In His Own Right, Part III
- Thread starter LacheyS
- Start date
The Dissolution of the Balkan League
Since the end of the Balkan War, the League had stood its ground against the threat of the Ottoman Empire. However, there no longer seemed a need. The arrangements that had proved so vital just a few short years ago were defunct. Each of the member nations, Greece, Serbia and Romania, were now adequately able to stand on their own feet.
In addition, the growing power of the Balkan League meant that a continuing alliance began to pose a threat to the Ottomans. Undoubtedly, they would cooperate in the future to help each other, but they had no desire on any more Ottoman territory. The uncomfortable uprisings that occasionally struck Tirana were more a security problem, particularly with the Ottomans having their own minor battles with the occasional warlord type. In addition, Aragon was a tad edgy and the Austrians still didn't trust the Serbs to have abandoned their plan for world conquest.
And so it was decided to dissolve. Emperor Franz Joseph and his Minister President, Count Karl von Sturgkh, saw it as an opportunity. Already, plans were well advanced on the customs union with Serbia and monetary union with the Cisalpine Kingdom. From the information he was receiving from his economists, and particularly from that young Ludwig von Mises, "methodological individualism" was the way to go. And so were something called "economies of scale". Apparently, that just meant bigger was better and the Emperor agreed.
So, in January 1913, Crown Prince Alexander of Montenegro received a visit from an imperial envoy, addressing him in his capacity as the new Regent of Serbia. The argument was based on the fact that the long-held strategic doctrine of alliance with Germany, a policy now thirty-one years old, was no longer working. Germany and Austria were moving in different directions and that French idea of a Strausborg Commission proved that. Austria now needed to look elsewhere for its surety. The argument from von Sturgkh was that Austria had made an effort to repair its areas of dispute with Serbia through its gift of southern Bosnia. It was time for them to seal the rift permanently and become allies. The Crown Prince agreed.
With agreement reached, Austrian officials decided to press their luck. Why live with just a customs union? Why not full monetary union, as was being planned for the north of Italy? Serbia would have a larger market; economic issues would be decided jointly; the potential political interferences of the Strausborg Commission need not apply. The Crown Prince balked. However, the seed had been planted and, in the minds of the Austrian School of Economics, it had already begun to bloom.
Since the end of the Balkan War, the League had stood its ground against the threat of the Ottoman Empire. However, there no longer seemed a need. The arrangements that had proved so vital just a few short years ago were defunct. Each of the member nations, Greece, Serbia and Romania, were now adequately able to stand on their own feet.
In addition, the growing power of the Balkan League meant that a continuing alliance began to pose a threat to the Ottomans. Undoubtedly, they would cooperate in the future to help each other, but they had no desire on any more Ottoman territory. The uncomfortable uprisings that occasionally struck Tirana were more a security problem, particularly with the Ottomans having their own minor battles with the occasional warlord type. In addition, Aragon was a tad edgy and the Austrians still didn't trust the Serbs to have abandoned their plan for world conquest.
And so it was decided to dissolve. Emperor Franz Joseph and his Minister President, Count Karl von Sturgkh, saw it as an opportunity. Already, plans were well advanced on the customs union with Serbia and monetary union with the Cisalpine Kingdom. From the information he was receiving from his economists, and particularly from that young Ludwig von Mises, "methodological individualism" was the way to go. And so were something called "economies of scale". Apparently, that just meant bigger was better and the Emperor agreed.
So, in January 1913, Crown Prince Alexander of Montenegro received a visit from an imperial envoy, addressing him in his capacity as the new Regent of Serbia. The argument was based on the fact that the long-held strategic doctrine of alliance with Germany, a policy now thirty-one years old, was no longer working. Germany and Austria were moving in different directions and that French idea of a Strausborg Commission proved that. Austria now needed to look elsewhere for its surety. The argument from von Sturgkh was that Austria had made an effort to repair its areas of dispute with Serbia through its gift of southern Bosnia. It was time for them to seal the rift permanently and become allies. The Crown Prince agreed.
With agreement reached, Austrian officials decided to press their luck. Why live with just a customs union? Why not full monetary union, as was being planned for the north of Italy? Serbia would have a larger market; economic issues would be decided jointly; the potential political interferences of the Strausborg Commission need not apply. The Crown Prince balked. However, the seed had been planted and, in the minds of the Austrian School of Economics, it had already begun to bloom.
David bar Elias said:I can't wait to see what comes next......
Thanks, David.
It might interest you to know that I have been doing some long-term strategic thinking about the Ottoman Eyalet of Uhyun. In August 1914, the residents there will figure into our story again and their work will ultimately bring the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire much closer together.
