Bismarck, the greatest diplomat of Europe concluded the following treaties in order to achieve the aims of his foreign policy, one of them being to isolate France in Europe and make Prussia the topmost power on the continent.

Three Emperors’ League (1873):

Bismarck was eager to have friendly relations with different countries. He had good relations with Austria but the problem was that the relations between Austria and Russia generally remained strained due to the Eastern Question.

There­fore, Bismarck concluded a friendly alliance with Russia and Austria. His chief aim was not only to secure the friendship of Russia but also to help improve the relations between Austria and Russia.

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This alliance of three emperors is also known as Dreikaiserbund. It was neither a definite treaty, nor an alliance. It was only a compromise between the three emperors to settle their differences by negotiations, to maintain peace and status quo and to suppress revolutionary socialism.

This league continued to exist from 1873 to 1887 but a gulf was created in the cordial relations of the members of the league at the time of the treaty of Berlin in 1878, when Germany supported Austria in place of Russia.

Hence Russia was annoyed. The relations between Germany and Russia remained quite strained from 1879 to 1881. But Bismarck was not prepared to forgo the friendship of Russia as he was afraid of a Franco-Russian alliance.

The Three Emperors’ League was revised in 1881 and it was decided that in case any fourth country attacked any of the three, the rest of the two would remain neutral and would make efforts to localise the war.

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The agreement was made for three years. The league was further revised in 1884 up to 1887. Thus Bismarck had secured the friendship of two great eastern powers and France was isolated. A prominent historian has remarked at the ending of this league:

“The inevitable breach between Russia and Austria came on the eve of Bulgarian crisis and Dreikaiserbund though renewed in 1884 was allowed to expire in 1887.”

Dual Alliance (1879):

The Balkan crisis of 1875-78 put Bismarck in a difficult situation. He had to choose between Austria and Russia and Bismarck opted for Austria keeping in view that Austria was his natural ally now and could guard her frontiers even against Russian onslaughts.

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Moreover, an alliance with Austria raised no objection in England but friendship with Russia was risky.

England could be annoyed by it and Bismarck was not a fool to do all this and invite the wrath of England Bismarck, therefore, in Berlin Congress of 1878 supported the claims of Austria which frustrated Russia and Bismarck was subjected to charges of treachery and faithlessness.

Moreover, Bismarck had adopted the policy of protection which had adversely affected the trade of Russia. She was so much annoyed with Germany that signs of future war between the two were almost visible.

Bismarck wanted to avert it to safeguard his position against Russian war. Therefore, he concluded a Dual Alliance with Austria in 1879. The following were the terms of this treaty:

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(i) If one is attacked by Russia, the other would assist her friend.

(ii) If one is attacked by the other power with the help of Russia, the other would assist the victim.

(iii) If any power attacked the other and Russia did not support the aggressor, the other would observe benevolent neutrality.

(iv) Initially the treaty was signed for five years but it could be renewed further, if necessary.

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(v) It was to be kept as a secret treaty.

Dual Alliance was not an attack on Russia. It was a defensive treaty and was Germany’s first line of defence. This treaty had strengthened Germany very much. Fay, a prominent historian has remarked about it:

“Contemporary opinion regarded Bismarck’s establishment of this alliance as a master stroke.”

But this treaty made the Three Emperors’ League redundant. Though the conferences of Three Emperors’ League continued to be held in 1881, 1884 and 1885, yet they were merely an outward show. After 1879 the main plank of German diplomacy was to have friendship with Austria which continued up to 1914.

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Triple Alliance (1882):

The governing principle of Bismarck’s foreign policy since 1871 was to safeguard his conquests and to preserve peace in Europe. Bismarck encouraged France to occupy some colonies so that she might forget the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.

He also encouraged France to occupy Tunis which came as a serious blow to Italy as she was interested in establishing her control over Tunis since long.

Italy occupied an important place on the European chess board. She wanted to have treaty with Germany but in the beginning Bismarck did not agree to it because he considered Italy to be opportunist and selfish but later on he changed his viewpoint due to two reasons:

1. He was afraid of a Franco-Italian alliance.

2. Italy and Austria were against each other and thus Austria was surrounded by two enemies, viz., Russia and Italy. Bismarck in order to solve this riddle now intended to have friendly alliance with Italy.

When Italy found herself isolated and humiliated by France after its occupation of Tunis, she desired to join Dual Alliance. Bismarck was already prepared to accept such proposal.

