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| 1875, April 8 |
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| The article “Is War in Sight?” published in the Berlin Post. This referred to the new French army law and concluded that war was in sight. Panic occurred in France, where the article was regarded as an inspired one. The Duc Decazes, French foreign minister, appealed to Britain and Russia for support, with the aim of discrediting Bismarck. | 1 |
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| May 10 |
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| Visit of Tsar Alexander and Gorchakov to Berlin was marked by warnings of Gorchakov, supported by similar action by the British ambassador, Lord Odo Russell. Acrimonious discussions were held between Bismarck and Gorchakov. The latter's telegram stated, “Peace is now assured.” Results: Bismarck realized the weakness of the Three Emperors' League and the suspicious jealousy of the other powers. France was strengthened by the “moral coalition” that had been formed against Germany and by the knowledge that neither Britain nor Russia would stand idly by if France was attacked by Germany in a preventive war. | 2 |
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| July |
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| Outbreak of the insurrection against Ottoman rule in Herzegovina and then Bosnia (See July–1876, May). This initiated three years of acute Balkan tension, which profoundly modified the relations of the powers to each other. The Serbs at once supported the insurgents, in the hope of acquiring the two provinces for themselves. Russia was extremely sympathetic (religious affinity, racial relationship to the South Slavs, Pan-Slav movement and ambitions, secular aims for the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, opening of the Straits to Russian warships, etc.). | 3 |
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| Nov. 25 |
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| Purchase of the khedive of Egypt's shares in the Suez Canal, a masterstroke of British policy (Benjamin Disraeli), which indicated Britain's growing interest in the Middle East. | 4 |
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| Dec. 30 |
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| The Andrássy note was communicated to all powers that were signatories of the Treaty of Paris of 1856. It called for complete religious freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina, abolition of tax-farming, use of local revenue for local needs, and establishment of a mixed Christian-Muslim commission to supervise these reforms. This program was adopted by the powers and by the sultan (Jan. 31, 1876), but failed in its purpose because it was rejected by the insurgents. | 5 |
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