For Austria, the greatest significance of signing the Vienna Treaty was not in restraining France, but in clearing away the final obstacle to the unification of the German lands.
Russia, Spain, and the other countries had all been bought off. Even if the remaining Netherlands, Portugal, and Nordic Federation wished to object, they had to consider whether their own bones could withstand the retaliation.
If the Continental powers did not object, there was even less need to mention the overseas nations. In this day and age, it had always been the European powers interfering in overseas affairs; never had overseas countries meddled in European affairs.
Unable to find like-minded supporters, the British were helpless as well. Diplomatic protests had no effect—yet they could hardly resort to armed intervention, could they?
With no other choice, the British Government could only compromise. In exchange for recognizing Austria's annexation of the German Confederation, they secured the Vienna Government's recognition of their annexation of French Indochina.
Anyone with eyes could see that this recognition made little difference whether it existed or not. Britain could not stop the Austro-German merger, and Vienna could not interfere with the British annexation of French Indochina. Their mutual recognition was merely to make things look better on the surface.
On June 12, 1892, under the witness of the international community, Austria and the various German states jointly signed the Holy Roman Treaty.
Almost at the same time, the German Confederation Federal Assembly announced the dissolution of the North German Empire. In the afternoon, George I issued his declaration of abdication.
As witnesses to history, seeing the fall of one nation and the rebirth of another within a single day undoubtedly struck everyone with tremendous force.
Anyone with even a little political sense knew that the skies had changed. Continental