The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-25

tory remarks ~I repeated my state ment of the previous day about moral endurance.
 His Majesty then called on Secretary Of State von Hintze. Won Hintze of fered no opinion about affairs at home. but went straight to the military and political situation. adopting the same view I had given the previous day, drawing the same conclusions: he was manifestly moved; tears stood in his eyes.
 MAKE PEACE" SAYS KAISER
 The .mperor was very calm. He agreed with Secretary of State von Htntze, and instructed him to open up peace negotiations. if possible through the medium of the Queen of the Netherlands. He also pointed out the desirabiIity of enlightening the people. and the necessity for united and firm government policy.
 The Chancellor emphasized the need for upholding authority at home Diplo- matic negotiations must be opened at the right moment. The conference then closed; deeply moved. I shook hands with Secretary of State yon HintZe.
 Meanwhile the Emperor Charles had arrived in Spa with Baron Burian and General von Arg. The statesmen are ksaid to have discussed peace questions, as demanded by the situation; in par ticular the step taken by Baron Burian, (who had addressed a vague peace of fer to the allies.) I was not informed of this at the time but learned it later from a remark by von Hintze.
 Further, the Polish question also came under discussion Baron Burian adhered to his own conception (of an Austrian Prince on the Polish throne) 1 We had missed a good opportunity of coming to a definite agreement with Austria His Majesty meanwhile. sup ported by the Chancellor. was inclined to favour a solution by which Poland was to have a prince of her own choos- ing, whilst retaining her economic de- pendence on Germany.
 With such divergent views an agreement with Austria Hungary was impossible. His Majesty's proposal seemed to me really practical and in- deed corresponded to my personal con- victions. I must expressly state here that the Emperor was always against the idea of a personal union with Poland.
 DEMANDS AUSTRIAN TROOPS The general military situation, which had developed, was discussed with Gen eral von Arg, and also the necessity of reinforcing the western front with more Austrian divisions; so far only two had arrived. General von Arg had not abandoned the idea of an offensixe in Italy. but was now of opinion that the Austro Hungarian Arty was no longer in a condition to hold out through the coming winter That was my last interview with this General whom I held in the highest esteem both as a man and soldier.
 After the Emperor Charles had left for Vienna the Field Marshal and immediately returned to Avesnes. I had 4 ~t,4 rf1-,v1 leave Spa as well, in order to acquaint the Secretary of State and the Reich stag with the situation in the light of our conference. The education of pub lie opinion was one of his functions.
 He remained in Spa. however. and left it to the Vive- Chancellor von Bayer and Secretary of State von Hintze to talk to the party leaders Ebert. Groe- Der, Stresemann. Count won Westarp and Wiener. They were equested to attend at the Minstery of the Interior on the Fist At the conference there. Secretary of State von Hintze explained the military and political situation, and arrived at the same conclusion as had been reached at Sps, that the war must be brought to a close as speedily as possible He announced his intention of taking all steps to procure peace.
 Gentlemen who were present at this conference told me how they had been very gravely impressed by our military situation Of course military considera- tions and the proposed peace negoua- tions imposed the necessity for ex- treme reticence on Secretary of State von Hintze; it was bound to injure both seriously if, as happened later, our intentions were to be advertised broad cast With an enemy such as we had , to deal with this could only mean the continuat ton of the war, and the peace offer that would completely destroy us.
 For similar reasons to those which must have actuated Secretary of State von Hintze, I was not in a position to give my views on the peace question to the world in general. I discussed