Wendell said:
Thanks, mate. I have always loved economics as a course of study and there are many elements of that school of thought that appeal to me. In my heart of hearts I imagine the world can be a utopian Keynesian/Marxist paradise, but the Austrians understood, whereas the others did not, that we are all human beings and utopians can sometimes be ephemeral in the harsh light of day.
David bar Elias said:
I would love to bring both he and Keynes back from the afterlife and see if we can get them to debate out a solution to the hiccups we have found in their respective ideas. Von Hayek is undoubtedly one of the paragons of last century and I respect his work enormously but I don't know that he deserves his apotheosis over the last quarter century.
The Move Toward Federalisation
Archduke Franz Ferdinand strode the floor of the Reichsrat antechamber. Today, he was being given his first opportuinity to speak to the parliament of all Crownlands of the Cisleithanians. He wanted to place his image firmly in their minds. He wanted to outline the future of the Empire.
The collapse of the Alliance system meant, for Austria, that she no longer felt threatened. A lack of threat meant that people could begin to focus on the internal problems. And they were many. Austria was starting to fall behind France. She had become a minority in her own nation. The Hungarians were now dictating the policy. In countries like Australia, wages were up to 60% higher; in New Zealand, even higher than that. Smart citizens were leaving for overseas and the nation was falling behind. He wanted to stress that this was the AUSTRO-Hungarian monarchy and that Hungary began to play fair or not play at all. A surge in Austrian nationalism would follow, he believed, and rescue the country from itself.
To that end, the Archduke outlined his views on efficient government. They would follow a combination of the British and American systems. Upon his arrival upon the throne, he would move toward the creation of the United States of Austria-Hungary. There would be fifteen states of the Union. The largest, of course, would be Hungary, with 78 seats in a new 471-member House of Representatives. Austria would be the second largest state, with 68 seats, then Bohemia on 64 seats. These three large states would together dominate the new Parliament. In the next rung would be Translyvania, Slovakia and Croatia, with 40, 37 and 32 seats. The remaining states and their seat appropriations would be as follows:
Venetia..........29 seats
West Galicia..23 seats
North Bosnia..22 seats
East Bohemia..20 seats
East Galicia....15 seats
Carniola.........13 seats
Moravia..........12 seats
Trieste..............8 seats
Trentino...........6 seats
Szeklerland......4 seats
with a guarantee that seat allocation numbers can only rise, but cannot fall. It would be an obvious bribe, but appealing to regional self-interest of the small states was necessary. Above the Reichsrat would be the House of Lords. However, the numbers of nobility who could sit in the House was limited in number and must be elected from the nobility by the nobility. Finally, at the end of his reign, there would be a new law of succession. The House of Representatives must agree, by three-quarters majority, to send three nominees for the Crown to the House of Lords. The House of Lords would choose the successor by the same margin. And, finally, the House of Lords would be open to the public; the House of Represenatives would not be entitled to that honour.
With a new economic and political system, Austria-Hungary could remain a symbol of how strength can be found through diversity.
After he took his seat, the Archduke became aware of some murmurings from the gallery. Delegates from Budapest were present. Undoubtedly, he thought to himself, the Hungarian Premier, Count Istvan Tisza, will think this appalling behaviour. Nonetheless, the Popovici Plan, named for its major contributor, Aurel Popovici, was the plan for the future and, in his estimations, the Hungarians would just have to come on board in the long run. The Augsleich is dead. Live with it!
Archduke Franz Ferdinand strode the floor of the Reichsrat antechamber. Today, he was being given his first opportuinity to speak to the parliament of all Crownlands of the Cisleithanians. He wanted to place his image firmly in their minds. He wanted to outline the future of the Empire.
The collapse of the Alliance system meant, for Austria, that she no longer felt threatened. A lack of threat meant that people could begin to focus on the internal problems. And they were many. Austria was starting to fall behind France. She had become a minority in her own nation. The Hungarians were now dictating the policy. In countries like Australia, wages were up to 60% higher; in New Zealand, even higher than that. Smart citizens were leaving for overseas and the nation was falling behind. He wanted to stress that this was the AUSTRO-Hungarian monarchy and that Hungary began to play fair or not play at all. A surge in Austrian nationalism would follow, he believed, and rescue the country from itself.
