WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

THE AUSTRIAN PEACE MOVE 221
In the following months, persistent rumours gained currency
that Austria was on the lookout for an opportunity to
make a separate peace with the Entente. And in fact we
learnt later that as early as December 5th, 1916, Karl was
party to an approach being made through his mother-in-law
to his wife's brother, Prince Sixte of Bourbon, who was then
serving as an artillery officer in the Belgian Army, for the
purpose of voicing his desire for peace negotiations.
Although Austrian statesmen had been primarily responsible
for plunging Europe into the carnage of a World
War, there was no feeling of antipathy towards Austria,
either in Britain or in France. Germany was regarded as
the real culprit. This was not altogether a just appreciation
of the origin of the War. But it would be fair to say that,
without the guaranteed support of Germany, Austria would
not have struck the blow that precipitated universal war.
British and Austrian swords had never clashed, and British
and Austrian interests had not hitherto come into conflict
in any part of the globe. And although French and Austrian
soldiers had fought against each other on many a famous
battlefield, still there was no feeling of rooted hostility on
either side. They had in recent times been equally the victims
of Prussian militarism. That gave them a certain comradeship
in misfortune. The aged Austrian Kaiser was regarded
as a genial and well-meaning potentate who wished to end
his days in peace with all mankind. The names of Austrian
statesmen conveyed no significance to the general public outside
Austria. The French view of the origin of the War was
that Germany engineered it, and when the suitable moment
arrived put the pistol in the hands of the venerable Emperor
and urged him to pull the trigger that not only gave the
signal, but fired the powder magazine of Europe. At any
time, therefore, when Austria was prepared to restore Serbian
independence and emancipate its Italian population, Britain