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30 plans. The dynasty would therefore consent to the German Union only on condition that Austria were predominant. She felt only repugnance for a free Germany, where the governments of the different States would be negligible, and where Austria could not play the leading part.

Under these conditions, the dynasty ought to have taken the side of the Slavs, but she did nothing of the sort, a it was against all her past traditions and policy. The government hesitated, its actions were inconsistent and indecisive. But, faithful to their former ideal of a Greater Germany with Austria at the head, and supported by the Southern Catholic states, the Habsburgs decided to participate at any cost in the formation of the new Germany, in order to secure precedence for themselves over their Prussian rivals. So they decided to suppress the Slav movement, which would have compromised Austria in the eyes of her German friends. In fact, an Austria where the Slav element was uppermost could never aspire to be at the head of purely German States.

These dynastic plans forced the government, first to remain inactive, then definitely to take side with the Germans against the Slavs. On the 25th and 29th April 1848 the constituents were called upon to elect the delegates for the Frankfort Parliament.

The Czechs were annoyed. They emphatically