A person came to me on February 26 who was in a position to give credentials showing him to be a recognised representative of a neutral Power, and informed me on behalf of his Government that he had been instructed to let me know that our enemies--or at least one of them--were ready to conclude peace with us, and that the conditions would be favourable for us.

In particular, there was to be no question of separating Hungary or Bohemia from the Empire.

I was asked, if agreeable to the proposition, to communicate my conditions through the same agency, my attention being called, however, to the proviso that _these proposals made by the enemy Government would become null and void from the moment that another Government friendly to us or to the hostile country heard of the step_.
The bearer of this message knew nothing beyond its contents.

The final sentence made it obvious that one of the enemy Powers was anxious to negotiate unknown to the others.
I did not for a moment doubt that it was a question of Russia, and my authority confirmed my conviction by stating distinctly that he could not say so positively.

I answered at once by telegram on February 27 through the agency of the intervening neutral Power that Austria-Hungary was, of course, ready to put an end to further bloodshed, and did not look for any gains from the peace, because, as stated several times, we were engaged in a war of defence only.