The Chancellor remarks that it will be a heavy imposition on Kaiser Karl if one were to demand that the upcoming negotiations commence with Austria’s waiving its claims to Poland.
General Ludendorff explains that it was agreed at one time that Germany should annex Poland, while Austria was to have a free hand in Romania. Subsequently, the opposite was agreed; in return for giving up Poland, Germany could incorporate Romania politically and economically. This resolution was not incorporated into the Romanian peace, so the basis for the Austro-Polish solution disappeared. Had the Romanian peace in fact been concluded as one had envisaged in the agreement just mentioned, he could not oppose the Austro-Polish solution, as this would be disloyal. However, under the present conditions, Germany cannot be accused of disloyalty if it no longer considers itself bound by the Austro-Polish solution. Therefore it should also not be difficult for Kaiser Karl to agree to abandon the Austro-Polish solution.
Field Marshall von Hindenburg emphasizes that the moment is extraordinarily favorable. It has to be exploited.
General von Cramon is of the opinion that Kaiser Karl is not so very partial to the Austro-Polish solution either.
The Chancellor explains that the negotiations must deal with the three points – that is, with the political, the military, and the economic union, and only then may the Polish problem be broached. The negotiations must be conducted along the lines proposed in the draft that he has read out.
General Lundendorff repeats once again that he is very much in favor of a military and political alliance with Austria-Hungary, if the Austro-Polish solution is abandoned. Furthermore, General von Arz is no friend of the Austro-Polish solution.
State Secretary von Kühlmann remarks if one wishes to abandon the Austro-Polish solution, one must at least know which alternative solution one prefers in its place. One has spoken of a so-called “candidate solution.” However, it is by no means clear what one is to understand by this term.
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