But I drew attention to the rather obscure sense of the application, not being able to understand whether the State applying to us wished for peace _with us only_, or with the entire _group of Powers_, and I was constrained to emphasise the fact that we did not intend to separate from our Allies.

I was ready, however, to offer my services as mediator if, as presumed, the State making the advance was ready to conclude peace with our entire group of Powers.

I would guarantee secrecy, as I, first of all, considered it superfluous to notify our Allies.

The moment for that would only be when the situation was made clear.
This was followed on March 9 by a reply accepting, though not giving a direct answer to the point of whether the proposal was for a peace with us alone or together with our Allies.

In order to have it made clear as quickly as possible, and not to lose further time, I answered at once requesting the hostile Power to send a confidential person to a neutral country, whither I also would send a delegate, adding that I hoped that the meeting would have a favourable result.
I never received any answer to this second telegram.