Editor's Note: Students, be sure to look at a map to better grasp the strategic significance of this treaty.
France and Russia, animated by a common desire to preserve peace and having no other purpose than to prepare for the necessities of a defensive war, provoked by an attack of the forces of the Triple Alliance against either of them, have agreed on the following provisions:
If France is attacked by Germany, or by Italy supported by Germany, Russia shall employ all her available forces to fight Germany. If Russia is attacked by Germany, or by Austria supported by Germany, France shall employ all her available forces to fight Germany.
In case the forces of the Triple Alliance or of any one of the Powers belonging to it, should be mobilized, France and Russia, at the first word of this event, and without need of a previous agreement, shall mobilize
immediately and simultaneously all their forces, and shall transport them as near as possible to their frontiers.
The forces available which must be employed against Germany shall be, for France 1,300,000 men, for Russia, 700,000 to 800,000 men.
These forces shall be brought into action so completely and with such speed that Germany will have to fight simultaneously in the East and in the West.
The Staffs of the armies of the two countries shall constantly take council together to prepare for and to facilitate the execution of the above-mentioned measures.
They shall communicate to each other, in time of peace, all the information in regard to the armies of the Triple Alliance which is already in their possession or which shall come into their possession.
The ways and means of corresponding in time of war shall be studied and worked out in advance.
France and Russia shall not conclude peace separately.
The present Agreement shall have the same duration as the Triple Alliance.
All the clauses enumerated above shall be kept absolutely secret.
From Ministère des affaires étrangères, Documents diplomatiques, L'Alliance Franco-Russe (Translation).
RESOURCE: World Civilizations
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs32.htm
Page created by Thomas Pearcy, Ph.D and Mary Dickson.
Direct questions or comments to Webmaster.
Last revised February 4, 1997
Copyright (c) 1997. W. W. Norton Publishing. All Rights Reserved