ABSTRACT
The mobilisation of the army began at once, and, in opposition to the advice of Podewils and of Prince Henry, Count Klinggraeffen, the Prussian envoy at Vienna, was instructed to lay before Maria Theresa a request for an explanation of the movements of her armies. Maria Theresa must, of course, answer the charge of having so far sacrificed the Empire to her own ends that she was introducing French armies into the heart of Germany to compass the destruction of a leading German state. Maria Theresa's action was retributive, if not indeed defensive—after her experience in 1741 no one can blame her if she felt insecure as long as Frederick II was free to act as he pleased. A solution was found in the compensation of Poland with East Prussia; on November 13th, Maria Theresa agreed to considerable modifications in the Convention of April, and on January nth, 1757, Russia notified her adhesion to the Defensive Treaty of Versailles.
