| Congress of Oppressed Nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Il Congresso delle Nazionalità oppresse dall’Austria-Ungheria (Italian) Kongress der unterdrückten Völker Österreich-Ungarns (German) Az Osztrák-Magyar Birodalom Elnyomott Nemzetiségek Kongresszusa (Hungarian) Kongres potlačenih naroda Austro-Ugarske (Serbo-Croatian) Kongres utlačovaných národů rakousko-uherských (Czech) Congresul Naționalităților Oprimate din Imperiul Austro-Ungar (Romanian) Kongres utláčaných národov Rakúsko-Uhorska (Slovak) Kongres Uciskanych Narodowości Austro-Węgier (Polish) Kongres zatiranih narodnosti Avstro-Ogrske (Slovene) | |
|---|---|
 1899 ethnographic map of Austria-Hungary | |
| Host country | Kingdom of Italy |
| Date | 8–10 April 1918 |
| Cities | Rome |
| Key points | |
Entente's support for fullself-determination ofYugoslavs,Czechoslovaks,Romanians and other "oppressed nationalities" [sic] implying upcomingdissolution of Austria-Hungary | |
TheCongress of Oppressed Nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was held towards the end of theWorld War I in Rome,Kingdom of Italy, between 8 and 10 April 1918.[1] The event, attended byCzechoslovak,Polish,Italian,Yugoslav andRomanian delegations fromAustria-Hungary, followed the publication of theWilson's 14 points and represented the beginning of the real support to the independence movements and thedissolution of Austria-Hungary.[2][1][3]Ukrainian orRusyn delegations were not invited to participate in the Congress due to objections raised by Polish representatives.[2] The decision to host the event was made after prime ministers of ItalyVittorio Emanuele Orlando andNikola Pašić of theKingdom of Serbia became concerned with earlier statement ofDavid Lloyd George that dissolution of the Austria-Hungary is not one of the war aims of his alliance and decided to prioritise self-determination before future border demarcation on theAdriatic Sea.[4] The event rejectedAustrophilist proposals on continued existence of the monarchy as a guarantor against violent and exclusivenationalism in the region and instead framed the war as a conflict between democracy andautocracy.[5]
Alongside representatives from affected nationalities, allEntente powers and the United States sent their ambassadors and the Congress concluded that all nationalities fully or partially subjected to Austria-Hungary have a right of full independence.[6] Ceremonial choice was made by thePrime ministerVittorio Emanuele Orlando when he decided to receive the delegation of the future neighboring Yugoslav state before any other delegation at the Congress.[6] Czechoslovak representation was led byEdvard Beneš andMilan Rastislav Štefánik with all Slovak and Czech delegates being a part of theCzechoslovak National Council's delegation.[7] Participant agreed to lay aside any dispute among themselves which would helpCentral Powers war efforts and which may negatively affect Allied public opinion.[8]
Important precondition for the Italian agreement on hosting the event was reached during the meetings held on 14 and 18 December 1917 at the home ofWickham Steed, where theYugoslav Committee agreed in principle to accept the subsequentTorre-Trumbić agreement (7 March 1918) on principles of border demarcation between Italy and future Yugoslav state.[9] On 29 May 1918United States Department of State expressed US government's strong interest in the work of the Congress and honest sympathies for Czechoslovak and Yugoslav national objectives.[10]