With Germany there was at present no possibility of intercourse.

France insisted on the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine, and the entire Entente demanded the abolition of German militarism.
Neither would Germany be allowed to retain her colonies.

But Germany was not yet "ripe" for this demand to be made.

In the opinion of the Entente, therefore, any debate on the subject would be useless.

For us the case was different.