-litovsk, Sunday

At today’s sitting the leader of the Russian delegation made the announcement that Russia, while desisting from signing a formal treaty of peace, declared that the state of war with Germany, Austria-hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria was at an end. At the same time he announced the order for the complete demobilisation of the Russian forces on all fronts. In the connection present situation with the between further the discussions powers of resulting the Quadruple from Alliance consular, and Russia legal, regarding and economic the form relations, of mutual M Trotsky diplomatic, referred the Governments to the method concerned of indirect and communication the Commission between of the Quadruple Alliance already in Petrograd. The peace 10 articles. treaty According between the to these Central articles, Powers the and evacuation Ukrainia of contains the occupied relations territory will be is resumed to begin immediately; immediately; diplomatic alter the ratification and Consular of the prisoners peace will treaty; be compensation released; economic for war relations costs is will renounced; be reopened war immediately. The exchange of the documents for ratification will take place at the earliest opportunity. Other Brest-litovsk telegrams, received at Amsterdam, via, Berlin yesterday, and forwarded by Reuter’s correspondent, give some particulars of the signing of the peace treaty with the alleged representatives of the Ukraine Republic, and furnish the text of the treaty itself, but add no details concerning the declarations of Trotsky. Down to the present, such information as is available emanates entirely from German official sources, and must therefore be accepted with reserve. No word has yet come from Petrograd in confirmation. In fact, for nearly six days there has been no news whatever with regard to the situation in the Russian capital. The cause of this protracted silence – whether it is due to a breakdown of the wires or to other reasons – is not known. The Russian wireless stations were working on Saturday and Sunday, but were monopolised by the transmission of long accounts of the proceedings at the Brest Conference on Jan 31 and Feb 1, mostly devoted to further academic discussions of the position of the Ukraine Republic. Rumours were again current yesterday of a violent outbreak against the Bolsheviks, but these stories cannot be confirmed. In Finland anarchy and civil war are on the increase, and the Bolsheviks, having declared at Helsingfors that the death penalty is “abolished,” are using their Red Guard brigands to murder and pillage with ever-increasing ferocity in those parts of the country where they hold sway. The defection of Russia leaves Roumania in a most painful and dangerous position, and there is no doubt that the Central Powers will now make every effort to cajole or coerce her into a separate peace. Reuter’s agency states: It is learned in Romanian quarters, that communication remains open with Jassy, where the Royal family still is. No news has been received of any development of the situation since the expiry of the German ultimatum on Saturday. The exact terms of this ultimatum are not known, but it is believed to have contained veiled threats of a German offensive. The resignation of the Romanian Cabinet was due to a difference of opinion between the Liberal and Conservative branches, and the King decided upon the formation of a non-party Government, under the leadership of General Averesco. It is felt that the present situation is much too delicate and obscure to permit of the expression of any useful opinion upon it. General Averesco was formerly the Commander-in-chief of the Romanian army. Interviewed by the Petit Journal,m Antonesco, Romanian Minister to France, confirmed the news of the sending of a German ultimatum to Romania, and of the resignation of the Bratiano Cabinet. He said it was impossible for him to foresee what was going to happen, just as it had been impossible to foresee that a great Allied and friendly Power would turn against Romania instead of supporting her. “At any moment,” he went on, “telegrams may arrive to acquaint us with the decisions come to.”