Paper Example on Secret Reinsurance Treaty with Russia

Introduction

When Germany managed to triumph over two leading powers, France and Austria during the campaigns of 1866 and 1870, the original expectation was to comprehend the occurrences of various contract alliances which were intended to execute revenge for the defeats and humiliation which they had experienced at the hands of Germany. Peter Shuvalov who was a Russian ambassador to Germany watched all the plans which he coalitions had in store for Germany. Prince Bismarck saw it necessary to terminate a defensive alliance with at least one power to preserve his empire from all the possible dangers. He has an obligation to choose between Russia and Austria. In his opinion, this alliance would be more abstract and would last for a long time since there existed friendship bonds between them. The friendship bonds for a very long time had managed to unite the two imperial courts in relation to monarchial sentiments that were overriding I both kingdoms.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Despite the advantages of the association with Russia, the primary preference of Bismarck was to turn towards Austria-Hungary since if Germany joined the empire herself; there were high chances of it sacrificing her associations with the other authorities. In this regard, in case a engagement emerged between Germany and Austria or France, she would suffer the risk of establishing herself because of her geographic location which was not advantageous. Based on the geographic location, Russia had more advantages than Germany. Russia was located at the furthest East of Europe. Its geographic placement provided her with an easy opportunity to escape attacks as compared to Germany and other countries.

Germany and Austria-Hungary signed a treaty of alliance on October 7, 1879. The agreement was an prearrangement of pure defense in case any country experienced any form of aggression from their enemies such as Russia, or any other command which was alongside either of the contracting parties. Bismarck, however, lacked confidence in the continuance and stability of the association with Austria. He based his reasons on the provinces which were taken away from France and embarked on establishing the most suitable means for safeguarding Germany against all the existing conflicts with her western neighbors.

The reality is that the Austro-German agreement failed to avert France from collaborating with Russia alongside Germany. It was important to anticipate such an association to protect Russia and stay impartial in case it experienced an attack from Austria and Germany. The three countries, therefore, arranged to agree and signed a document which signified the pact on 18-June 1881.

The main participants in this agreement were Bismarck, Saburov, and Szechenyi. The pact was concluded for three years. After the expiration of the agreement, the minister for foreign affairs convened a council at Moscow on 20th May 1883. The primary objective of the council was to deliberate on the question of whether the motives of state required the revitalization of the treaty. Mr. Saburov (who was the ambassador to Berlin) maintained that the treaty would provide more advantages to Germany as compared to Russia. After three years, the treaty failed to secure the needs for the moment since the treaty could not guarantee the interests of Russia. The condition for the renewal of the agreement, therefore, required that it should rely on perfect equality between the advantages which Russia would benefit and the advantages allocated to Germany. The condition of the agreement was that all the powers to secure the freedom (the one in the east and the other in the west) at any moment and making the freedom to be conditional in all the instances.

Out of the alternatives, Russia gained the first advantage based on full liberty of action among all the parties. In the event of dissolution with Turkey, there would be an occupation of Straits. Ultimate impartiality on the side of the powers provided an opportunity for guaranteeing the European coalition and segregate England. There are also other high officials who were part of the Deliberations. These were Cunt Milutin, Giers and Prince Lobanov Rostovski who identified the force behind Saburov's opinions on the basis that Bismarck would never accord to the alterations which he proposed.

After the Three Emperor's Confederation between Germany, Austria and Russia perished in 1887; Bismarck tried to bind Russia to Germany. As a result of the Secret Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia, it became complex associations. The manuscript of this treaty contains correspondences to the 1881 Agreement of the Three Emperors. The two supremacies assured each other of remaining compassionately impartial in an upcoming engagement, except in the case of a malicious attack from Germany on France or from Russia on Austria-Hungary.Bismarck had achieved his great purpose, the reconstitution of Germany under Prussian hegemony, without having either tied himself hand and foot to Russia or humiliated Austria beyond all hope of a possible reconciliation.He had isolated France after militarily defeating it, but its isolation during the war had been due less to his diplomacy than to the paralyzing rapidly of the blows dealt by Moltke, which had peremptorily checked all ideas of the intervention of other Powers.

