The following statement by von Bismarck was published in a major Prussian paper.
"To preface this reveal of the true Treaty of Constantinople, I must profess that I was afflicted with wild-eyed idealism. So much do I love Germany, that when the French offered Elsass-Lothringen and when all signatories offered Schleswig-Holstein to be returned to Germany, I could not refuse. Only now have I realized the error of my ways. I too eagerly accepted peace's sweet presence, too eagerly accepted that there could be a legitimate reason for keeping a treaty secret and lying to the whole world. I did not see that rather than peace, it brought only slavery to all the excluded members, and even Prussia, for so vaguely worded was it that even Prussian liberation of Flanders to end the Belgo-Dutch war nearly caused war! Today, I announce Prussia's formal withdrawal from the treaty of Constantinople. As part of my penance, I reveal the entire secret combination to the world at large. Any fair-minded journalist is invited to Berlin to inspect our copy of the treaty to see if it is genuine, including the affixed seals.
'The following treaty is in accordance with the agreements between the Concert of Europe, made up of the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom (together the French Federation of Great Britain), the Prussian Empire, the Russian Empire (together the Prusso-Russian Alliance), the Austrian Empire and the Ottoman Empire in the year 1861 at the Conference of Constantinople. This treaty shall remain in effect until three or more of the signatories see it fit to end or renegotiate the terms. Annulment of this treaty must be declared 48 months prior to the date of termination.
Article 1: It is hereby agreed that ‘Europe’, within its broader definition as encompassing Western Russia and Asia Minor, as well as all the integral lands of the signatories, shall be a region kept free of all war.
--Section 1: All wars between the signatories shall hereby take place outside of Europe
--Section 2: All wars within Europe shall be quashed by the combined power of all the signatories, even if two or more of the signatories are embroiled in war outside Europe
----Clause 1: In the case of one nation attacking another nation, the signatories will side against the aggressor unless a vote decides otherwise.
----Clause 2: In the case of unaffiliated groups attacking a nation, the signatories will aim to bring said groups to justice either through military intervention or by demanding their surrender to the nearest recognised authority.
----Clause 3: In a situation where an attack by an unaffiliated group causes a declaration of war against the nation of origin of said group, then the same measures will be taken as in the above clause, unless otherwise voted by the signatories.
----Clause 4: In the case that a signatory finds itself close to war with a non-signatory it will bring the issue to the Austrian Empire as the mediator for Europe. In a case where the Austrian Empire is the signatory in question then the issue should be brought to the other signatories to solve.
----Clause 5: In a situation where war is declared upon a signatory by a non-signatory then all signatories will come to the support of the signatory.
----Clause 6: In a situation where a signatory declares war on another nation and fighting occurs within Europe, then other signatories will attempt to mediate. If mediation fails then military might will have to brought to bear against the aggressor.
----Clause 7: A conflict within Europe is considered to be at an end when either the aggressor’s surrender has been accepted by the defender or the signatories have all accepted the aggressor’s surrender.
Article 2: It is hereby recognised by all the signatories that each signatory has undisputed authority and jurisdiction over particular regions of the world, and whose say in issues which arise in said regions is final.
--Section 1: The region of Northern Europe, recognised as encompassing the British Isles, France, the regions of north-western Russia, and the Scandinavian nations, falls under the sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Prussia, who shall act as a mediator between the signatories and have authority over the minor nations of in said region.
--Section 1.1: The region of Southern Europe, recognised as encompassing Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, the Italian Peninsula, and Switzerland, falls under the sphere of influence of the Austrian Empire, who shall act as a mediator between the signatories and have authority over the minor nations of said region.
--Section 1.2: Both the Austrian Empire and Prussian Kingdom shall share the responsibility of mediator in the German Confederation in order to maintain peace and order.
--Section 2: The region of North America, recognised as encompassing Mexico and all the territories north of it, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa, recognised as the Congo Basin territories and everything south of them, and the territories of eastern Africa, as well as India fall under the sphere of influence of the FFGB.
--Section 3: The regions of eastern Asia, stretching over China, the Japanese islands, Korea, Siam and other territories south of China, as well as the various islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, all fall under the sphere of influence of the Russian Empire.
--Section 4: The regions of North Africa, far east as Egypt to Morocco in the west, and all the territories north of the Congo Basin territories, as well as the Balkans and Caucuses, the Arabian Peninsula, Persia and Central Asia – recognised as the territories stretching from the Persian border to the Chinese border, and north from the Russian border to the border of British India, all fall under the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Empire.
Article 2.1: A signatory cannot halt or hinder trade between a nation in their respective sphere of influence and another signatory, unless there is a state of war between the signatory in question and a nation or nations within their sphere of influence.
Article 2.2: A signatory has undisputed authority over their respective sphere/s of influence, wherein their decisions concerning all matters are considered final and binding as law to the other signatories.
--Section 1: A signatory can freely intervene in conflicts which occur within its sphere of influence without hindrance or lash-out from other signatories.
--Section 2: A signatory has a responsibility to ensure that the humanitarian needs of those in their sphere of influence are met, and can request help from other signatories in order to meet this responsibility.
--Section 3: A signatory has the full right to redraw borders, seize land, surrender land, or transfer land from one nation to another within their sphere of influence.
--Section 4: The above sections apply to all spheres of influence bar Central Europe, where different privileges and responsibilities apply.
----Clause 1: The signatory with authority over Central Europe has responsibility has a neutral mediator between signatories in the Central European sphere of influence as well as between signatories and non-signatories.
----Clause 2: The signatory with authority over Central Europe has the responsibility to maintain peace in their sphere and ensure the articles of this treaty concerning war in Europe are upheld.
----Clause 3: The signatory with authority over Central Europe has the final say in matters regarding peace treaties, tributes to be paid by aggressors, redrawing of borders, and the transfer of land within Europe.
----Clause 4: In a case where the signatory with authority over Europe is embroiled in conflict or is close to becoming so, the other signatories will act as mediators.
Article 3: All signatories hereby support the transfer of Veneto from the Austrian Empire to the Kingdom of Italy for the sum of 5 million British pounds.
Article 4: All signatories accept the independence of the city of Rome from Italy and under the control of the Papal State.
Article 5: The territories of Alsace-Lorraine shall be transferred from the control of the Second French Empire to the German Confederation, to be administered by the Austrian Empire until the territory can govern itself.
Article 5.1: All signatories accept Prussia’s claim to the territories of Schleswig-Holstein and will support them in reclaiming this land for the German Confederation, to come under direct Prussian control.
Article 6: The demilitarisation of the Black Sea region shall hereby be removed and the military vessels of both Russia and the Ottoman Empire will be able to pass freely in the area.
Article 7: Signatories imposing a blockade on either the Union or the Confederacy will allow trade to pass if a tribute is paid.
--Section 1: 25% of income gained from trading with either the Confederacy or the Union shall be gifted as tribute to the blockading party.
--Section 2: Should goods imported from the Union or Confederacy be traded with the blockading party, there will be a 10% deduction on the tribute paid.
This is all as has been agreed, and we hold all signatories firmly to their word,
[X] Queen Victoria, the United Kingdom
[X] Emperor Napoleon III, the Second French Empire
[x] King William I, the Kingdom of Prussia
[X] Kaiser Franz Joseph I, the Austrian Empire
[X] Tsar Alexander II, the Russian Empire
[X] Sultan Abdülmecid I, the Ottoman Empire"