Austrians have fought shoulder to shoulder with Prussians and Germans of the Empire on a hundred battlefields; Germans are the backbone of the Austrian dominions, the bond of union that holds together the different nationalities of the Empire.

Austria, more than Germany, must guard against the inroads of Slavism, since numerous Slavonic races are comprised in her territories.
There has been no conflict of interests between the two States since the struggle for the supremacy in Germany was decided.

The maritime and commercial interests of the one point to the south and south-east, those of the other to the north.

Any feebleness in the one must react detrimentally on the political relations of the other.

A quarrel between Germany and Austria would leave both States at the mercy of overwhelmingly powerful enemies.