The Emperor Charles, too, was not averse to the movement.

The Emperor Francis Joseph was too old and too conservative to make the experiment.

His idea was _quieta non movere_.

Without powerful help from outside any attempt during the war against the German-Magyar opposition would not have been feasible.

Therefore, when Wilson came forward with his Fourteen Points, and in spite of the scepticism with which the message from Washington was received by the German public and here too, I at once resolved to take up the thread.
I repeat that I never doubted the honourable and sincere intentions entertained by Wilson--nor do I doubt them now--but my doubts as to his powers of carrying them out were from the first very pronounced.
It was obvious that Wilson, when conducting the war, was much stronger than when he took part in the Peace Conference.