Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
Peace at Russia's Expense explained
This chapter reveals secret peace maneuvers during World War I, including Austria's peace offer to France, the Berne Peace Conference of 1917, and an English agent's negotiations with a Bulgarian church dignitary, all indicating efforts to
What happens
This chapter reveals secret peace maneuvers during World War I, including Austria's peace offer to France, the Berne Peace Conference of 1917, and an English agent's negotiations with a Bulgarian church dignitary, all indicating efforts to make peace at the expense of Russia.
Themes in this chapter
National Self-Determination and Emancipation
The chapter discusses peace proposals that would sacrifice Russian interests, highlighting the tension between national self-determination and great power politics.
Key passages
“The Ribot revelations of Austria’s peace-offer to France; the so-called “Peace Conference” at Berne, Switzerland, during the summer of 1917, in which delegates participated from all belligerent countries, representing large financial interests in all these countries; and the attempted negotiations of an English agent with a Bulgarian church dignitary; all pointed to the fact that there were strong currents, on both sides, favourable to patching up a peace at the expense of Russia.”
Revelations about Austria's peace offer to France, the Berne Peace Conference of summer 1917 with delegates from all warring nations representing major financial interests, and an English agent's talks with a Bulgarian church figure all indicated powerful movements on both sides seeking a peace that would sacrifice Russian interests.
Summarizes the key evidence of secret peace efforts at Russia's expense.