Alliance between Italy and Prussia
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Quito, February 7, 1866.
THE Undersigned, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Equa-
tor, addresses himself to the Honourable the Chargé d’Affaires
of Her Catholic Majesty, for the purpose of bringing to his
knowledge that in this capital, and under date the 30th of last
month, he signed with his Excellency the Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of Peru, and with the Honourable
the Chargé d’Affaires of Chile, a solemn engagement of
Alliance, offensive and defensive, in the war in which both
Republics are at present engaged in with the Government of
Spain, and in consequence (the Equator) has assumed a bel-
ligerent character, by virtue of the weighty reasons which have
brought this Government to adopt this step.
The Undersigned, &c.
MANUEL BUSTAMANTE.
Republic of the Equator, Ministry of State for the Interior,
Quito, February 17, 1866.
To the Governor of the Province of Guayaquil.
THE Equator having declared itself a belligerent in favour of
the Republics of Chile and Peru, by virtue of an engagement of
Alliance, offensive and defensive, which has been signed by rea-
son of the war in which they are engaged with the Government
of Spain.
The vessels of the Spanish squadron which blockade the
Chilean ports cannot touch at those of this Republic for the
purpose of providing themselves with provisions, coal, nor with
water, nor to repair damages. By virtue of the above, and by
orders of the President of the State, I have to make known to
you that in case of such event arising, you will comply with
these instructions with the utmost strictness within the
province under your dependency.
God preserve, &c.
MANUEL BUSTAMANTE.
3.1179 Alliance between Italy and Prussia
Alliance Members:Italy and Prussia
Signed On:April 8, 1866, in the city of Berlin. In force until July 26,
1866, when an agreement between Prussia and Austria violated the
clause that required no separate peace among the belligerents.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Founding of the German Empire by William I, Based Chiefly
upon Prussian State Documents,vol. 4, p. 354–356.
SUMMARY
Just prior to negotiations with the German states over reformulating
their confederation, Bismarck was able to secure from Italy a guaran-
tee of entry into a war against Austria-Hungary, should the war begin
within three months after signing the treaty. Emboldened, Bismarck
made every effort to begin the conflict so that Austria would have to
fight a two-front war.
Italy sought the territory of Venetia from the Austrians in return for its
contributions to the conflict. Although Austria won most confronta-
tions against the Italian forces in what Italy considered its Third War
of Independence, Prussia’s quick work in its Seven Weeks War in the
north ensured a favorable peace treaty for the allies. At Vienna on
October 12, 1866, Austria ceded Venetia to France, which in turn
ceded the territory to Italy.Alliance Text
Their Majesties, the King of Prussia and the King of Italy,
inspired by the desire to strengthen the guaranties of general
peace, and in consideration of the needs and justifiable aspira-
tions of their respective nations, have appointed as their
plenipotentiaries, and provided with instructions concerning
the wording of the Articles of an Offensive and Defensive
Alliance, the following persons. [The names are given here.]
ART. I. Friendship and alliance are to be maintained between
His Majesty the King of Prussia, and His Majesty the King of
Italy.
ART. II. If the negotiations His Majesty the King of Prussia
has opened with the other German governments concerning
reforms of the Confederate Constitution, which are demanded
by the needs of the German Nation, shall fail, and in conse-
quence thereof His Majesty be forced to take up arms in order
to give effect to his proposals, then His Majesty the King of Italy,
after Prussia has taken the initiative, and so soon as he is made
aware of that fact, shall, in virtue of this Treaty, immediately
declare war against Austria.
ART. III. From that moment the war shall be carried on by
both their Majesties with all the powers that Providence has
placed at their disposal ; and neither Italy nor Prussia shall con-
clude either peace or armistice without consent of the other.
ART. IV. This consent may not be withheld, when Austria
shall have expressed her willingness to cede to Italy the Lom-
bardo-Venetian kingdom and to Prussia Austrian territory that
shall be equivalent in population to the above-mentioned king-
dom. [Concerning this point, it was orally explained, that,
instead of such territorial acquisitions, Prussia intended to
require certain corresponding concessions in the German
Question.]
ART. V. This treaty loses validity three months after being
signed, unless the conditions mentioned in Article II shall have
been fulfilled, namely, that Prussia shall have declared war upon
Austria.
ART. VI. If the Austrian fleet, which is now being equipped,
shall have quitted the Adriatic Sea before the declaration of war,
then shall His Majesty the King of Italy send a sufficient number
of ships to the Baltic Sea, which shall take up their station there
in order to be ready to unite with the Prussian fleet at the out-
break of hostilities.