She is not nearly at the end of her rope either in a military or an economic sense.
What then?
The Allies are still stronger--so long as they hold together as one man.

But is it reasonable to assume that they can?
And, even if they can, is it worth while to win a complete victory at such a cost as the lives of practically all the able-bodied men in Europe?
But can the Allies hold together as one man for two or three or four years?
Well, what are we going to do?
And here came the news of the lunch.

General French informed me that the President had sent to England, at the request of the Kaiser, a proposal looking toward peace, Germany offering to give up Belgium and to pay for its restoration.
"This," said Sir John, "is their fourth proposal." "And," he went on, "if they will restore Belgium and give Alsace-Lorraine to France and Constantinople will go to Russia, I can't see how we can refuse it." He scouted the popular idea of "crushing out militarism" once for all.
It would be desirable, even if it were not necessary, to leave Germany as a first-class power.

We couldn't disarm her people forever.

We've got to leave her and the rest to do what they think they must do; and we must arm ourselves the best we can against them.
Now--did General French send for me and tell me this just for fun and just because he likes me?
He was very eager to know my opinion whether this peace offer were genuine or whether it was a trick of the Germans to--publish it later and thereby to throw the blame for continuing the war on England?
It occurs to me as possible that he was directed to tell me what he told, trusting to me, in spite of his protestations of personal confidence, etc., to get it to the President.