Taylor also believes that the alliance was a "test for Austria rather than a trap" and that the goal was not war with Austria, contradicting what Bismarck later gave in his memoirs as his main reason for establishing the alliance.
Taylor usub ka, et liit oli "Austria jaoks test, mitte lõks", ja et sihikul ei olnud sõda Austriaga, mis on vastuolus sellega, mida Bismarck hiljem oma memuaarides liidu loomise peapõhjusena esitas.