WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

394 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
the East of England had a hostile population, whilst only a
patriotic and bellicose core remained in the centre. The account
that had reached us of the sessions of the Austrian
Chamber showed us that the nation was sulky. This appeared
to offer a special opportunity for a military and diplomatic
success. The prize was far the biggest in sight. If Austria
could be forced out of the War, Bulgaria and Turkey would
automatically have to go out. No more ammunition could
reach Bulgaria and Turkey and both would have to make
terms. Next year the whole of the forces now locked up in
Salonika, Mesopotamia, and Egypt would be set free for
operations on the Western Front. Moreover, Italy would
then be bound to support us, for I did not contemplate cooperation
with Italy without a bargain that if Austria was reduced
to terms, Italy should support us in our attacks against
Germany. How then was this result to be accomplished? I
then pointed out that the Italians had enormous resources
of men, but an insufficiency of guns. The Austrians were
unaccustomed to any bombardment on the scale experienced
on the Western Front and probably the first time that they
were exposed to it they would succumb. Taking into consideration
the great Italian preponderance of men, the addition
of heavy guns that they lacked should give them a
chance of success.
If success was achieved on the Italian Front, I believed
that victory in the War was assured. A separate peace with
Austria would then be practicable, and having eliminated
Austria from the War, Germany would be at our mercy.
I then called attention to the peril we should be in if
Russia went out of the War leaving Austria still fighting.
It might even endanger the prospect of ultimate victory.
(Sir Douglas Haig, being asked by me at this stage whether
he had any hope of victory this year, at once replied that
in his view he would have a very good chance of victory this