Page - 767 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

Peace Feelers 767 decisively consolidate his position ; the Germans had not been idle either. Forester was no longer allowed to see the Emperor and the Chief of Staff Polzer-Hoditz turned him away with the words from Dante’s Inferno : ‘Lasciate ogni speranza.’1795 The failure of Czernin’s attempts to enter into negotiations with the Entente powers certainly played a strong role in the changes that could be observed not only in his politics but also in himself. To this was added jealousy, since when Czernin failed, the others should be unsuccessful as well. The Foreign Minister was anxious beyond any sensible and necessary extent to be the only person responsible for policy, so that he became harsh and impatient towards everyone who attempted at the same time to put out peace feelers. He also mistrustfully took heed that the Emperor did not embark on any ‘excursions’. A willingness to make peace and engage in negotiations had been re- peatedly signalised during the spring. This was a genuine chance and  – as it was to turn out  – one that would never be repeated. At this moment, a clear policy of renunciation, without wanting to interfere simultaneously in German affairs, as well as a decisive imperial reform, would perhaps have been able to save the existence of the Monarchy. But at the time no-one saw this clearly enough and acted with the necessary consist- ency, least of all the Foreign Minister. Even Lloyd George, who had for a period of time campaigned so emphatically for the destruction of the Monarchy, faltered in view of the breakdown of Russia. Now it was, after all, suddenly a question of the European balance of power in a completely different way. Italy’s Sonnino was already afraid that Great Britain would drop Italy. Thus, here we can place our finger on the point where the judgement can be passed, though only in historical hindsight : in May and June 1917, Europe began to kill one of its own. Shortly thereafter, France had to go through a critical period and relied not least for domestic policy reasons on intransigence. Italy did not distance itself from the demands fixed in the Treaty of London, and Russia again endeavoured to continue the war on the side of the Entente. With this, the opportunity to reopen the political intercourse and to reconcile the political purpose with the military objective had passed.