position.  Dr. Gratz maintained that it would be wiser to come back to the programme already discussed in general form; the project, by which United Poland should be left to Germany, and the attachment of Roumania to the Monarchy in consequence.  Dr. Gratz went at length into the details of this point of view.  The Emperor then summed up the essence of the opinions expressed to-day as indicating that it was primarily necessary to make peace with Petersburg and the Ukrainians, and that negotiations should be entered upon with Ukrainia as to the division of Galicia.  The question as to whether the Austro-Polish solution should be definitely allowed to drop was not finally settled, but shelved for the time being.

“In conclusion, Dr. Burian, the Minister of Finance, rose to speak, and pointed out, as Dr. Wekerle had done, the danger of the Austrian standpoint.  Burian declared that, while the war might doubtless change the internal structure of the Monarchy, such alteration must be made from within, not from without, if it were to be of any benefit to the Monarchy at all.  He further pointed out that if the Austrian principle of the division of Galicia were to be carried through, the form of so doing would be of great importance.  Baron Burian advised that a clause referring to this should be inserted, not in the instrument of peace itself, but in a secret annexe.  This form was, in his, Burian’s, view, the only possible means of diminishing the serious consequences of the steps which the Austrian Government wished to take.”

Thus the notes in my diary relative to this Council.  The Austrian Government was thus not only agreed as to the proposed arrangement with the Ukraine; it was indeed at the direct wish of the Government, by its instigation and on its responsibility, that it was brought about.

“January 28, 1918.—­Reached Brest this evening.

“January 29, 1918.—­Trotski arrived.

“January 30, 1918.—­The first plenary session has been held.  There is no doubt that the revolutionary happenings in Austria and in Germany have enormously raised the hopes of the Petersburgers for a general convulsion, and it seems to me altogether out of the question now to come to any peace terms with the Russians.  It is evident among the Russians themselves that they positively expect the outbreak of a world-revolution within the next few weeks, and their tactics now are simply to gain time and wait for this to happen.  The conference was not marked by any particular event, only pin-pricks between Kuehlmann and Trotski.  To-day is the first sitting of the Committee on territorial questions, where I am to preside, and deal with our territorial affairs.

“The only interesting point about the new constellation seems to be that the relations between Petersburg and Kieff are considerably worse than before, and the Kieff Committee is no longer recognised at all by the Bolsheviks as independent.