Die Protokolle des osterreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 Abteilung IV: Das Ministerium Rechberg Band 3

English summary: Volume IV/3 of the edition Die Protokolle des osterreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 (The Austrian Cabinet Protocols 1848-1867) comprises the records of the Rechberg administration (1859-1861) from 21 October 1860 to 2 February 1861. It includes a text critical apparatus, commentary, as well as an introduction, a bibliography and a detailed register of persons, places and objects. This is the final volume on this administration, thus bridging the period between the administrations of Archduke Rainer and of Mensdorff, whose protocols have already been published. The main topic of this volume is the implementation of the imperial October diploma of 1860, with its many accompanying imperial letters. Its implementation was an extremely complicated political process. Two important political groups criticised and rejected the diploma. The liberals in the German-Slavic provinces (Kronlander) criticised the privileges granted to Hungary and the Cisleithanian provincial parliaments’ lack of power; the liberals in Hungary rejected the establishment of the old court chancellery and demanded a responsible Hungarian government according to the law of 1848. In addition-according to Hungarian critics-the diploma violated Hungary’s territorial integrity. To avoid a conflict between these two important political groups and due to the critical economic situation of the monarchy, the emperor complied with the German liberals. In December 1860, he dismissed Goluchowski, the minister of inner affairs (Staatsminister) and appointed the liberal figurehead Schmerling in his place. Schmerling implemented the October diploma according to his party’s position; the result was the February patent of 1861. Despite Hungarian criticism, the policy of October 1860 was maintained but in the summer of 1861 repressive measures were taken against Hungary. These changes resulted in contentious discussions in the Austrian Cabinet. This volume documents a short but politically highly important era of Austrian history, a period in which the country moved towards becoming to a constitutional state. German description: Band IV/3 der Edition Die Protokolle des osterreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 enthalt die Protokolle vom 21. Oktober 1860 bis zum 2. Februar 1861 des Ministeriums Rechberg (1859-1861) mit textkritischem Apparat, wissenschaftlichem Kommentar, Einleitung, Bibliographie und einem Personen-, Orts- und Sachregister. Es ist der letzte Band dieses Ministeriums und schliesst somit die Lucke zu den Protokollen des Ministeriums Erzherzog Rainer und Mensdorff, die bereits ediert sind. Zentrales Thema des Bandes ist die Durchfuhrung des kaiserlichen Diploms vom 20. Oktober 1860 und der vielen begleitenden Handschreiben. Das sogenannte Oktoberdiplom bedeutete die Uberwindung des Neoabsolutismus und den Beginn der konstitutionellen Ara. Die Umsetzung erwies sich als vielschichtiger, uberaus komplizierter politischer Prozess. Das Diplom wurde von zwei Seiten abgelehnt: Die Liberalen in den deutsch-slawischen Kronlandern kritisierten die geringen Kompetenzen der cisleithanischen Landtage und die Bevorzugung Ungarns, die Liberalen in Ungarn lehnten die Wiedererrichtung der Hofkanzlei ab. Sie forderten ein verantwortliches ungarisches Ministerium und die territoriale Integritat. Um einem innenpolitischen Zweifrontenkrieg zu entgehen und aus okonomischer Not gab der Kaiser den Deutschliberalen nach, entliess im Dezember 1860 Staatsminister Goluchowski und ernannte die liberale Galionsfigur Schmerling zum neuen Staatsminister. Dieser fuhrte das Diplom im Sinn seiner Partei durch (Februarpatent). Ungarn gegenuber wurde die Politik fortgesetzt, aber im Sommer 1861 durch Auflosung des ungarischen Landtags in restriktivem Sinn geandert. So erwies sich das Diplom kurzfristig als wenig erfolgreich, doch wurden viele Detailmassnahmen tatsachlich umgesetzt, und insgesamt ist die Politik den Wegen gefolgt, die es gewiesen hat: Ruckkehr zu verfassungsmassigen Zustanden, Teilnahme des Reichsrates und der Landtage an der Gesetzgebung und Zuweisung vieler Agenden an die Lander. Alle diese Vorgange fuhrten zu z. T. erregten Diskussionen in der Ministerkonferenz. Der Band dokumentiert und erhellt eine kurze, aber politisch hochwichtige Etappe der Geschichte Osterreichs auf dem Weg zum konstitutionellen Staat. … Volume IV/3 of the edition Die Protokolle des osterreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 (The Austrian Cabinet Protocols 1848-1867) comprises the records of the Rechberg administration (1859-1861) from 21 October 1860 to 2 February 1861. It includes a text critical apparatus, commentary, as well as an introduction, a bibliography and a detailed register of persons, places and objects. This is the final volume on this administration, thus bridging the period between the administrations of Archduke Rainer and of Mensdorff, whose protocols have already been published. The main topic of this volume is the implementation of the imperial October diploma of 1860, with its many accompanying imperial letters. Its implementation was an extremely complicated political process. Two important political groups criticised and rejected the diploma. The liberals in the German-Slavic provinces (Kronlander) criticised the privileges granted to Hungary and the Cisleithanian provincial parliaments’ lack of power; the liberals in Hungary rejected the establishment of the old court chancellery and demanded a responsible Hungarian government according to the law of 1848. In addition-according to Hungarian critics-the diploma violated Hungary’s territorial integrity. To avoid a conflict between these two important political groups and due to the critical economic situation of the monarchy, the emperor complied with the German liberals. In December 1860, he dismissed Goluchowski, the minister of inner affairs (Staatsminister) and appointed the liberal figurehead Schmerling in his place. Schmerling implemented the October diploma according to his party’s position; the result was the February patent of 1861. Despite Hungarian criticism, the policy of October 1860 was maintained but in the summer of 1861 repressive measures were taken against Hungary. These changes resulted in contentious discussions in the Austrian Cabinet. This volume documents a short but politically highly important era of Austrian history, a period in which the country moved towards becoming to a constitutional state.

• By (author) Stefan Malfer
• Editorial board member Stefan Malfer