Reinsurance TreatyIn the meantime, the Government of His Majesty takes note
of the abovementioned communication and regards the secret
agreement established by the present exchange of Notes as
entering into force from today, and for a period of four years.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to
His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain the
assurances of his most distinguished consideration.
Madrid, the fourth of May, one thousand eight hundred and
eighty-seven.
(signed) Maffei.
For copy true to the original:
Madrid, May 8, 1887.
L. S. Maffei.
For certified copy true to the authentic copy of the two Notes
filed in the Archive of the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Rome, May 16, 1887.
The President of the Council and Minister Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
L. S. Depretis.
For certification of the signature of His Excellency Signor
Depretis, President of the Council and Minister Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs of His Majesty the King of Italy.
The Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Italy at Vienna.
L. S. Nigra.
Vienna, May 20, 1887.
Accession of Austria-Hungary. May 21, 1887.
To Count Nigra.
Vienna, May 21, 1887.
The undersigned has received the Note which His Excellency
the Ambassador of Italy has done him the honor to address to
him under date of the 21st instant as well as two annexes, and
hastens to notify the accession of the Imperial Government to
the Notes exchanged at Madrid the 4th of the same month
between the Representative of His Majesty the King of Italy and
His Excellency the Minister of State of Her Majesty the Queen
Regent.
The undersigned expresses his satisfaction that the negotia-
tions have led to a result of a nature to assure the coöperation of
Spain in the realization of the programme of peace and of con-
servation with which the Governments of Austria-Hungary and
of Italy are inspired.
At the same time he avails himself of this occasion, etc., etc.
(signed) Kálnoky.
3.1199 Reinsurance Treaty
Alliance Members:Germany and Russia
Signed On:June 18, 1887, in the city of Berlin. In force until June 18,
1890.
Alliance Type:Neutrality Pact (Type II)
Source:The Secret Treaties of Austria-Hungary 1879–1914,vol. 1,
p. 275.
Additional Citations:Key Treaties for the Great Powers, 1814–1914,
vol. 2, p. 645.SUMMARY
The breakdown of the Dreikaiserbundforced Bismarck to consider
another way of tying Russian interests to Germany. However, the diffi-
culty of this maneuver was magnified by the continuing tensions
between Russia and Austria-Hungary. This secret treaty, with provi-
sions antithetical to the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-
Hungary, provided for benevolent neutrality should either alliance
member find itself at war with another state. These provisions did not
hold if Russia attacked Austria-Hungary or if Germany attacked
France, however.
These latter exceptions signaled German resistance to any forced alter-
ation of the status quo in the Balkans, even as Germany recognized
“the rights historically acquired by Russia in the Balkan Peninsula, and
particularly the legitimacy of her preponderant and decisive influence
in Bulgaria and in Eastern Rumelia.” Bismarck probably knew that
these Balkan promises, meant to buy Russia’s friendship and neutral-
ity, could never be guaranteed because of opposition in both Britain
and Austria; and because Bismarck was not considering war with
France, the promises provided for an uneasy peace in Europe.Alliance Text
The Imperial Courts of Germany and of Russia, animated by an
equal desire to strengthen the general peace by an understand-
ing destined to assure the defensive position of their respective
States, have resolved to confirm the agreement established
between them by a special arrangement, in view of the expira-
tion on June 15/27, 1887, of the validity of the secret Treaty and
Protocol, signed in 1881 and renewed in 1884 by the three
courts of Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary.
To this end the two Courts have named as Plenipotentiaries:
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia, the
Sieur Herbert Count Bismarck-Schoenhausen, His Secretary of
State in the Department of Foreign Affairs;
His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russians, the Sieur Paul
Count Schouvaloff, His Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to his Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King
of Prussia,
who, being furnished with full powers, which have been
found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following
Articles:
Article I. In case one of the High Contracting Parties should
find itself at war with a third great Power, the other would
maintain a benevolent neutrality towards it, and would devote
its efforts to the localization of the conflict. This provision
would not apply to a war against Austria or France in case this
war should result from an attack directed against one of these
two latter Powers by one of the High Contracting Parties.
Article II. Germany recognizes the rights historically
acquired by Russia in the Balkan Peninsula, and particularly the
legitimacy of her preponderant and decisive influence in Bul-
garia and in Eastern Rumelia. The two Courts engage to admit