Professor Paul Painlevé, who preceded M. Clemenceau as Premier, issued
the following explanatory statement:
During the year 1917 Austria made several attempts to open
semi-official negotiations with the Entente Allies. Notably in
June, 1917, I was advised by the Second Bureau that Austria,
through the person of Count Revertata, had several times asked,
through a Swiss intermediary, for an interview with the officer
attached to the Second Bureau, Major Armand, a distant relative.
Alexander Ribot, then Premier, having been consulted, Major
Armand and Count Revertata met in August, 1917. The matter
stopped there, and no interview took place from August until
November, when I left office.
The events which occurred afterward naturally are unknown to me,
but I presume, from the statement made by Premier Clemenceau,
that Count Revertata returned to the charge.