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

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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.

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