casus foedoris

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
CASUS FOEDORIS. When two nations have formed a treaty of alliance, in 
anticipation of a war or other difficulty with another, and it is required 
to determine the case in which the parties must act in consequence of the 
alliance, this is called the casus foederis, or case of alliance. Vattel, 
liv. 3, c. 6, Sec. 88. 
    

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