This letter of the old Emperor, dated Dec. 30, 1877, deals with some rumors which had appeared in the press to the effect that Bismarck was contemplating a reconstruction of the Prussian Ministry in which the former Hanoverian and National Liberal leader. The Emperor regarded the prospect of any such appointment with feelings of aversion as Bennigsen is. Bennigsen was a German general in the service of the Russian Empire. He could not pursue the smooth and conservative path of my Government.

Conclusion

The official visit of Germany's Empress and Emperor to Russia and the warm welcome and treatment accorded to them there indicated that they were considered and highly regarded in this state with alienated outlooks. Many people blamed the Emperor for chastening himself unreasonably before the Czar. His Majesty favors bestowed upon the Russian Court and other officials. There are now a dozen Russians who are chiefs of Prussian regiments. The truth is Emperor William upon several occasions spoke in Russian, while the Czar used the French language. On the other hand, after Emperor William upon several times expressed in Russian, a general understanding to that effect had been reached, not only between the two rules, but also between Count Affairs, and Prince Hohenlohe, the German Imperial Chancellor, and Baron von Bulow.

Source Exploration

Dr.Busch's "Bismark. *. Times [London, England] 16 Sept. 1898: 6. The Time Digital Archive. Retrieved on Thur. 29 Nov. 2018.

This is a review of Dr. Moritz Busch's 3 volume diary of his conversations with Bismark, and the reviewer notes that it does not mention the reinsurance treaty.

Prince Bismarck's Autobiography. *. "Times [London, England] Dec 02, 1898: pg. 13. The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved on: Thur 29 Nov. 2018

Again, this reviewer of Bismarck's "autobiography" (Erinnerungen and Gedanken/ Reflections and Reminiscences) notes that Bismarck does not mention it.

The Search of the New York Times

PRINCE BISMARK'S CORRESPONDENCE.: Glimpses Behind the Scenes in Matters Affecting Thrones and Wars. New York Times (1817-1822); New York, N. Y.15 Dec 1901:25.

SECRET UNDERSTANDING OF RUSSIA AND GERMANY: Writer in the London Times ... LONDON TIMES - NEW YORK TIMES Special Cablegram. New York Times (1857-1922); Sep 14, 1904; pg.2

This author mentions the 1887 Russia treaty because people think there is now, in the context of the 1904 "Far Eastern War" (Russo-Japanese War?) that Wilhelm II has concluded another secret treaty with Russia

Stahlin, Karl. "Aus Den Diplomatischen Akten Des Auswartigen Amtes 1871-1914." Zeitschrift Fur Politik, 13 (1924): 144-171. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43350145?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

This source has lots of details about Bismarck's foreign policy and lets us know how could make a treaty with Russia

Search Bismarck Kaiser Russia in NYT Database

Schwertfeger, B., EMPEROR'S VISIT TO CZAR. (1897, Aug 15). New York Times(1857-1922)RetrievedFrom https://search.proquest.com/docview/95462909?accountid=14522 reviewed by Stahlin, Karl

Bibliography

Dr.Busch's "Bismark. *. Times [London, England] 16 Sept. 1898: 6. The Time Digital Archive. Retrieved on Thur. 29 Nov. 2018

Prince Bismarck's Autobiography. *. "Times [London, England] Dec 02, 1898: pg. 13. The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved on: Thur 29 Nov. 2018

PRINCE BISMARK'S CORRESPONDENCE.: Glimpses Behind the Scenes in Matters Affecting Thrones and Wars. New York Times (1817-1822); New York, N. Y.15 Dec 1901:25.

Schwertfeger, B., EMPEROR'S VISIT TO CZAR. (1897, Aug 15). New York Times(1857-1922)RetrievedFrom https://search.proquest.com/docview/95462909?accountid=14522 reviewed by Stahlin, Karl

SECRET UNDERSTANDING OF RUSSIA AND GERMANY: Writer in the London Times ... LONDON TIMES - NEW YORK TIMES Special Cablegram. New York Times (1857-1922); Sep 14, 1904; pg.2

Stahlin, Karl. "Aus Den Diplomatischen Akten Des Auswartigen Amtes 1871-1914." Zeitschrift Fur Politik, 13 (1924): 144-171. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43350145?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents