WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

252 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
Czernin was clearly opposed to any concessions to Italy and
he also contemplated not a separate peace talk with Austria
but a negotiation in which all Austria's allies were to be consulted.
That would have been fatal. As far as Austria herself
was concerned, the main difficulty, of course, was still Italy.
Sixte doubted whether Austria would consider one of the
African colonies of Italy a sufficient compensation for the
surrender of the Trentino. He gave me all the further details
he could about the alleged Italian offer to Austria. It was
clearly a story about the truth of which it would be hard to
get verification unless the quarters in Italy responsible for
the move saw fit to own up to their action.
I told the Prince that if any progress were to be made,
we should have to arrange discussions among persons capable
of making responsible decisions. Something might be done if
a meeting could be arranged between Czernin, Ribot and
myself. I did not want a meeting of diplomats who had no
authority to commit their respective countries.
I made an arrangement for the King to receive Prince
Sixte and myself that afternoon at three o'clock.
After the visit to the Palace I arranged with Sixte that
I would communicate forthwith with M. Ribot, and on hearing
from him would be better able to give the Prince an answer
to take back to the Emperor Karl.
I wrote at once the following letter to the French Premier:
"10 Downing Street,
Whitehall, S.W.I.
23rd May, 1917.
"Dear M. Ribot,
"I saw to-day your informant and took him to the King.
The latter concurs in your suggestion that a meeting should be
arranged in France between the two Kings and President Poincare,
with their representative Ministers. Will you kindly take