Alvensleben Convention

It was signed in St. Petersburg on 8 February 1863 by General Alvensleben and Alexander Gorchakov, the Russian Foreign Minister.

Prussia immediately closed its border and mobilised the Prussian Army to secure its eastern provinces against a similar event.

Initiated by Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, Alvensleben, the Prussian King's personal adjutant, was dispatched to Tsar Alexander II of Russia’s court to negotiate common measures with regard to the insurgents.

[2][4][7][8][9] The treaty led to clashes in the Prussian Landtag and after the president of the parliament interrupted Bismarck during a dispute over his Polish policy, he stated that he answered only to the King and was “not subject to the disciplinary authority vested in the president of the parliament.” The struggle between Bismarck and the Diet continued, and on 22 May 1863 the Diet sent a sharp note to the King: "The House of Deputies has no further means of coming to terms with this ministry.... Every further negotiation only strengthens our conviction that a chasm separates the advisors to the Crown and the Country."

[2] Empress Eugenie already showed a map of Europe to the Austrian ambassador, which contained an independent Poland and a major realignment of European frontiers.