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| 1882, May 20 |
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| TRIPLE ALLIANCE, among Germany, Austria, and Italy, concluded for five years and renewed at intervals until 1915. Terms: If Italy was attacked by France without provocation, Germany and Austria would come to Italy's aid; Italy was to come to Germany's aid if the latter was attacked by France; if one or two of the contracting parties were attacked or involved in war with two or more great powers, the nonattacked member or members of the alliance should come to the aid of the other or others; if one of the allies should be forced to make war on some other great power, the others were to preserve benevolent neutrality. The treaty was the result of Italy's isolation after the French occupation of Tunis and also a reflection of popular demand for security against radicalism and the prospect of intervention by other powers in behalf of the pope. The Italians wanted above all a treaty of guaranty, assuring them of the possession of Rome. Austria was anxious for an agreement that would put an end to irredentist agitation (very active since 1876), and Germany was uneasy about the renewed Pan-Slav agitation (speech of Gen. Skobelev in Paris, Feb. 1882) and the possibility of a Franco-Russian alliance. The Italians received assurances against attack by France. | 1 |
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| 1883, Feb.–April |
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| Establishment of the Germans, under Lüderitz, at Angra Pequeña (Southwest Africa), marking the beginning of German colonialism (growing agitation from 1875 onward—German Colonial Society, 1882) and Bismarck's conversion to imperialism. There followed two years of growing tension between Britain and Germany, the dispute extending to East African territory, the Cameroons, and so on. Bismarck managed to establish a loose entente with the French especially in the question of Egypt (financial conference at London, June–Aug. 1884), and thereby to oblige the British to accept Germany as a colonial power. | 2 |
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| Oct. 30 |
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| Alliance of Romania and Austria, to which Germany adhered. Terms: Austria was to come to the assistance of Romania in case the latter was attacked without provocation; Romania was to come to Austria's aid if the latter was attacked in a portion of its states bordering on Romania (that is, by Russia). The treaty was concluded for five years, but was periodically renewed and remained in force until 1916. | 3 |
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