“1.  As long as general peace is not yet declared, we cannot give up the occupied areas; they form part of our great munition works (factories, railways, sites with buildings, etc.).

“2.  After the general peace, a plebiscite in Poland, Courland, and Lithuania is to decide the fate of the people there; as to the form in which the vote is to be taken, this remains to be further discussed, in order that the Russians may have surety that no coercion is used.  Apparently, this suits neither party.  Situation much worse.

“Afternoon.—­Matters still getting worse.  Furious wire from Hindenburg about “renunciation” of everything; Ludendorff telephoning every minute; more furious outbursts, Hoffmann very excited, Kuehlmann true to his name and ‘cool’ as ever.  The Russians declare they cannot accept the vague formulas of the Germans with regard to freedom of choice.

“I told Kuehlmann and Hoffmann I would go as far as possible with them; but should their endeavours fail, then I would enter into separate negotiations with the Russians, since Berlin and Petersburg were really both opposed to an uninfluenced vote.  Austria-Hungary, on the other hand, desired nothing but final peace.  Kuehlmann understands my position, and says he himself would rather go than let it fail.  Asked me to give him my point of view in writing, as it ’would strengthen his position.’  Have done so.  He has telegraphed it to the Kaiser.

“Evening.—­Kuehlmann believes matters will be settled—­or broken off altogether—­by to-morrow.

“December 28, 1917.—­General feeling, dull.  Fresh outbursts of violence from Kreuznach.  But at noon a wire from Bussche:  Hertling had spoken with the Kaiser, who is perfectly satisfied.  Kuehlmann said to me:  ‘The Kaiser is the only sensible man in the whole of Germany.’

“We have at last agreed about the form of the committee; that is, a committee ad hoc is to be formed in Brest, to work out a plan for the evacuation and voting in detail. Tant bien que mal, a provisional expedient.  All home to report; next sitting to be held January 5, 1918.

“Russians again somewhat more cheerful.

“This evening at dinner I rose to express thanks on the part of the Russians and the four Allies to Prince Leopold.  He answered at once, and very neatly, but told me immediately afterwards that I had taken him by surprise.  As a matter of fact, I had been taken by surprise myself; no notice had been given; it was only during the dinner itself that the Germans asked me to speak.

“Left at 10 P.M. for Vienna.

“From the 29th to the morning of the 3rd I was in Vienna.  Two long audiences with the Emperor gave me the opportunity of telling him what had passed at Brest.  He fully approves, of course, the point of view that peace must be made, if at all possible.