The Zadar Resolution, October 17, 1905

[This translation of the Zadar Resolution of 1905 is from R.W. Seton-Watson, The South Slav Question and the Habsburg Monarchy. London: Constable and Co., 1911. The pagination of the original has been retained.]

p. 395

THE RESOLUTION OF ZARA (Oct. 17, 1905)

The aspiration of every nation to dispose over its own existence and destinies, must arouse the sympathies of every one who himself aspires to liberty; and we greet all the more the heartily the present struggle of the Magyar nation, because the structure of the very State against which that struggle is aimed, has obstructed and still obstructs to-day the development of our fatherland, of the Croat and Serb people. Moreover, the autonomy of Hungary, which would then live its own life and dispose of its own forces, would create political conditions in which the Magyar nation would tend to seek, in its own interest, an agreement with the non-Magyar nations of Hungary, to see in the strength of these nations their own strength, and then, with the support of the Triune Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia, to take steps to ensure their national future and safety.

Therefore, the undersigned Serb deputies and delegates of Serb parties, conscious of the importance of the present general political situation in the Monarchy, and bearing in mind the attitude adopted by the Croatian deputies at the Conference of Fiume, hereby declare: that they will support the present movement of the Magyar nation, and would even offer it active assistance, if real guarantees could be given on the part of the Magyar Coalition parties, that side by side with their own just claims, effect will also be given to the aspirations of Croatia and Slavonia towards a widening of their autonomy, so that they may be guaranteed a more independent political, cultural, economic and financial existence and development.

At the same time the undersigned deputies and delegates demand, and will work to secure, the introduction of democratic institutions in Croatia and Slavonia, such as should guarantee their constitutional life and development and remove the present intolerable parliamentary administrative and social conditions.

Standing upon this basis, they expect that the Magyar Coalition parties will in their turn place their relations with the non-Magyar nations of Hungary upon a just basis, with a view to guaranteeing the latter's national cultural existence and development.

With regard to the demand of our Croat brethren for the reincorporation of Dalmatia with Croatia and Slavonia, which is actually guaranteed by the existing law, the Serb parties are also ready to use their influence for the realization of this demand, if the Croats on their part remove the obstacle which has hitherto pre-

p. 396

vented the Serb party of the Littoral from declaring itself in favour of annexation - if, namely, the Croats give a binding recognition of the equality of the Serb and Croat peoples. With a view then to reaching an agreement for the joint action with our Croat brethren, a committee of three, with three proxies, is (hereby) elected; and they will communicate this decision to the executive committee of the Conference of Fiume, and enter into negotiations with them in the sense of this decision.