Count be Bismarck to Herr von Schweinitz, the North German minister at Vienna, December 14, 1870

Count Bismarck to Herr von Schweinitz, the North German minister at Vienna.

The treaties between the North German Confederacy and the South German states, concluded at Versailles with Bavaria and Hesse, and at Berlin with Würtemberg, have been so far matured by recent transactions at Berlin as to admit of their being laid before the South German parliaments. Not only a regard for the Prague treaty of peace, in which Prussia and Austro-Hungary embodied their notions respecting the then anticipated development of German affairs, but also the wish to cultivate such relations with a friendly and powerful neighbor as shall be in harmony with our common past as well as with the sentiments and necessities of both peoples, causes me to acquaint the imperial and royal Austro-Hungarian government with the point of view from which the government of His Majesty the King looks upon the reorganization of Germany. In the Prague treaty of August 23, 1866, the supposition is expressed that the German governments south of the Main will form a confederacy which, independent in itself, would be connected by close national ties with the confederacy of the North German states. None of the contracting parties being by this treaty entitled or obliged to prescribe to the sovereign states of Southern Germany how to order their mutual relations, it rested exclusively with these states to fulfill the above supposition. The South German states have omitted realizing the ideas underlying the Prague treaty of peace. They have confined themselves to forming national relations with Northern Germany, and as a first introductory step renewed the Zollverein and the treaties providing for a mutual territorial guarantee. It was beyond human power to foresee that, under the mighty impetus given to German patriotism by an unexpected attack of the French, these arrangements would be completed by the constitutional treaties recently concluded, and by the establishment of a new German confederacy. Northern Germany had no call to hinder or foil a consummation which it had not indeed brought about, but which had its origin in the history and spirit of the nation. Nor does the Austro-Hungarian government, according to your reports, expect or demand that the stipulations of the Prague treaty of peace shall throw difficulties in the way of the prosperous development of the German states. The Austro-Hungarian government regards the pending reorganization of German affairs with the confident hope that all members of the new confederacy, and especially the King, our most gracious master, are animated by the desire to preserve and promote those friendly relations with the neighboring empire of Austro-Hungary which are equally recommended to both by their common interests and an active literary and commercial intercourse. The allied governments, on their part, confidently expect that their wishes in this respect are shared by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The imminent fulfillment of the German national aspirations and requirements will impart a steadiness and safety to the future development of Germany which all Europe, and more particularly our immediate neighbors will, I trust, see not only without apprehension, but also with satisfaction. The unfettered growth of material interests, which bind countries and nations together with so many ties, cannot fail to react beneficially upon our political relations. Germany and Austro-Hungary will, we are convinced, look upon each other with feelings of mutual good-will, and unite for the friendly promotion of each other’s welfare and prosperity. As soon as the fundamental treaties of the new confederacy have been ratified by all parties, I shall enable you to communicate them officially to the chancellor of the Austro-Hungarian empire. I request you to read this communication to the chancellor, and to leave a copy of it with him.

I am, &c.,