Pressed by his various advisers, and especially by Count Khuen
Hedervary, who has undertaken to form an ad interim, Ministry, the Emperor Francis Joseph consented to issue a Message to the Hungarians, in the form of a letter to the Premier, intended to reassure them as to the meaning of the Chlopy Order. In this second document he expresses strongly his affection for "the Hungarian nation," consents to any minor reforms they may wish, but affirms that he is by the Constitution entitled to organise the Army, refuses to part with that power, and again expresses his determination to maintain institutions essential to the status of the Empire "as a Great Power." Dr. KOrber has already interpreted this letter in the Austrian Parliament as a final refusal to give way upon the question of a uniform language for military purposes. The Liberal party in Hungary, after meeting in secret conference, has accepted the Emperor's decision; but the Kossuthites are furious, they are backed, it is feared, by a majority of the Magyar population, and there was a violent scene in the Hungarian Chamber on Thursday, when Count Khuen Hedervary was threatened with personal violence, and one of the Deputies cried out : "We do not believe the King's word !" As yet, therefore, the danger, which is that of a total severance between the Austrian and Hungarian Armies, has been by no means removed. The worst symptom, perhaps, is the extreme reluctance of leading Hungarians to accept office.
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