Treaty between Great Britain and Prussia, relative to the Independence and Neutrality of Belgium
The High Contracting Parties reciprocally guarantee to each
other the integrity of the territory of their respective countries,
and undertake in case of war to place the whole of their military
force at the disposal of each other for that purpose.
II. In regard to the command in chief of His Majesty the
King of Prussia over the Grand Ducal Hessian troops, it remains
in accordance with the stipulations of the draft Constitution of
the North German Confederation and of the military Conven-
tion concluded on the 7th of this month.
III. The ratification of the foregoing Treaty shall take place at
the same time as the ratification of the Military Convention
mentioned in Article II, therefore at latest by the 21st of this
month of April.
In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries of the two Parties
have signed and affixed their seals to this Treaty in duplicate.
Done at Berlin, 11th April, 1867.
(L.S.) SA VIGNY.
(L.S.) HOFMANN.
3.1186 Treaty between Great Britain and Prus-
sia, relative to the Independence and Neutral-
ity of Belgium
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Prussia (Germany)
Signed On:August 9, 1870, in the city of London. In force until May
20, 1872.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Key Treaties for the Great Powers, 1814–1914,p. 455–457.
SUMMARY
This alliance formed as a response to the Franco-Prussian War. France
had stood as the preeminent European power for nearly 300 years, and
the Prussian government became increasingly threatened by France’s
continued dominance. France also constituted the main obstacle to
German unification, which was a key goal of Otto von Bismarck.
Bismarck wanted to isolate France prior to the war, and, to this end,
Bismarck felt that if Prussia were to form alliances with Russia, Hun-
gary, and Great Britain, France’s position would be significantly weak-
ened. Four days following the start of the war, negotiations between
the two countries concluded with the signing of this treaty focusing
on the conditions for the neutrality and independence of Belgium.
Bismarck had his wish: Great Britain would not participate in the war.
Alliance Text
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of Prussia, being desirous
at the present time of recording in a solemn Act their fixed
determination to maintain the Independence and Neutrality of
Belgium, as provided in Article VII of the Treaty signed at Lon-
don on the 19th April, 1839, between Belgium and the Nether-
lands, which Article was declared by the Quintuple Treaty of
1839 to be considered as having the same force and value as if
textually inserted in the said Quintuple Treaty, their said
Majesties have determined to conclude between themselves a
separate Treaty, which, without impairing or invalidating the
conditions of the said Quintuple Treaty, shall be subsidiary and
accessory to it; and they have accordingly named as their
Plenipotentiaries for that purpose, that is to say:
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Granville George
Earl Granville, Lord Leveson, Her Britannic Majesty’s Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.;
And His Majesty the King of Prussia, his Excellency the Min-
ister of State, Albert Count of Bernstorff-Stintenburg, Ambas-
sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic
Majesty from His said Majesty for the North German Confeder-
ation &c.;
Who, after having communicated to each other their respec-
tive Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon
and concluded the following Articles:Co-operation of Great Britain with Prussia in case of vio-
lation of Neutrality of Belgium by France.
Art I. His Majesty the King of Prussia having declared that
notwithstanding the Hostilities in which the North German
Confederation is engaged with France, it is his fixed determina-
tion to respect the Neutrality of Belgium, so long as the same
shall be respected by France, Her Majesty the Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on her part
declares that if during the said Hostilities the Armies of France
should violate that Neutrality, she will be prepared to co-oper-
ate with His Majesty for the defense of the same in such manner
as may be mutually agreed upon, employing for that purpose
her Naval and Military Forces to insure its observance, and to
maintain, in conjunction with His Prussian Majesty, then and
thereafter, the Independence and Neutrality of Belgium.Great Britain not engaged to take part in War between
North German Confederation and France, except as
regards Violation of Belgian Neutrality
It is clearly understood that Her Majesty the Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland does not engage
herself by this Treaty to take part in any of the general operation
of the War now carried on between the North German Confed-
eration and France, beyond the Limits of Belgium, as defined in
the Treaty between Belgium and the Netherlands of 19th April,
1839.Co-operation of Prussia with Great Britain in case of vio-
lation of Neutrality of Belgium by France.
Art II. His Majesty the King of Prussia agrees on his part, in the
event provided for in the foregoing Article, to co-operate with
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, employing his Naval and Military Forces for the
purpose aforesaid; and, the case arising, to concert with Her
Majesty the measures which shall be taken, separately or in com-
mon, to secure the Neutrality and Independence of Belgium.