ABSTRACT
The news of Andrassy's impending resignation caused the greatest consternation in Berlin. Bismarck's neurotic fear of anti-German coalitions reached a new intensity as the prospect presented itself to him that the Taaffe government in Austria, once freed from Andrassy's influence, might complement its pro-Slav domestic policy by persuading the emperor to make an alliance with the tsar. Andrassy's idea of an Austro-German alliance, which Bismarck had for years rejected as likely to cause hostility between Russia and Germany. Indeed, while Austro-Hungarian policy might be seen objectively, and especially by Russia, as aiming at predominance, it was regarded in Vienna as defensive. Austria-Hungary was committed to help Italy only in the extremely unlikely event of an unprovoked French attack; and she maintained her freedom from any obligation to help Germany in the event of a Franco-German war. For in 1878 Germany decided to adopt a policy of protection, and refused to renew the Austro-Prussian commercial treaty of 1868.
