The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

Serbian demand to have a special territory with a national autonomous administration accorded to them was again put forward, together with the petition that the Emperor’s youngest son Alexander should be installed as Serbian despot. Of course Vienna agreed to the Serbian demands, and the Emperor Leopold II in a special letter promised that the wishes of the Serbians would be soon realised, although he evidently did not for a moment sincerely and seriously think of keeping his word.

The Hungarian Parliament, being informed of the dealings of Vienna with the Serbians, showed itself meek and conciliatory. In the ensuing negotiations with the Magyars, Vienna scored an important victory, and Serbian interests were sacrificed to the Magyars. The Serbians were now placed on an equal footing with all other subjects of Hungary by the abolition of all previously granted privileges. But with the secret design of again using the Serbs, against future Magyar opposition, the Emperor reserved to himself the right of deciding in all matters touching the Serbian Church, religion, education, and such privileges as are not opposed to the fundamental laws of the realm (quae fundamentali Regni constitutioni non adversantur).

Thus the Serbians entered upon the nineteenth century full of misgivings lest their desire for national autonomy in Austria would never be realised. Nevertheless that wonderful century

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