WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

VATICAN AND KUHLMANN PEACE MOVES 305
without delay if I could take this step. In that case they will disclose
all the aspirations of Germany, and the concessions which
she is willing to make, without thereby implying any negotiation;
otherwise they will act through another channel.
They count in any case on our absolute discretion, which I
promised, although I would promise nothing further without
previous orders from you. Baron Lancken also told me that he
intended to go to The Hague before long, and added confidentially
that he would afterwards go to Switzerland, where he was to see
someone from Paris.
I am reporting all I know, because I consider it fitting that
Your Excellency should be informed, although in absolute secrecy,
of what appears to be the nucleus of an effort to secure a settlement,
and if this effort comes to nothing, my silence will not in
any way prejudice the interests of the Service. But I omit all
personal comments as long as I cannot count on the complete
approval and further order of Your Excellency.
BRUSSELS TO MADRID, 19th September, 1917.
Personal and Very Private.
I have just received your telegram. You are perfectly right
in regard to the difficulty of your telegram arriving before my
departure for Cologne, but, having no more time than that at
my disposal, I thought it my duty, while informing you in any
case, not to delay my journey and I still think that the text of
my telegram indicated this; I relied further in any event on
the confidence with which you have always been good enough
to honour me and on the assurance that whatever might happen it
was my duty to be careful not to compromise either Your Excellency
or the Spanish Government, while considering it on the
other hand my duty not to lose any opportunity likely to further
the royal service.
I believe that I have in no respect compromised the Government,
since, if you disapprove of the proposal made I can
sacrifice my standing with my interlocutor in the manner which
you may direct.