There was this moment in 1917, The government reestablish the Parlament and the Reichsrat who was disbanded in 1914.
On this 1917 Austria-Hungary Reichsrat meeting, the delegate declared there wishes for own independent National states !
Empore Karl I. try to defuse the situation by proposing the transformation Austria-Hungary Real Union into Confederation,
but sadly the Hungarian government under Wekerle miss understood the situation utterly.
Sandor Wekerle rejected the Imperial proposal and demanded a Personal union between Austria and Hungary, what replace the current Real Union
but the „Magyars“ fraction in Hungary Parlament opposed any form of Union, demanding Hungary own independents.
Also express in Hungary living Slovaks, Rumanians and Croats, there dislike about suzerainty of Hungarian authorities over them.
From here it went fast, next the Czechs and Slovak declared there Independence from Austria-Hungary,
Then Polish Galicia declaring to join the kingdom of Poland, that had German establish after Treaty of Brest-Litowsk in 1917.
This with blessing of Germany foreign office and without consulting the Austria-Hungarian government.
Because German Empire politicians consider now the Austria-Hungarian as lost cause
Hungary nullified the Real union with Austria, while the oppress Slovaks, Rumanians and Croats started a uprise in Hungary.
While Sudeten German declared not to be part of this Czechs-Sloavk nation and wanted be part of German Empire,
The German speaking rump state of Austria-Hungary united them self under Nation of Deutsch-Österreich,
it got worst in kingdom of Hungary, that had revolution, were Communist took over part of kingdom.
Had Sandor Wekerle better understand the proposal Austria-Hungary had became a Confederation
we're the Emperor would be head of state of members states.
But still is question of Treaty of Versailles and punishment for A-H since they start the War
in case of Victorious Germany two option are possible:
one the A-H Confederation or if that failed the Germans install Empore Karl I. as King of Hungary
since German Austrian already declare the Republic and offer the wish to join Germany.