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The Third Supreme Army Command and German War Aims (May 11, 1918)

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The Chancellor adds in closing that the most important questions appears to be whether the military alliance is to be concluded with one or two parties. For the rest, he will, of course, yield in this area to the expert judgment of the military leadership.

The conference turns now to the question of economic union.

The Chancellor begins by explaining that the Polish question is closely intertwined with this economic problem. One can even say that the Polish question is becoming a purely economic question. It will, however, be inappropriate to feature the Polish question in the upcoming discussions. Agreement on the Polish question has therefore been put into the draft treaty as a prerequisite for reaching agreement on the other points. He believes that there is agreement on the general desire among leading German agencies to abandon the Austro-Polish solution. It is not possible to clarify what Poland itself thinks. Sometimes it seems as if Poland inclines toward the Austro-Polish solution, sometimes the opposite appears to be the case. It will depend on a decision of both monarchs.

Ambassador Graf Wedel thinks that Baron Burian strongly endorses the Austro-Polish solution.

Field Marshall von Hindenburg believes that resolving the Polish question at the upcoming meeting is highly recommendable in order to avoid having to start all over again on every occasion and to achieve clarity on the issue at last.

General Ludendorff agrees with him and adds that from a strictly military standpoint, there is strong interest in seeing the Austro-Polish solution fail. In his eyes, the alliance that is being now considered will grow a lot in significance and force if one abandons the Austro-Polish idea. Shall Germany conclude a military alliance with an Austrian Poland as well?

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