One was that of evacuation.

The German Army Command declared categorically that no evacuation of the occupied districts could be thought of until after conclusion of the general peace.

The second difficulty arose in connection with the question as to treatment of the occupied districts.

Germany insisted that in the peace treaty with Russia it should be simply stated that Russia had conceded to the peoples within its territory the right of self-determination, and that the nations in question had already availed themselves of that right.

The plain standpoint laid down in our draft we were unable to carry through, although it was shared by the other Allies.