November 4, 1918

Mermeix, the venerable journalist, came in today and gave us some interesting details as to certain aspects of the pending armistice negotiations hitherto unknown to us. In their discussion on October 25, he says, Petain insisted, as did Foch, upon the complete disarmament of all German troops in France with the exception of what he called carrying arms (I suppose small arms are meant). He further demanded a broad strip of German territory as a protection against a renewal of invasion and as a pledge for carrying out the other stipulations of the capitulation. He insists that the Germans should only be allowed ten days in which to leave French territory. In this way they would be prevented from taking with them their stores and war supplies. He insists that the French armed forces should occupy the left bank of the Rhine and a zone fifty kilometers deep on the right bank. This, he said, was his minimum demand, but he was quite confident that the Germans would not accept it.

Haig,¹ according to Mermeix, expressed his belief that the whole discussion was a waste of time and that the Germans were not ready to accept such enormous demands. He added that if an armistice is really desired at the present moment more modest terms should be offered. While the Allied armies are victorious, they are worn down and have gotten far ahead of their supplies and have also outrun their communications. And, while the German forces are in a measure disorganized, their spirit of resistance is not entirely broken. As for himself, he contended that the evacuation of Alsace-Lorraine, and of course of all French territory, would seal the victory.

General Pershing, Mermeix reports, was far from enthusiastic for an armistice at this time, but he conceded that he would approve any terms that Foch approved of. Lord Milner, British delegate, expressed great fear of the growing strength of the Bolsheviki and he contended that as the first bulwark against the Red flood Germany should be given sufficient armament to cope with this menace.