Austro-Hungarian troops are nowhere opposed to the Petersburg Government--we have the Ukrainian against us--and it is impossible to export anything from Petersburg, since they have nothing there themselves but _revolution and anarchy, goods which the Bolshevists, no doubt, would be glad to export, but which I must politely decline to receive_.
"In spite of this, I wish to make peace with Petersburg as well, since this, like any other cessation of hostilities, brings us nearer to the _general peace_.
"It is otherwise with Ukraine.

For the Ukraine has supplies of provisions which they will export if we can agree on commercial terms.
The question of food is to-day a matter of anxiety throughout the world; among our opponents, and also in the neutral countries, it is a burning question.

I wish to profit by the conclusion of peace with those Russian states which have food to export, in order to help our own population.

_We could and would hold out without this assistance._ But I know my duty, and my duty bids me do all that can be done to lighten the burden of our suffering people, and I will not, therefore, from any hysterical nervousness about getting to final peace a few days or a few weeks earlier, throw away this possible advantage to our people.

Such a peace takes time and cannot be concluded in a day.