48 



AUSTRIA. 



things imperatively called for a clear definition 

 of the competency of the representative assem- 

 blies, with a reservation in favor of the main- 

 tenance of the peculiar institutions of the dif- 

 ferent countries, as well as for a revision of the 

 constitution by a legal and general representa- 

 tion of the countries this side the Leitha. 



The relations of Austria with Italy seemed, at 

 .the beginning of this year, to improve, by an 

 order of the Austrian ministry (February 16th), 

 extending the provisions of the Austro-Sardin- 

 ian treaty of commerce of 1851 to all merchan- 

 dise arriving in Austria from any part of the 

 Italian kingdom. The arming of Austria against 

 Prussia led, however, to an alliance between 

 Prussia and Italy, and to a participation of the 

 latter power in the German-Italian- war. _ The 

 conclusion of peace united the larger portion of 

 the Italian subjects of Austria with Italy ; but 

 there remains a strong Italian party in Southern 

 Tyrol which demands annexation to Italy, and 

 which is likely to be the cause of future trouble 

 between Austria and Italy. (See ITALY.) 



In October Baron von Beust, formerly Minis- 

 ter of Foreign Affairs in the kingdom of Saxony, 

 was appointed by the emperor Minister of 

 Foreign Affairs. It was understood that the 

 chief aim of the new ministry would be to 

 conciliate all the different nationalities of the 

 empire, and, in particular, the Hungarians. 

 In a circular, dated November 2d, and addressed 

 to the diplomatic agents of Austria abroad, 

 Baron von Beust spoke of the policy to be pur- 

 sued by the Government as follows : 



*' His majesty the emperor has deigned to 

 appoint me his Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

 Penetrated by unbounded gratitude for this sig- 

 nal mark of confidence, I have no other ambi- 

 tion than to render myself worthy of it, and to 

 devote my whole life to the service of his majes- 

 ty. "While desiring to profit by the experience 

 I have gamed elsewhere, I consider myself, how- 

 ever, separated from my political past from the 

 clay on which, thanks to the will of his impe- 

 rial and apostolic majesty, I became an Austrian, 

 and I shall only preserve in my new position 

 the testimony of a deeply venerated sovereign 

 whom I feel I have served with zeal and fidelity. 

 It would suppose in me, especially at the com- 

 mencement of my new career, a strange forget- 

 fulriess of my duties to believe me capable of 

 bringing to them preferences or resentments 

 from which in truth I feel completely exempt. 

 I beg you, sir, not in my own interest, but in 

 that of the emperor's service, to thoroughly 

 understand this, and to make it understood in 

 the conversations you may have on this subject. 

 The Imperial Government, all the efforts of 

 which must tend to remove the traces of a dis- 

 astrous war, will remain faithful to that policy 

 of peace and conciliation which it has always 

 followed ; but while the unfortunate issue of a 

 recent struggle renders this a necessity, it at the 

 same time imposes upon the Government the 

 duty of showing itself more than ever jealous 

 of its dignity. The imperial mission will, I am 



certain, cause it to be respected tinder all cir- 

 cumstances, and they will find in me a support 

 which will never fail them. It remains for me 

 to express to you the satisfaction I experience 

 upon entering into regular relations with you, 

 and to beg of you to be kind enough to facili- 

 tate my duties by seconding the efforts I shall 

 make in order to fulfil them according to the 

 intentions of our august master, and so that too 

 much regret may not be felt for a predecessor 

 so. justly surrounded by the esteem and confi- 

 dence of his subordinates." 



The policy of Baron Beust raised great hopes 

 among the Hungarians, but created a great dea? 

 of dissatisfaction among the Germans. 



One of the most indispensable reforms, in the 

 opinion of the Government, was that of a total 

 reorganization of the army. It was semi- 

 officially announced that the chief points of the 

 proposed reform of the Austrian military organi- 

 zation would be as follows : The army to be sup- 

 plied with breech-loaders ; simplification of the 

 commissariat regulation ; a new audit system, 

 and prompt examination of all military accounts ; 

 the improvement of the educational institutions 

 for the army; the formation of officers' schools ; 

 strict examination for those aspiring to become 

 officers and staff officers ; a new law of promo- 

 tion ; changes in the organization of the general 

 staff; reform of the military penal laws; alle- 

 viations of the burdens of the public treasury 

 by a considerable reduction in the number of 

 officers, and the partial cessation of promotions ; 

 and special ordinances with regard to furloughs 

 and removal from active service. This an- 

 nouncement created great dissatisfaction, espe- 

 cially in Hungary. 



On October 27th a man was arrested in 

 Prague, charged with an intent to assassinate 

 the emperor. The Austrian papers stated that 

 when the emperor was leaving the Czech the- 

 atre at Prague, an English captain (Palmer), 

 who was among the crowd of spectators, saw 

 a man near him raise his right hand, in which 

 he held a small pistol. Captain Palmer struck 

 down his arm, and seized him by the collar. 

 The man immediately slipped the pistol into 

 the side-pocket of his paletot. On inquiring, it 

 was found that he was a journeyman tailor. 

 When arrested he dropped a piece of black silk, 

 in which wore found powder, three caps, and 

 two large pieces of lead. The pistol was loaded 

 and cocked, but it had no cap on. This was, 

 however, found opposite the principal entrance 

 to the theatre, by two young men, after the 

 emperor had left. The investigation of the 

 affair left it, however, doubtful as to whether 

 the man arrested really meant to take the life 

 of the emperor. 



The difficulties between Austria and Hun- 

 gary remained unsettled. In consequence of 

 the disastrous result of the German-Italian 

 war, the Austrian Government showed a dis- 

 position to grant most of the demands of the 

 Hungarians, but no full agreement had been 

 arrived at at the close of the year when, on the 



