Századok – 1996

Tanulmányok - Gergely András: A Frankfurt–Budapest szövetség kialakulása 1848 tavaszán V/1033

FRANKFURT ÉS BUDAPEST KAPCSOLATA 1848 TAVASZÁN 1061 Hongrie; elle voulait précipiter de cette manière le processus de l'unité allemande et l'accession de l'Autriche. La délégation fut suivie par une grande propagande de presse et l'acceptation des délégués hongrois fut convenable à leurs espérances. On leur proposa des places d'honneur dans l'église de St Paul et l'assemblée conseilla unanimement (!) au gouvernement allemand de conclure le plus vite possible le contrat avec la Hongrie. Le gouvernement de Vienne - à la suite de sa faiblesse „temporaire" (se servant de sa propre expression) devait attendre. Dans ce cas là il consentit à convaincre l'archiduc Jean d'accepter son élection à la fonction du gouverneur allemand impérial, et il ne contesta plus la délégation hongroise. On repéra bien à Vienne (en voulant garder l'unité de la monarchie Habsbourg) que c'est à Francfort où on décide l'avenir de l'Europe Centrale, même de leur point de vue. THE FRANKFURT-BUDAPEST ALLIANCE IN THE SPRING OF 1848 by Gergely András (Summary) The direct aim of the German liberals of Vormärz was to create German unity without the Habsburg Empire, since they found Meltemich's Austria incapable of renewal. However, the situation changed after the revolution of Vienna, and the revolutionary German provinces of Austria could no longer be left out of consideration. So the Vorparlament, aiming to prepare the national assembly in Frankfurt officially, invited all provinces of the former German Federation in April, 1848. In the middle of April, however, Palacky's letter of refusal meant that the Czechs would not have themselves represented and were for a separate Habsburg Empire. In this turmoil of views and ideas, the relationship developing between Frankfurt and Budapest represented the first sign of a new orientation in foreign policy in this region about to be reshaped. In Germany it was the series of articles by Professor Gervinus that represented the new orientation of the German liberals for the first time on the pages of Deutsche Zeitung. It advocated that in the disintegrating Habsburg Empire the Hungarians could be reliable partnere, since their political and economic interests were similar. In case of a Russian attack they could be suitable allies. Also the national movements of the region sought partners in Frankfurt. The Saxons of Transylvania sought support in defence of their right for autonomy. They were soon followed by the Poles of the Habsburg Empire who hoped for the resurrection of Poland, then came the Romanians of Wallachia, and the Austrians again after the revolution of Vienna on March 15. The Italians and the Czechs were missing. The former were not willing to negotiate with Vienna, and the latter wished to remain within the Habsburg Empire and gain independence led by Head of Province Thun, and with the consent of Vienna and Innsbruck. When the politicians of Frankfurt got Palacky's letter of refusal, they decided to send a delegation to Vienna and Praha to analyze the situation there. The report of the delegation in June gave a sad picture of the Slav plans of an obviously pro-Tsar Slav empire on totally uncertain constitutional basis to be brought about to the detriment of Germany, including also the Austrian and Czech provinces of the future German Empire. The delegates spoke of an imminent danger coming from Germany's Slav neighbours instead of a Russian threat. To prevent the realization of these plans and to ensure the security of Germany the similarly endangered Hungarians should be contacted as future allies, the delegates concluded. Their motion was published also in the press. Urged by the news from Frankfurt (perhaps also on German request, though no sources are available to prove it), the Hungarian government decided to send delegates to the national assembly in Frankfurt. When the idea of German unity arose, the dissolution of the Habsburg Empire was seriously considered in Hungaiy. With the Union of Transylvania brought about in June, a middle-sized empire of fifteen million was about to be formed in the region, the ambitious government of which considered the possibility of an empire based on Hungarian hegemony and with Buda as its centre quite probable after the realization of a full German unity, though under Habsburg ruler. They even thought of annexing the principalities of the Balkans liberated from Turkish rule one by one. This was the idea of "Greater Hungary" described by István Hajnal.