A wireless Russian Communique [accessed in London on February 6] says: The proclamation of Lettish plenipotentiaries demands the undivided existence of the Lettish nation and denies the Austro-German claim that the populations of Lettonia and Courtland and Raga desire separation from Russia. It demands the withdrawal of forces to enable a free expression of opinion to be made. Russia has agreed to withdraw. The Central Powers could not object if they believed that the population desired separation. Baron Kuehlmann and Count Czernin have suddenly returned to Berlin from Brest-Litovsk ostensibly to participate in the deliberations regarding political, economic and territorial questions affecting the Central Powers. The precise meaning of this sudden interlude is unknown, but it seems to point to a temporary breakdown of negotiations and possibly foreshadows a final ultimatum demanding immediate acceptance of German annexationist terms.
