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WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

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VATICAN AND KUHLMANN PEACE MOVES 295<br />

(1) Integrity of the Monarchy.<br />

(2) Slight improvements in the frontier against Russia.<br />

(3) Strategic rectifications of frontier against Roumania<br />

(Iron Gate, and eventually the Bistrica valley).<br />

(4) Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia, though it must<br />

surrender the areas promised to Bulgaria, the Albanian portions<br />

to Albania, the Matschwa from Belgrade. With a view to satisfying<br />

Bulgaria, Baron Burian will eventually concede still more<br />

territory to that country. The rest of restored Serbia shall be<br />

joined in a close economic association with Austria.<br />

(5) Restoration of the Kingdom of Montenegro, which will<br />

surrender certain areas to Austria-Hungary and Albania.<br />

(6) Independence of Albania under Austro-Hungarian protectorate.<br />

(7) Strategic rectifications of frontier against Italy. (Certain<br />

barren and mountainous districts.)<br />

These arrogant documents were written by Ludendorff<br />

at a time when Sir Douglas Haig was assuring us that the<br />

German Army was crumbling under his terrible onset in<br />

Flanders.<br />

The Army policy in Germany was definitely expansionist<br />

in the West as well as the East. It may be said that this<br />

memorandum simply represented the extravagant demands<br />

put forward by the military, but the military were definitely<br />

on top and the fact must not be overlooked that the Germans<br />

were in actual occupation of the territories they contemplated<br />

annexing and of a good deal more. A letter written by<br />

Michaelis the day after the conference shows that in so far<br />

as Belgium is concerned, there was no substantial difference<br />

between him and General Headquarters. As to annexations<br />

on the Eastern frontier, soldier and civilian were in complete<br />

accord. Such difficulties as existed had reference to expansion<br />

on the Western Front. This is what Michaelis wrote on<br />

September 12th to the Army Chiefs:

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