True, the Emperor Francis Joseph had small cause to like Napoleon III.

The loss of Lombardy in 1859 still rankled in the breast of every patriotic Austrian; and the suspicions which that enigmatical ruler managed to arouse, prevented any definite agreement resulting from the meeting of the two sovereigns at Salzburg in 1867.
The relations of France and Austria were still in the same uncertain state before the War of 1870.

The foreign policy of Austria was in the hands of Count Beust, a bitter foe of Prussia; but after the concession of constitutional rule to Hungary by the compromise (_Ausgleich_) of 1867, the Dual Monarchy urgently needed rest, especially as its army was undergoing many changes.

The Chancellor's action was therefore clogged on all sides.

Nevertheless, when the Luxemburg affair of 1867 brought France and Prussia near to war, Napoleon began to make advances to the Court of Vienna.