Nothing is known to the Austro-Hungarian Government of
entreaties for an alleged separate peace with which the
Austro-Hungarian Government worried the Governments of Rome,
Washington, and London. When M. Clemenceau asks the
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister whether he remembers that two
months before the Revertata affair--that is, about a year
ago--an attempt of a like nature was made by a personage of far
higher rank, Count Czernin does not hesitate to reply in the
affirmative. But for the sake of completeness and entire
correctness it should be added that this attempt also led to no
result.
So much for the establishment of the facts. For the rest, it
need only be remarked that Count Czernin for his part would see
no reason to deny it if, in this or any similar case, he had
taken the initiative, because, in contrast to M. Clemenceau, he
believes that it cannot be a matter for reproach for a
Government to make attempts to bring about an honorable peace,
which would liberate all peoples from the terrors of the present
war.
The dispute raised by M. Clemenceau has, moreover, diverted
attention from the real kernel of Count Czernin's statement. The
essence of this statement was not so much who suggested the
discussions undertaken before the beginning of the western
offensive, but who caused their collapse. And M. Clemenceau up
to the present has not denied that he refused to enter upon
negotiations on the basis of the renunciation of the
reacquisition of Alsace-Lorraine.