More than that cannot be expected.
Your Majesty, nevertheless, owes it to God and to your peoples to make every effort to avert the catastrophe of a collapse of the Monarchy; it is your sacred duty to God and to your peoples to defend those peoples, the dynastic principle and your throne with all the means in your power and to your very last breath.
On May 11 there came the following official answer from the Imperial Chancellor, which was sent by the German Emperor to the Emperor Charles, and then to me:-- In accordance with Your Majesty's commands I beg most humbly to submit the following in answer to the enclosed _expose_ from the Imperial and Royal Minister for Foreign Affairs of 12th ult.
Since the _expose_ was drawn up, the French and English on the Western front have carried out the predicted great offensive on a wide front, ruthlessly sacrificing masses of men and an enormous quantity of war material.

The German army checked the advance of the numerically superior enemy; further attacks, as we have every reason to believe, will also be shattered by the heroism of the men and the iron will of their leaders.
Judging from all our experiences hitherto in the war, we may consider the situation of the Allied armies on the Isonzo with the same confidence.
The Eastern front has been greatly reduced owing to the political upheaval in Russia.

There can be no question of an offensive on a large scale on the part of Russia.

A further easing of the situation would release more men even if it were considered necessary to have a strong barrier on the Russian frontier to guard against local disturbances owing to the revolutionary movement.

With the additional forces, the conditions in the West would become more favourable for us.