Page - 739 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

Tisza’s Fall 739 ever more clearly. With parliamentarianism enjoying a new beginning in Austria, an inspection began of the judgements reached in the military courts, which went hand in hand with the emergence of articles that took a hostile tone towards the army.1707 In the socialist newspapers, in particular the Arbeiter-Zeitung, an increasing number of slogans were printed that referred to the class struggle. Instead of providing a transfer to more peaceful developments, the measures to- wards democratisation had led everywhere to further radicalisation and polarisation. However, this phenomenon was not only prevalent in the Austrian half of the Empire. In Hungary, also, it was becoming increasingly clear that a new era was dawning. In March and April 1917 the breathing space that Count Tisza had created through the coronation of King Karl in Budapest came to an end. The Hungarian Prime Minister and his party regarded the outbreak of the Russian Revolution as a justification of their foreign and domestic policy. To the Hungarian opposition, however, the events in Russia were confirmation that it was high time for reforms.1708 Not even in Russia was it possible to survive without democratisation measures ! The Hungarian newspa- pers carried detailed reports day after day on developments in Russia, and were hardly restricted by the censors. However, Tisza saw no reason to take more decisive measures. He was opposed to the proposal to send Hungarian Socialists to the conference of the International Socialist Bureau in Stockholm, and he only withdrew his resistance after being persuaded to do so by Czernin, allowing six Hungarians to travel to Stockholm. They met with their Austrian comrades, Adler, Ellenbogen, Renner and others, and like them, were of the view that peace must not be allowed to be concluded at the expense of the territorial integrity of the Habsburg Monarchy.1709 Tisza regarded himself, and Hungary, as symbols of continuity, stability and the division of power in an increasingly chaotic world. He was of the opinion that ‘every war makes people more sombre, more religious and more conservative’.1710 However, his days at the head of the Hungarian Cabinet were numbered. Since Emperor and King Karl had ascended to the throne, the Calvinist Count had repeatedly been named as the next person who should go at the next available opportunity. Yet he had re- mained, and appeared to be unshakeable. On 6 February 1917, he was told that the Monarch wished to see him replaced by Archduke Joseph. Tisza threatened to go into opposition with the entire parliamentary majority of which he was the leader.1711 Then another event occurred that would prove decisive as to whether Tisza would remain or be dismissed from office as Prime Minister. Karl, as mentioned above, had written to King Alfonso XIII of Spain and requested that he act as peace broker. King Alfonso had agreed in principle, but recommended that Prime Minister Tisza be removed from his post, since any step towards peace would certainly be made easier when those who had been responsible for unleashing the war were no longer in office.1712 Again, Tisza protested, saying that his dismissal could provoke a government crisis, and that this