To that end, the Archduke outlined his views on efficient government. They would follow a combination of the British and American systems. Upon his arrival upon the throne, he would move toward the creation of the United States of Austria-Hungary. There would be fifteen states of the Union. The largest, of course, would be Hungary, with 78 seats in a new 471-member House of Representatives. Austria would be the second largest state, with 68 seats, then Bohemia on 64 seats. These three large states would together dominate the new Parliament. In the next rung would be Translyvania, Slovakia and Croatia, with 40, 37 and 32 seats. The remaining states and their seat appropriations would be as follows:
Venetia..........29 seats
West Galicia..23 seats
North Bosnia..22 seats
East Bohemia..20 seats
East Galicia....15 seats
Carniola.........13 seats
Moravia..........12 seats
Trieste..............8 seats
Trentino...........6 seats
Szeklerland......4 seats
with a guarantee that seat allocation numbers can only rise, but cannot fall. It would be an obvious bribe, but appealing to regional self-interest of the small states was necessary. Above the Reichsrat would be the House of Lords. However, the numbers of nobility who could sit in the House was limited in number and must be elected from the nobility by the nobility. Finally, at the end of his reign, there would be a new law of succession. The House of Representatives must agree, by three-quarters majority, to send three nominees for the Crown to the House of Lords. The House of Lords would choose the successor by the same margin. And, finally, the House of Lords would be open to the public; the House of Represenatives would not be entitled to that honour.
With a new economic and political system, Austria-Hungary could remain a symbol of how strength can be found through diversity.
After he took his seat, the Archduke became aware of some murmurings from the gallery. Delegates from Budapest were present. Undoubtedly, he thought to himself, the Hungarian Premier, Count Istvan Tisza, will think this appalling behaviour. Nonetheless, the Popovici Plan, named for its major contributor, Aurel Popovici, was the plan for the future and, in his estimations, the Hungarians would just have to come on board in the long run. The Augsleich is dead. Live with it!
Brilliant stuff. Fascinated now to see who will be his Prime Minister, I presume it'll be an Austrian or a Hungarian. Will the dubious Karl Luger put in an appearance? Tisza? Popovici himself?
Later, by the way, Hungary will produce the exceptionally intelligent novelists Sandor Marai and Antal Szerb (the latter was a huge anti-fascist, and was murdered by the Nazis), both of whom were conceived before the original POD. They would make good future Prime Ministers, as would the physiologist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who in OTL did get involved in politics. Austria's novelist-journalists Robert Musil and Joseph Roth might also be tempted into politics quite easily.
Also, in this TL, Central Europe's film industry won't suffer with the mass exodus of writers, actors and directors- it could easily rival Hollywood (especially in either the German or even the Hungarian languages).
Later, by the way, Hungary will produce the exceptionally intelligent novelists Sandor Marai and Antal Szerb (the latter was a huge anti-fascist, and was murdered by the Nazis), both of whom were conceived before the original POD. They would make good future Prime Ministers, as would the physiologist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who in OTL did get involved in politics. Austria's novelist-journalists Robert Musil and Joseph Roth might also be tempted into politics quite easily.
Also, in this TL, Central Europe's film industry won't suffer with the mass exodus of writers, actors and directors- it could easily rival Hollywood (especially in either the German or even the Hungarian languages).
SteveW said:
The Count will remain as Prime Minister for now until the Emperor passes on. He'll have his hands full dealing with Russia, who will be prepared to look the other way on this deal with Serbia, provided Austria is prepared to give them a little leeway as well. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Trotsky still has his imperialist streak. The Soviet Union is getting ready to emerge, I think, but not in this chapter, probably the next. Tisza will make an appearance, a not altogether pleasant one, but making a stand that Hungary needs to make; I think Popovici will be going straight into the House of Lords. I hope Karl Luger dies; I will see how I can make him a sad victim of history, cut down in his prime before he has a chance. My only concern is I don't know yet how to start Austria embracing liberalism and stop Austria producing racists: Luger, Hitler, Waldheim, Haider. I think that this may be a step in the right direction, even though I don't think it's going to be entirely successful for Emperor Franz Ferdinand in his future.
SteveW said:
I have to admit that I am weak on foreign cultures. I have been to both Europe and the United States, but was too young to really appreciate the cultural, sociological or political aspects. I cannot afford to go back to either of those countries for a while - if the United States will still let me in. This goes to you and to any others out there - if I am missing cultural and artistic landmarks, please let me know. I am trying to understand these countries and their respective psychologies.
It is strange you mention Hollywood becauseI have been thinking on America. In this world, America is absent about a tenth of its OTL population. It is still growing but the population of North America is more likely to peak now at about 350 million people and then start to fall. Unless we get some major wars in the future, global population is likely to reach 3 billion by the mid 1940's, 4 billion in the 1960's, 5 billion in the late 1970's and 6 billion by the late 1980's. I'm predicting a population peak in TTL of just under 8 billion by about 2015-16.
