His Excellency Ludendorff: In Berlin, as I have heard, German-Persian cooperation is being pursued. (His Excellency v. Hentig) I oppose this policy and am therefore in favor of leaving the Turks a way open to Persia.
His Excellency von Kühlmann: For my part, I place no value in transferring the areas in question to Persia.
Chancellor: I am guided constantly by the thought that we cannot fight indefinitely.
His Excellency Ludendorff: We are not and we do not want to. What we are doing down there in Persia is directed against England.
Chancellor: Does England still have troops down there?
Field Marshall: About 20,000 men.
His Excellency von Kühlmann: From a political standpoint I have nothing against giving the Turks a free hand, if we can say that it is purely a Turkish undertaking against Persia.
His Excellency Ludendorff: It could, however, someday become a German-English affair. Right now we do not have the troops for it. In principle, however, I would not consider it to be a misfortune to send several ba[ttal]ions down there.
Field Marshall: It is just a question of small forces, primarily technical troops, etc.
Chancellor: The danger of new military complications will always be present. The war will only be prolonged.
Field Marshall: Quite the contrary; the end of the war will be accelerated.