_Serbian Government Report_, PROFESSOR R. A. REISS, _University of Lausanne, Switzerland_.
_Von Bethmann-Hollweg_: "_The worst of it is, I must always deny having been there._"
In reality none of our enemies has approached us with suggestions of peace. Our enemies have rather considered it to their interest to attribute to us falsely offers of peace. Both facts have the same explanation--self-deception beyond compare, which we would only make worse if we approached them with peace proposals, instead of waiting for them to come to us.
VON BETHMANN-HOLLWEG. _Reichstag, December 5, 1915._
_FERDINAND S'EN VA T'EN GUERRE NE SAIT S'IL REVIENDRA_
In true comradeship the glorious triumphal march of your Majesty's nation in arms began, which, under the guidance of its illustrious War Lord, has added one sublime leaf of glory to another in the history of Bulgaria. In order to give visible expression to my feelings for such deeds, and to the feelings of all Germany, I have begged your Majesty to accept the dignity of Prussian Field Marshal, and I am, with my army, happy that you, by accepting it, also in this sense _have become one of us_.
_The_ GERMAN EMPEROR _to_ KING FERDINAND _of Bulgaria at Nish, Serbia, December, 1916._
_The Kaiser_: "_Don't bother about your people, 'Tino. They must do what we say._"
The Venizelist "Patris" took another view of the situation on the same date:
Only those who are unable to foresee things, or who are panic-stricken, would be unable to foretell the evolution of the events immediately following the Austro-German attack on Serbia. The Central Empires, not disposing enough troops for this campaign, needed the Bulgars, with whom they associated; but they also needed the neutrality of Greece, because without it Bulgaria would be unable to cooperate with them, as she would have to defend herself against Greece. In order to secure Bulgar help, the Austro-Germans used the method of compensation. The whole of Serbian Macedonia, a part of Old Serbia, an exit on the Adriatic Sea, concessions at the expense of Turkey--all this was a part of the national problem of the Bulgarian lust of conquest. It was in this way that the Bulgarians undertook the assassin's job of striking Serbia from behind. In order to secure the neutrality of Greece, the Austro-Germans resorted to the Prussian method of terrorism, inasmuch as no other concessions and compensations were at hand. Both methods have been equally successful.