ATTEMPTS AT PEACE 1 The constitutional procedure which prevails in every parliamentary state is ordered so that the minister is responsible to a body of representatives.

He is obliged to account for what he has done.

His action is subject to the judgment and criticism of the body of representatives.

If the majority of that body are against the minister, he must go.
The control of foreign policy in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was in the hands of the delegations.
Besides which, however, there existed in the Hungarian Constitution a regulation to the effect that the Hungarian Prime Minister was responsible to the country for the foreign policy, and, consequently, the "foreign policy of the Monarchy had to be carried out, in conjunction, by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs in office and the Prime Minister." It depended entirely on the personality of the Hungarian Prime Minister how he observed the regulation.

Under Burian's regime it had become the custom for all telegrams and news, even of the most secret nature, to be communicated at once to Count Tisza, who then brought his influence to bear on all decisions and tactical events.