Whether that independence is to be complete and international, or only as within the bounds of a Russian federative state, they do not seem quite to know themselves.

Evidently, the very intelligent Ukrainian delegates intended to use us as a springboard from which they themselves could spring upon the Bolsheviks.

Their idea was that we should acknowledge their independence, and then, with this as a _fait accompli_, they could face the Bolsheviks and force them to recognise their equal standing and treat with them on that basis.

Our line of policy, however, must be either to bring over the Ukrainians to our peace basis, or else to drive a wedge between them and the Petersburgers.

As to their desire for independence, we declared ourselves willing to recognise this, provided the Ukrainians on their part would agree to the following three points: 1.