Treaty of Alliance among Austria, France, and Great Britain (Treaty of Vienna)
SUMMARY
In addition to Prussian and Turkish assurances of cooperation in its
goal of preventing Russia from recapturing the Danubian Provinces,
Austria also sought a treaty with Great Britain and France based on
the Four Points, a series of notes exchanged between their govern-
ments between August and December of 1854 discussing the goals of
the Crimean War. The treaty’s terms provided for British and French
assistance in repelling a Russian attempt to recapture the ceded terri-
tory, but it did not bind Austria to similar arrangements of coopera-
tion with the other signatories.
The Russians never reinvaded the Danubian Provinces, precluding
direct Austrian entrance into the war, but the alliance’s defensive
arrangements, which might bring Austria—and, by the terms of an
additional treaty, Prussia—into the war on Russia’s western flank,
alarmed the Russians sufficiently to convince them to consent to peace
talks in the spring of 1855. Tensions rose during the talks over a lack of
cooperation among the parties to the alliance, as the British and
French did not support Austrian positions, and, sensing division
among its enemies, Russia continued the war.
Despite the breakdown of cooperation at the bargaining table, the
alliance would not dissolve until 1856 and the Treaty of Paris, which
also brought the Crimean War to an end.
Alliance Text
Peace of Europe.
HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, and
His Majesty the Emperor of the French, being animated with
the desire of terminating the present War at the earliest possible
moment, by the re-establishment of General Peace on solid
bases, affording to the whole of Europe every Guarantee against
the return of the complications which have so unhappily dis-
turbed its repose ; being convinced that nothing would be more
conducive to that result than the complete Union of their
efforts until the common object which they have in view shall
be entirely attained ; and acknowledging, in consequence, the
necessity of coming to an immediate understanding with regard
to their respective positions, and to arrangements for the future
; have resolved to conclude a Treaty of Alliance, and have for
that purpose named as their Plenipotentiaries :
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable John Fane, Earl of
Westmorland, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary to His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, &c. ;
His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, the Sieur Charles, Count
de Buol-Schauenstein, his Chamberlain and Privy Councillor,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and of the Imperial House, &c. ;
His Majesty the Emperor of the French, the Sieur Francis
Adolphus, Baron de Bourqueney, his Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to His Imperial and Royal Apostolic
Majesty, &c. ;
Who, after having communicated to each other their Full
Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and
signed the following Articles :
High Contracting Parties not to make Arrangements with
Russia, without previous Deliberation in common.
ART. I. The High Contracting Parties refer to the Declarations
contained in the Protocols of the 9th of April and 23rd of May
of the present year, and in the Notes exchanged on the 8th of
August last ; and as they reserved to themselves the right of pro-
posing, according to circumstances, such Conditions as they
might judge necessary for the general interests of Europe, they
engage mutually and reciprocally not to enter into any Arrange-
ment with the Imperial Court of Russia without having first
deliberated thereupon in common.Occupation of Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia
by Austrian Troops during the War.
ART. II. His Majesty the Emperor of Austria having, in virtue of
the Treaty concluded on the 14th of June last with the Sublime
Porte, caused the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia to be
occupied by his troops, he engages to defend the Frontier of the
said Principalities against any return of the Russian Forces ; the
Austrian troops shall for this purpose occupy the positions nec-
essary for Guaranteeing those Principalities against any attack.
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and His Majesty the Emperor of the French, having
likewise concluded with the Sublime Porte on the 12th of
March, a Treaty which authorises them to direct their forces
upon every part of the Ottoman Empire, the above-mentioned
Occupation shall not interfere with the free movement of the
Anglo-French or Ottoman troops upon these same Territories
against the Military Forces or the Territory of Russia. There
shall be formed at Vienna between the Plenipotentiaries of Aus-
tria, France, and Great Britain, a Commission to which Turkey
shall be invited to send a Plenipotentiary, and which shall be
charged with examining and regulating every question relating
either to the exceptional and provisional state in which the said
Principalities are now placed, or to the free passage of the differ-
ent armies across their Territory.Offensive and Defensive Alliance in case of Hostilities
between Austria and Russia.
ART. III. In case hostilities should break out between Austria
and Russia, Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria,
and His Majesty the Emperor of the French, mutually promise
to each other their Offensive and Defensive Alliance in the pres-
ent War, and will for that purpose employ, according to the
requirements of the War, Military and Naval Forces, the num-
ber, description, and destination whereof shall, if occasion
should arise, be determined by subsequent arrangements.High Contracting Parties not to entertain Overtures of
Peace without previous Consultation.
ART. IV. In the case contemplated by the preceding Article, the
High Contracting Parties reciprocally engage not to entertain
any Overture or Proposition on the part of the Imperial Court