File No. 763.72119/36
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, November 18, 1914, 4 p.m.
[Received November 19, 8 a.m.]
[Telegram]
1083. I have heard, directly from General French, that he now regards the result of the war as practically determined. His opinion is that the Germans have done their utmost and there will now be a slow victory of the Allies, won perhaps next spring. Frederick Palmer, the man of best judgment among American correspondents, has just returned from a visit to the German armies and headquarters and he reports that their commanders know that they will be beaten. Anderson brings the impression from Berlin that they know they cannot win.
But no one expects early peace because the Allies will insist on an enormous indemnity to Belgium which the Germans are not expected to grant till they have to confess hopeless defeat. Public opinion on neither side will yet permit peace. But various German tentative proposals such as her recent proposal to France are expected as “feelers” during the next few months. When they are unsuccessful it will be denied that they were made. Informed British opinion is much more cheerful than it has been since the war, and Parliament and the whole people are preparing for war for an indefinite time. A long luncheon talk to-day with Sir Edward Grey revealed the state of mind of the Government, namely, that peace cannot be thought of and will not be discussed till Germany will agree to pay for the full restoration of Belgium, and he does not think that Germany will agree to this till she is thoroughly exhausted.
Perhaps the President may be interested in this.