And defenceless and helpless as it is, it sends up a cry of despair and frantic grief.

One voice only is heard--such peace is impossible! How could an Austrian Government accept the dictates of London at a time when our armies stood far advanced in enemy country, unvanquished and unbroken, when we had for Ally the strongest land Power in the world, and when the greatest generals of the war so firmly believed in the break-through and in final victory?
To demand that in 1917 or 1918 I should have accepted peace terms which in 1919 were rejected by the whole of the German-Austrian people is sheer madness.

But it may be there is method in such madness.

The method of using every means to discredit the "old regime." * * * * * In the beginning of August, 1917, an effort was made at a _rapprochement_ between England and Germany which, unfortunately, almost immediately broke down.
At the suggestion of England a neutral Power had sounded Germany with regard to Belgium.

Germany replied that she was ready for direct verbal negotiations with England on the Belgian question.