The United States must still emerge as a world leader, but the position that it takes and the effect that it has on that world will be somewhat different. You will see what I mean when you see Clark in action as President. I already have the 1914 and 1916 elections planned and I know precisely who will win what and where. However, I would be interested to hear the input of Americans as to whether they would have voted for Clark. I have decided that, in TTL, American citizens could start to identify themselves and tell me who of a group of party candidates they want as their party's candidate. And that will influence the extent of victories in primary outcomes and elections. I might just have two alternate story lines depending on whether or not Clark wins us over. Just as idea.
No problem, happy to help- I'm preparing a load of Austrian literature at the moment so it focuses my mind!
As for Luger: maybe a corruption scandal involving the Church and the Christian Social Party? That would nail him and the Party, and would be perfectly plausible.
And as for the Hollywood thing: if the path you are setting up reaches its conclusion, then a liberal Vienna could be the centre of the European film industry, multilingual at that.
As for Luger: maybe a corruption scandal involving the Church and the Christian Social Party? That would nail him and the Party, and would be perfectly plausible.
And as for the Hollywood thing: if the path you are setting up reaches its conclusion, then a liberal Vienna could be the centre of the European film industry, multilingual at that.
The First Dominion Address
AS GIVEN BY HIS EXCELLENCY, Lord Casement of Sandycove to the Irish Senate. On Occasion of the Opening of Parliament.
Once the Standing Orders of these Houses is laid down, the business of these House may proceed on the advice of the Prime Minister and within the confines of the Irish Dominion Act (UK), or Free State Constitution Act, 1913.
The Parliament has, in our motherland, long asserted the right to embrace the sovereign at arm's length. We have asked for no more and, to the credit of His Majesty the Emperor, we have received that for which we asked.
My Government's hope is that we shall continue to repair the rift with the Four Counties. We are willing to work with those concerned citizens of Ulster to ensure that their concerns are not neglected. The first step towards peace is that the military of Ireland must come back under the control of the state. In a time of uncertainty and fear, we attempted a clumsy defence on both sides of our principles, but now we must stand united or we shall never succeed as a nation. To that end, His Majesty will advise paramilitary organisations on both sides to seek admission to His Majesty's Royal Irish Infantry. To this end, the Government will purchase or register all firearms and other weapons held in the Dominion of the Free State.
Our second legislation will be the Local Authorities Autonomy Act. Governance in this country will be highly localised. It must be until we learn to trust each other. However, I am aware that we must do more than that.
The people of Ireland need jobs. The people of Ireland need houses. The people of Ireland need sanitation. The people of Ireland need to address our terrible infant mortality rate. The people of Ireland need us to clean up criminal activities. We have many things we need to do, and many things to hope for as we start this new step in our political independence as a people.
Over the next two years, that is exactly what Prime Minister John Redmond did. When he stepped down to become Chief Justice Sir John Redmond in 1915, the levels of trust were already building. The paramilitaries, with a few hiccups, were disbanded or integrated. Stability brought prosperity and rejuvenated cities, particularly after the opening of the city of Tara in Meath Territory in the late 1920's. The Irish Free State would emerge into the 1930's as a successful example of decolonisation.
The most interesting element was that, as part of the compromise that saw the Dominion Act pass, the Senate was one-third appointed by His Majesty, two-thirds elected. To weaken the rivalry, and heal some old wounds, the King named some well-known names but not all Irish citizens. The Dukes of Leinster and Abercorn, the Earls of Fingal and Longford, the Marquesses of Conyngham and Londonderry, Viscount Powerscourt, Barons Killanin and Dusany were all named, along with another five Irishmen. However, the chiefs of the Clans were also called. From Castile and Portugal and Aragon they came, one from England, one from Wales, two from South Africa, one from France and one all the way from Australia. These twenty-three, including four princes, were named as permanent representatives in the Irish Senate of sixty-nine members.
AS GIVEN BY HIS EXCELLENCY, Lord Casement of Sandycove to the Irish Senate. On Occasion of the Opening of Parliament.
Once the Standing Orders of these Houses is laid down, the business of these House may proceed on the advice of the Prime Minister and within the confines of the Irish Dominion Act (UK), or Free State Constitution Act, 1913.
The Parliament has, in our motherland, long asserted the right to embrace the sovereign at arm's length. We have asked for no more and, to the credit of His Majesty the Emperor, we have received that for which we asked.
