Debates in the Frankfurt National Assembly on Austria's Relationship with Germany

Germany.

Frankfurt. The Fr. O. P. A. Ztg. of 26 Oct. contains in its official section a circular letter from the Imperial Ministries of the Interior and of War to the governments of all individual German states, according to which the provisioning of imperial troops in immediate imperial service must be borne by the entire empire. The deliberations on Art. II, §§ 2, 3, 4 did not come to an end in the session of 26 Oct. either. Beside several Austrian and non-Austrian deputies, Beda Weber of Meran also spoke during this session. The content of his speech was as follows: 'The relationship of Austria to Germany can take clear shape without the overall Austrian monarchy having to be torn apart because of it. Were Austria to crumble, Prussia would be there; and on this tabula rasa only the republic would be possible, which few desire, or the military dictatorship, which no one desires. The sentiment of the rural population in Austria favors the overall monarchy. Take this sentiment into account; what is right in the north for German interests is fair in the south. What Mr. Eisenmann said about Hungary is a touching, romantic love; it is all the firmer the less cause there is for it. (Laughter.) If I have understood correctly, on this side of the House (pointing to the left) there reigns a lively antipathy against the nobility and an intimate sympathy for the people. Well then, I call upon this sympathy for the peasants in Hungary against Kossuth, who merely issues authorizations on paper. The sword-rattling against the Croats will not bring peace, but at most provoke a Hussite war. The people do not want separation. The appeal of the Viennese was proclaimed, but not a single marksman stepped forward, neither in Tyrol nor in Styria. May one not assess the population's sympathies for the imperial house too superficially; the reckoning could easily prove costly without the host. (Oh!) Sympathies for the dynasty will grow in Austria through the sympathy which the Vienna uprising has met with in the Paulskirche. The peasant would rather have a camarilla than revolt. If we do not wish to throw the baby out with the bathwater, let us proceed cautiously in the matter before us. Germany needs Austria more than Austria needs Germany, for it has means enough to unite all parts of the state into a unity. We have had enough gray theories. §§ 2 and 3 serve Russia, for in them the creation of a Slavic realm is expressed, which sooner or later will unite with Russia.' – A counterpart to this presentation by our patriotic deputy is formed by the following speech of Uhland: 'We are certainly sent to establish German unity, not to detach large territories from Germany, territories that for centuries were lands of the German Empire, and which even in dark days belonged to the German federal territory. Foreign rule has torn Germany apart; our task is to reunite the fatherland into a whole, not to mutilate it with our own hands. The people in Austria did not send their deputies to Frankfurt merely to establish an alliance under international law; one does not send a hundred and fifty deputies and a diplomatic negotiator to the Paulskirche for that. Nor have the Austrian deputies deliberated with us in this sense since then, but rather spoken with us legislatively in the spirit of the new German federal state. Through the law of 28 June, the confederation of states sank down and the federal state arose. This law was recognized and proclaimed by all German governments, and a member of the Austrian imperial house was elected Regent of the Empire. According to this, the federal state exists by law. To bring it into life is the task of the draft constitution. This principle is a definitive one, even if the central power may be provisional. And now the statutory principle of the federal state is being shaken by offering us an alliance under international law! Such an alliance is the brotherly hand of farewell! (Bravo!) The fate of the German provinces of Austria would in this case be placed in Slavic hands. But how can German Austria exercise power if it is itself enslaved? How can it enlighten if it is stifled? Let Austria serve as a lantern for the East if it will; but it also has the calling to be an artery in the heart of Germany. (Bravo!) Now Austria is to be torn away from Germany, just when it approaches us anew to conclude the bond of freedom. Austria has mingled its heart's blood in the building of German unity. Do you wish to consent to 150 Austrian representatives of the people being led away into exile, into the new Slavic realm? It is true, Austria is in ferment; but because it is in ferment, we must have the form ready, so that from it the clear, noble Germania may emerge! (Lively applause.)' The speaker's motion is as follows: 'May the National Assembly exempt §§ 2 and 3 of the draft from the second deliberation and, without prejudice to their inclusion in the imperial constitution, immediately raise them to a definitive resolution.' At the conclusion of the session, Heinrich v. Gagern made a compromise proposal to the effect that: 'Austria, in consideration of its constitutional connection with non-German lands and provinces, remains in permanent and indissoluble alliance with the rest of Germany. The organic provisions for this federal relationship, made necessary by altered circumstances, shall be the content of a special federal act.'

Latest news. We have just received letters from Frankfurt of 27 Oct. Mr. v. Gagern had withdrawn his compromise motion. The proposals of the constitutional committee (§§ 2 and 3) were approved by a large majority (340 to 76, and 316 to 90).