never return.  A new order will be born in throes and convulsions.  I said so publicly some time back, in my Budapest speech, and it was received with disapproval practically on all sides.

  This has made a long letter after all, and it is late. Lebe
  wohl, and let me hear from you again soon.—­In friendship as of
  old, yours

  (Signed) CZERNIN.

With regard to the peace negotiations in Brest-Litovsk, I will leave my diary to speak for itself.  Despite many erroneous views that may appear in the following notes, and various unimportant details, I have not abbreviated it at all, since it gives, in its present form, what I believe will be a clear picture of the development.

“December 19, 1917.—­Departure from Vienna, Wednesday, 19th.

“Four o’clock, Nordbahnhof.  Found the party already assembled there:  Gratz and Wiesner, Colloredo, Gautsch and Andrian, also Lieut.  Field-Marshal Csicserics, and Major Fleck, Baden.

“I took the opportunity on the journey to give Csicserics an idea of my intentions and the tactics to be pursued.  I told him that in my opinion Russia would propose a general peace, and that we must of course accept this proposal.  I hoped that the first steps for a general peace would be taken at Brest, and not given up for a long time.  Should the Entente not accept, then at least the way would be open for a separate peace.  After that I had long discussions with Gratz and Wiesner, which took up more or less the whole day.

“December 20, 1917.—­Arrived at Brest a few minutes past five.  At the station were the Chief of Staff, General Hoffmann, with some ten of his suite, also the emissary Rosenberg and Merey with my party.  I greeted them on the platform, and after a few words Merey went into the train with me to tell me what had happened during the past few days.  On the whole, Merey takes a not unfavourable view of the situation, and believes that, unless something unforeseen crops up, we should succeed within a reasonable time in arranging matters satisfactorily.

“At six o’clock I went to pay my visit to General Hoffmann; he gave me some interesting details as to the mentality of the Russian delegates, and the nature of the armistice he had so fortunately concluded.  I had the impression that the General combined expert knowledge and energy with a good deal of calm and ability, but also not a little Prussian brutality, whereby he had succeeded in persuading the Russians, despite opposition at first, to agree to very favourable terms of truce.  A little later, as arranged, Prince Leopold of Bavaria came in, and I had some talk with him on matters of no importance.