My Government's hope is that we shall continue to repair the rift with the Four Counties. We are willing to work with those concerned citizens of Ulster to ensure that their concerns are not neglected. The first step towards peace is that the military of Ireland must come back under the control of the state. In a time of uncertainty and fear, we attempted a clumsy defence on both sides of our principles, but now we must stand united or we shall never succeed as a nation. To that end, His Majesty will advise paramilitary organisations on both sides to seek admission to His Majesty's Royal Irish Infantry. To this end, the Government will purchase or register all firearms and other weapons held in the Dominion of the Free State.
Our second legislation will be the Local Authorities Autonomy Act. Governance in this country will be highly localised. It must be until we learn to trust each other. However, I am aware that we must do more than that.
The people of Ireland need jobs. The people of Ireland need houses. The people of Ireland need sanitation. The people of Ireland need to address our terrible infant mortality rate. The people of Ireland need us to clean up criminal activities. We have many things we need to do, and many things to hope for as we start this new step in our political independence as a people.
Over the next two years, that is exactly what Prime Minister John Redmond did. When he stepped down to become Chief Justice Sir John Redmond in 1915, the levels of trust were already building. The paramilitaries, with a few hiccups, were disbanded or integrated. Stability brought prosperity and rejuvenated cities, particularly after the opening of the city of Tara in Meath Territory in the late 1920's. The Irish Free State would emerge into the 1930's as a successful example of decolonisation.
The most interesting element was that, as part of the compromise that saw the Dominion Act pass, the Senate was one-third appointed by His Majesty, two-thirds elected. To weaken the rivalry, and heal some old wounds, the King named some well-known names but not all Irish citizens. The Dukes of Leinster and Abercorn, the Earls of Fingal and Longford, the Marquesses of Conyngham and Londonderry, Viscount Powerscourt, Barons Killanin and Dusany were all named, along with another five Irishmen. However, the chiefs of the Clans were also called. From Castile and Portugal and Aragon they came, one from England, one from Wales, two from South Africa, one from France and one all the way from Australia. These twenty-three, including four princes, were named as permanent representatives in the Irish Senate of sixty-nine members.
SteveW said:
Presuming the Hungarians and Poles don't stuff things up. The Romanians and Serbs you can keep at bay with treaties. The Italians have already surrendered control of the Adriatic. But the Hungarians and the Poles - they're inside the planned United States of Austria-Hungary and they aren't necessarily happy.
Actually, was Luger still alive in 1913? I will have to check.
Anyway, the style of Austrian politics would still be generally antagonistic. However, I think that it is pretty clear, in any timeline, that the Austrians really needed to fix their governmental efficiency. I hope those changes will produce a change in attitude when it matters.
Here We Go
According to Wikipedia , Lueger (not Luger) died in 1910. I have to admit that, until you mentioned him, I only had a vague knowledge of him as someone who helped father the Nazis ideologically. I have been doing some more reading about him in the last ten minutes or so that seems to indicate his anti-Semitism may have been a populist ploy. If that's the case, it is actually the country that is sick - not the politician. He's just playing to the social weakness that's already there. In that case, the disturbing nature of Austrian politics continues.
I am interested to see if and when Adolf Hitler makes an appearance in this timeline. Mussolini is part of the Reichsrat already (a Socialist deputy) and is a teacher at the University of Triente, encouraging students into anarchist and socialist ideas. He also is still editor for the nationally-distributed socialist newspaper.
According to Wikipedia
, Lueger (not Luger) died in 1910. I have to admit that, until you mentioned him, I only had a vague knowledge of him as someone who helped father the Nazis ideologically. I have been doing some more reading about him in the last ten minutes or so that seems to indicate his anti-Semitism may have been a populist ploy. If that's the case, it is actually the country that is sick - not the politician. He's just playing to the social weakness that's already there. In that case, the disturbing nature of Austrian politics continues.I am interested to see if and when Adolf Hitler makes an appearance in this timeline. Mussolini is part of the Reichsrat already (a Socialist deputy) and is a teacher at the University of Triente, encouraging students into anarchist and socialist ideas. He also is still editor for the nationally-distributed socialist newspaper.
OperationGreen said:Glad its back, what about that Break eh?
Ever heard the saying, No rest for the wicked?!? I am beginning to wonder if I fall into that category.
But seriously, I thought it would take me that long to do the outline for Part III, but it is already done. I have a pile of work to do, but most of it can be delayed. And why do something today when you can put it off until tomorrow, rush it and do a mediocre job.