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Volume II/4, Cabinet Schwarzenberg, of the edition „Die Protokolle des österreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 (The Protocols of the Austrian Cabinet 1848-1867)“ comprises 101 records from October 14th, 1850 to May 30th, 1851 plus footnotes concerning textual criticism, a thorough scientific commentary as well as an introduction, a bibliography and a detailed index. This volume documents the beginning of a political development, which led to the end of the first constitutional era in the Habsburg monarchy. The emperor entrusted the implementation of this goal to former President of the Court Chamberlain’s Office Kübeck, who was a competent politician and an experienced bureaucrat. Kübeck found in the formation of the Reichsrat, an advisory body which was to be subordinate only to the emperor and which was to form a counter-balance to the “responsible ministries,” the suitable instrument. After a hard fought struggle, which is made clear in the transcripts, Kübeck was able to prevail and thus pave the way for a decade of neo-absolutism. Parallel to this development, the reforms in the fields of administration, justice, economics, and of welfare, which had already begun, were continued. They bore, at least rudimentarily, and in contrast to the impending political development, liberal ideas of the revolutionary period.
In the field of foreign affairs the looming martial conflict with Prussia did not take place after all. After protracted negotiations the reform of the German Confederation was envisaged in the so called Olmützer Terms.
This volume brings together important documents scientifically adapted to be available for scientists interested in Austrian history as well as for university teaching, and is an important source for the history of Austria and its neighbours.
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