previously I had escaped across the frontiers of Bohemia, crawling through the thickets to avoid being seen by the Austrian and Bavarian gendarmes, and staking the whole future on what destiny might bring. Now I was sitting in conference with the representatives of France, Great Britain, United States, Italy, Japan, Serbia, Greece, Belgium, and Portugal, to decide with them as to the fate of the Empires of Wilhelm and Karl, and to sign the terms of their capitulation.
The first meeting on October 31st had been attended only by six States, the four Great Powers (without Japan, which joined the latter meetings), Serbia, and Greece. The proceedings opened with a statement by Marshal Foch on the general situation at the various fronts, in accordance with which the military experts had prepared Armistice conditions to be submitted to the Conference. A discussion on this subject followed immediately, the first topic being the question of an armistice with Austria-Hungary. After certain differences regarding the occupation of Jugoslav areas by the Italian Army, when M. Vesnić expressed his reservation, and acquiesced only after having received an assurance that this arrangement involved no definite commitment with regard to the peace terms, the proposals of the military experts were accepted.
The proceedings continued at the second meeting on November 1st, the subject on this occasion being the Armistice terms for Germany. Belgium also took part in these negotiations. Much of the discussion was concerned with the Allied Note to President Wilson, in which the Allies expressed their two reservations regarding his Fourteen Points, i.e. on the freedom of the seas and on indemnities for areas devastated by the war. There were further differences between Vesnić and the Italian delegates concerning the surrender of the Austrian fleet to the Jugoslavs, and the settlement of this matter was postponed. At the third and fourth meetings, held on November 2nd and 4th respectively, discussions were continued on the Armistice terms for Germany, the final wording of which was then agreed upon. It was also decided that the terms thus settled should be transmitted to President Wilson, and that Marshal Foch should be authorized to negotiate direct with the German plenipotentiaries in the same way. The Armistice with Austria-Hungary, immediately after having been accepted, was forwarded to General Diaz, who received authorization to negotiate direct with the Austro-Hungarian plenipotentiaries.
