Early in September, 1917, he wrote to the Emperor Charles on the subject of an impending attack on the Italian front, and in this letter was the following passage:  “I trust that the possibility of a common offensive of our allied armies will raise the spirits of your Foreign Minister.  In my opinion, and in view of the general situation, there is no reason to be anything but confident.”  Other letters and statements prove the Emperor’s fluctuating frame of mind.  He, as well as the diplomats in the Wilhelmstrasse, made use, with regard to the “war-weary Austria-Hungary,” of such tactics as demonstrated a pronounced certainty of victory in order to strengthen our powers of resistance.

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The Archduke Friedrich deserves the greatest praise for having kept up the friendly relations between Vienna and Berlin.  It was not always easy to settle the delicate questions relating to the conduct of the war without giving offence.  The honest and straightforward nature of the Archduke and his ever friendly and modest behaviour saved many a difficult situation.

After our collapse and overthrow, and when the Imperial family could be abused with impunity, certain newspapers took a delight in covering the Archduke Friedrich with contumely.  It left him quite indifferent.  The Prince is a distinguished character, of faultless integrity and always ready to put down abuse.  He prevented many disasters, and it was not his fault if he did not succeed every time.

When I saw the Crown Prince Wilhelm again after several years, in the summer of 1917, I found him very tired of war and most anxious for peace.  I had gone to the French front on purpose to meet him and to try if it were possible through him to exercise some conciliatory pressure, above all, on the military leaders.  A long conversation that I had with him showed me very clearly that he—­if he had ever been of warlike nature—­was then a pronounced pacifist.

Extract from my Diary.

“On the Western front, 1917.  We drove to the Camp des Romains, but in detachments in order not to attract the attention of the enemy artillery to our cars, for in some places the road was visible to the enemy.  I drove together with Bethmann.  When discussing the military leaders, he remarked:  ’The generals will probably throw hand grenades at me when they see me.’

“An enemy flier cruised high up in the clouds over our heads.  He circled around, paying little heed to the shrapnel bursting on all sides.  The firing ceased, and the human bird soared into unapproachable heights.  The artillery fire a long way off sounded like distant thunder.

“The French lines are not more than a couple of hundred metres distant from the camp.  A shot fell here and there and a shell was heard to whistle; otherwise all was quiet.  It was still early.  The firing usually begins at ten and ceases at noon—­interval for lunch—­and begins again in the afternoon.