XXU INTRODUCTION. 



previously existed between them — will be enabled to fulfil this duty more easily 

 and effectively by the steadfast co-operation of both their empires ; 



"And whereas, finally, such a close connexion between Germany and Austria- 

 Hungary can threaten no one, but it is rather calculated to consolidate the peace 

 of Europe, as it was established by the stipulations of the Treaty of Berlin ; 



" Now, therefore, their Majesties the Emperor of Germany and the Emperor of 

 Austria, King oi Hungary, while solemnly promising to each other that they will 

 never attach an aggressive meaning in any direction to their purely defensive 

 agreement, have resolved to conclude a pact of peace and of mutual defence, and 

 for this purpose they have appointed as their plenipotentiaries : — 



" His Majesty the German Emperor, his Envoy Extraordinary and Ambassador 

 Plenipotentiary, Lieutenant-General Prince Henry VII. Reuss, &c, ; 

 ' " His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, his Actual Privy 

 Councillor, Minister of the Imperial House and of Foreign Affairs, Field 

 Marshal Lieutenant Julius Count Andrassy, of Csik-Szent-Kiraly and Krasna' 

 Horka, &c. ; 



" Who, having met this day at Vienna, and exchanged their full powers, which 

 were found good and sufficient, agreed as follows, to wit : — 



"Article I. — If, contrary to the hope and against the sincere wish of both the 

 high contracting parties, one of the two empires should be attacked by Russia, 

 then the high contracting parties bind themselves to asast each other with the 

 entire military power of their empires, and, accordingly, only to conclude peace 

 by common agreement. 



"Article II. — Should one of the high contracting parties be attacked by another 

 power (i.e., other than Russia) then the other high contracting party hereby 

 binds itself not only not to assist the assailant of its High Ally, but also at least to 

 observe an attitude of benevolent neutrality towards its high co-party. 



"But if, nevertheless, in such an event the attacking power should be supported 

 by Russia, whether in the form of active co-operation or by military measures 

 involving menace to the attacked, then the obligation of mutual assistance with 

 full military power, stipulated for in Article I. of the Treaty, shall in this case 

 immediately come into force, and then, also, the military operations of both the 

 high contracting parties shall be conducted in common, until they conclude a 

 peace in common, 



" Article III. — In consideration of its pacific character and in order to obviate 

 all misunderstanding, this Treaty shall be kept secret by the high contracting 

 parties, and be communicated to a Third Power by agreement of both sides only 

 and on the strength of a special understanding. 



' ' In view of the sentiments expressed by the Emperor Alexander on the occasion 

 of the (Imperial) meeting at Alexandrovo (in the beginning of September, 1879), 

 both the high contracting parties surrender themselves to the hope that the 

 armaments of Russia will in reality not prove to be menacing to them, and for 

 the present, therefore, they have no occasion to make a communication (on the 

 subject to Russia). But should this hope, contrary to expectation, turn out to be 

 erroneous, then the high contracting parties would look upon it as a duty of 



