Die Protokolle des österreichischen Ministerrates 1848‒1867. Abteilung IV: Das Ministerium Rechberg, Band 3

Volume IV/3 of the edition Die Protokolle des österreichischen 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 (Kronländer) 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.