Chapter 155, Near East Treaty

The British were not surprised by the turn of events. By the end of 1874, seeing that Austria had no intention of continuing the war, perhaps worried about being left without support, or maybe eager to return home for Christmas, the Tsarist Government decidedly chose to compromise.

On December 18, 1874, Austria, Russia, and the Three Ottoman countries signed the "Near East Treaty" in London.

The contents of the treaty:

1. The Ottoman Empire acknowledged its defeat in the war and took responsibility for it;

2. The return of the Jerusalem Kingdom, transfer of sovereignty over the Arabian Peninsula to Austria as compensation; (Note: excluding the Mesopotamia region, but including the Kuwait Region)

3. Cede the Caucasus region to the Russian Empire, and compensate the Russians with 2 million Rubles for war expenses;

4. Opening the Black Sea Strait as a free strait, at any time, under any circumstances, the three countries shall not blockade the strait;