I have great confidence in the pacific sentiments of the Emperor William,
in spite of the too frequent exaggeration of some of his gestures. He
will not allow himself to be drawn on farther than he chooses by the
exuberant temperament and clumsy manners of his very intelligent Minister
of Foreign Affairs (Kiderlen-Waechter). I feel, in general, less faith in
the desire of Great Britain for peace. She would not be sorry to see the
others eat one another up.... As I thought from the beginning, it is in
London that the key to the situation lies. It is there only that it can
become grave. The French will yield on all the points for the sake of
peace. It is not the same with the English, who will not compromise on
certain principles and certain claims.

[Footnote 1: The alliance between Germany and Austria, which dates from
1879, was formed to guarantee the two States against an attack by Russia.
Its terms are:--

"1. If, contrary to what is to be expected and contrary to the sincere
desire of the two high contracting parties, one of the two Empires
should be attacked by Russia, the two high contracting parties are
bound reciprocally to assist one another with the whole military force
of their Empire, and further not to make peace except conjointly and
by common consent.

"2. If one of the high contracting Powers should be attacked by another
Power, the other high contracting party engages itself, by the present act,
not only not to support the aggressor against its ally, but at least to
observe a benevolent neutrality with regard to the other contracting party.
If, however, in the case supposed the attacking Power should be supported
by Russia, whether by active co-operation or by military measures which
should menace the Power attacked, then the obligation of mutual assistance
with all military forces, as stipulated in the preceding article, would
immediately come into force, and the military operations of the high
contracting parties would be in that case conducted jointly until the
conclusion of peace."

Italy acceded to the Alliance in 1882. The engagement is defensive. Each of
the three parties is to come to the assistance of the others if attacked by
a third party.

The treaty of Germany with Austria was supplemented in 1884 by a treaty
with Russia, known as the "Reinsurance Treaty," whereby Germany bound
herself not to join Austria in an attack upon Russia. This treaty lapsed
in the year 18