Italy was asked to settle her disputes with Austria and then on May 20, 1882, Triple Alliance was concluded between Italy, Austria and Germany. The chief provisions of this treaty were:

1. If Italy was attacked by France, her allies, Austria and Russia would help her. Italy would also assist Germany against a French attack.

2. In case of Russian attack on Germany or Austria, Italy would remain neutral.

3. In case Russia attacked Germany or Austria with the help of France, Italy would also assist her allies.

4. This treaty was to be effective for five years.

Italy wanted that England should also be included in this treaty but Bismarck opposed it. However, the members of the Triple Alliance agreed to the proposal of Italy that it would never be used against England.

Bismarck used to call this treaty ‘League of Peace’ but later on Germany began to make use of this treaty in her favour for her selfish ends.

Reinsurance Treaty (1887):

Bismarck was afraid of the nightmare of anti-German coalition. At this time the condition of both Austria and Germany was precarious. Germany was afraid of a French attack and Austria was terrified of Russian invasion. A historian has remarked:

“The hollowness of Trois was clear to him from the very beginning and Bismarck was worried to tie the Russian bull by a stronger rope.”

Hence the pivot of Bismarck’s policy was Russia. Both Austria and Germany were interested in maintaining friendly relations with Italy in order to keep her in their group and therefore some new concessions were awarded to her in the Triple Alliance.

But Bismarck was still not satisfied with the situation. He continued to make efforts and concluded a reinsurance treaty with Russia in 1887. A prominent historian has remarked:

“The new friendship of Germany and Russia prevented an Austro- Russian war and a Franco-Russian coalition.

So long as the grip of things remained in Bismarck’s hands, he did not allow Italy or Russia to slip from his group. The Triple Alliance was of great importance in the history of Europe. It was a brilliant success of Bismarck. Robertson has remarked about this treaty:

“From this time onward German hegemony in Central Europe moved securely on the pivotal point of the Triple Alliance which gradually and naturally grew into the one grand combination in the European state system with which all other possible combinations or Ententes had to reckon.”

Grant and Temperley write in this connection:

“This treaty benefited Germany for she obtained from Italy that promise of support against France which Austria, Hungary had refused. Italy gained even more for she was not bound to aid either Austria-Hungary or Germany against an attack of Russia alone.”

And she was protected against Austria-Hungary by the very fact of the alliance. Thus at one and the same time Bismarck had given Germany treaties of Alliance or defence against Russia and France and yet, included Russia, .in one of the treaties, and extended his general system of control to Italy and Rumania.

Treaty with Rumania (1883):

In 1883 the king of Rumania visited Germany. On this occasion Bismarck put a proposal before Austria that “we should conclude a treaty with Rumania.” Austria agreed to this proposal and a treaty was concluded among the three countries.

The treaty was to run for five years and it could be revised after the expiry of this period. Like other treaties this treaty was also kept a secret.

Relations with England:

Bismarck established friendly relations with England by dint of his masterly diplomacy. He never took interest in the expansion of navy, nor increased his colonial empire lest he may annoy England. Navy was vital to Britain and Bismarck clearly realized this fact. He declared to gain the favour of England:

“Germany is a saturated country, and I am not a colonial man.”

Bismarck did not take undue interest in the Eastern Question. He knew, it would create bad blood between Germany and England.

Bismarck also declared, “Unless a cabinet of inconceivable character should be in power in England, a cabinet which neither exists, nor which is ever likely to exist, and which criminally attacks on; here stood no reason of enmity between the two.”

He was thoroughly alert to the necessity of maintaining good relations with England and did not give undue push to Austria in Balkans. He often kept a tight leash on Austria to keep it under control. He was not prepared to risk war with England.

Bismarck twice proposed treaties with England but as she regarded Germany as a continental power, the former did not express her willingness to make the treaties.

In fact, the policy of Bismarck succeeded against England for the latter herself was following the policy of ‘Splendid Isolation’ up to the end of 19th century and there was a running tug of war between France and England in the field of colonial empire.

Moreover, Russia was carrying on her expansion in Asia which might create a danger to England’s eastern empire.

Therefore, England agreed to follow the policy of Bismarck for she did not consider it proper to have hostility with many nations at one time. Thus peaceful relations between England and Germany continued so long as Bismarck remained in office.