ening her line in Flanders: have
stiffened the resistance of her people; and probably have
influenced a certain body of neutral opinion not only in her favour
but against her antagonists.

I shall not try to mention the various sources from which the
threads that compose this fabric have been drawn, but I finally
fastened on X of the Admiralty as a man with whom I could talk
profitably and confidentially, and he told me positively that his
information showed that Germany was looking in the direction I have
indicated, and that she would soon approach the President on the
subject--even if she had not already taken the first steps toward
preparing her advance to him.

I asked X if he thought it well for me to broach the subject to
Lord Grey and he suggested that I first consult Y, which I did. The
latter seemed very wary at the outset, but he warmed up at last and
in the course of the conversation told me he had reliable
information that when Bethmann-Hollweg went to Munich just before
the beginning of the allied offensive in the west in June he told
the King of Bavaria that he was confident the Allies would be
obliged to begin overtures for peace next October; adding that if
they didn't Germany would have to do so. The King, it appears,
asked him how Germany could approach the Allies if it proved to be
advisable and he replied: "Through our good friend Wilson."

I asked Y if the King of Spain's good offices would not be enlisted
jointly with those of the President in attempting to arrange an
armistice, but he thought not, and said that the King of Spain was
very well aware that the Allies would not consider anything short
of definite peace proposals from Germany and that His Majesty knew
the moment for them had not arrived. I then finally asked him point
blank if he thought the Germans would approach the President for an
armistice, and, if so, when. He said he was inclined to think they
might do so perhaps about October. On my asking him if he was
disposed to let me communicate his opinion privately to the
Government in Washington he replied after some hesitation that he
had no objection, but he quickly added that I must make it clear at
the same time that the British Government would not listen to any
such proposals.

These conversatio