INTRODUCTION. xkiii 



loyalty to give the Emperor Alexander, confidentially at least, to understand that 

 they would consider an attack against one of them as directed against them both. 

 " In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries have hereto affixed their signatures 

 and seals. 



" Done at Vienna this 7th day of October, 1879. 

 " H. VII. P. REUSS, 

 "ANDRASSY."' 



By the first Article of the Treaty, any attempted aggression on 

 the part of Russia on Austria, or Germany, the combined miUtary 

 forces of the Triple Alliance shall be employed to resist it, and 

 war thus being entered upon, neither of the Allies shall negotiate 

 peace without a mutual understanding. 



By the second Article of the Treaty, it is plainly indicated, that 

 in the event of Germany being attacked by France, Austria shall 

 observe not only a benevolent neutraUty in the struggle between 

 Germany and France, but also keep Russia in check, and, further, 

 should Russia assist France in the struggle, then Austria must 

 assail Russia with all her military strength, and conclude no Treaty 

 of Peace with Russia, until Germany is in a victorious position to 

 dictate a Treaty of Peace with France. 



The position of Italy in the Triple Alliance, not being defined in 

 this Treaty of 1879, a subsequent Treaty of AUiance, offensive and 

 defensive, has been entered into, but the exact terms of this second 

 Treaty not having, up to the present time, been published, its pro- 

 visions can only be a matter of conjecture. It may, however, be safely 

 concluded, that the position of Italy towards Germany is precisely the 

 same as of Austria towards Germany, and that in the event of an attack 

 by France upon Germany, Italy will move her forces against the 

 aggressor. Herein is the raison d'etre oiXhs. rumoured Russo-French 

 Alliance, or the real cause of the Alliance of Germany and Austria 

 with Italy, to checkmate the dangers incident to a Russo-French 

 Alliance, of which there can now be little doubt, in face of recent' 

 events, for France has now given, by the raj;>prochement of her Fleet 

 with the Russian Fleet in the Baltic, and the enthusiasm she has 

 shown in regard to the recent Russian Loan, unmistakeable proof of a 

 desire to bury the animosities engendered by the Crimean War, and, 

 notwithstanding differences in poKtical and religious aspirations, to 

 encourage and secure an entente cordiale with the empire of Russia, 

 that empire, which, M. Barthdlemy St. Hilaire jiistly observes, 

 "represents despotism, and that an alliance with 3uch a Power 



