Extracted from Haig's Diary: Haig attended Downing Street and gave his opinion on the terms to offer Germany if they asked for an Armistice. "Saturday 19 October "I visited the War Office soon after 10 am and saw Wilson. He gave me his views on conditions of armistice. He considers 'that the Germans should be ordered to lay down their arms and retire to the east bank of the Rhine'. "I gave my opinion that in that case there would be no armistice, and the war would continue for at least another year! "We went over together to 10 Downing Street, and found Mr Lloyd George, Lord Milner and Bonar Law discussing. General Davidson accompanied me. The PM asked my views on the terms which we should offer the Enemy if he asked for an armistice. I replied that they must greatly depend on the answers we give to two questions: 1. Is Germany now so beaten that she will accept whatever terms the Allies may offer? 2. Can the Allies continue to press the Enemy sufficiently vigorously during the coming winter months as to cause him to withdraw so quickly that he cannot destroy the railways, roads, etc.? "The answer to both is in negative. The German Army is capable of retiring to its own frontier, and holding that line if there should be any attempt to touch the honour of the German people [and make them fight with the courage of despair.] The situation of the Allied Armies is as follows: French Army worn out, and has not been fighting latterly. It has been freely said that 'war is over' and 'we don't wish to lose our lives now that peace is in sight'. American Army is disorganised, ill equipped and ill trained. Good officers and NCOs are lacking. The British Army was never more efficient but has fought hard, and it lacks reinforcements. With diminishing effectives, moral is bound to suffer. "French and American Armies are not capable of making a serious offensive now. The British alone might bring the Enemy to his knees. But why expend more British lives - and for what? "In the coming winter, Enemy will have some months for recuperation and absorption of 1920 class, untouched as yet. He will be in a position to destroy all communications before he falls back. This will mean serious delay to our advance next year. "I therefore recommend that terms of armistice should be: 1. Immediate evacuation of Belgium and occupied French territory. 2. Metz and Strassburg to be at once occupied by the Allied Armies, and Alsace-Lorraine to be vacated by the Enemy. 3. Belgian and French rolling stock to he returned, inhabitants restored etc. "When I had finished my remarks, Hankey (the Secretary of War Cabinet) came in and I had to repeat most of what I had said for him to note down. "The Prime Minister seemed in agreement with me. Wilson urged laying down arms. Lord Milner took a middle course between my recommendations and those of Foch, i.e., in addition to what I lay down he would occupy the west bank of the Rhine as a temporary measure until the Germans ha complied with our peace terms. "About noon Mr Balfour (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) came in, and the whole story was gone over again. "I was asked what the attitude of the Army would be if we stuck out for stiff terms, which Enemy then refuses, and war goes on. I reminded the PM of the situation a year ago when there were frequent demands for information as to what we were fighting for. He (the PM) then made a speech and stated our war aims. The British Army had done most of the fighting latterly, and everyone wants to have done with the war, provided we get what we want. I therefore advise that we only ask in the Armistice for what we intend to hold, and that we set our faces against the French entering Germany to pay off old scores. In my opinion, under the supposed conditions, the British Army would not fight keenly for what is really not its own affair. "Mr Balfour spoke about deserting the Poles and the people of Eastern Europe. But the PM gave the opinion that we cannot expect the British to go on sacrificing their lives for the Poles! Admiral Wemyss, 1st Sea Lord, then came in and the views of Navy for an armistice were stated. They seemed most exacting and incapable of enforcement except by a land force."
