While the allies of the Triple Agreement (with the exclusion of Russia which was struggling with its own Revolution) were discussing the new strategy to be implemented in 1917, the new Austro-Hungarian EmperorCharles I started to think about the possibility of a separate peace in order to be able to withdraw from the war and save Austria-Hungary from its self-destruction. On one side the civilian population was engaged in continuous protests about the lack of food, also because of the cold winter of 1917. On the other side the situation of the military forces was tragic: many soldiers requested to be sent to the front because the best food rations were given to men at the frontlines. Moreover, after the massive losses of the previous two years (more than a million and a half men were lost in 1916 alone), no more reserve forces were left.
In March the Emperor started to push forward some reforms to save his empire. General Franz Conrad, Head of the Supreme Command, who was considered too much in favour of war at all costs, was dismissed and replaced by the more trustworthy Arz von Straussemberg. This was followed by the start of the first contacts with the French and English governments to propose to them a separate peace that would be based on reactivation of the independence of Belgium and of Serbia and the recognition of Alsace and Lorraine as belonging to France (at that time these two regions belonged to Germany).
The problem for Lloyd George and Alexandre Ribot (who had recently replaced Briand at the head of the French government) was the intention of Charles I to leave Italy completely out of this peace agreement. In fact Austria-Hungary had no intention of conceding any territory to the Kingdom of Savoy. The English Prime Minister in fact tried to find a solution by persuading Charles I to renounce at least to Trentino and to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs Sidney Sonnino at Saint Jean de Maurienne in Upper Savoy. The Italian statesman was duly informed of the intentions of the Austro-Hungarian leader and was invited to formulate his counterproposal. But the reply by the Italian Minister was quick: the Kingdom of Italy had no intention to renounce to any point in the Treaty of London. The peace attempt was thus definitely abandoned and Austria-Hungary was forced to go ahead with the war.
