Slovenska politika in vprašanje priključitve Prekmurja h Kraljevini SHS 1918-1919

Abstract

One of the vital issues for the Slovene natiofl after the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 was the unification of all Slovene ethnic lands under a new Yugoslav state. One of such lands was also Prekmurje, whose integration with the main national territory was unanimously supported by all Slovene political parties - the Catholic oriented Slovene People's Party, the liberal oriented Yugoslav Democratic party and the Marxist oriented Yugoslav Social-Democratic Party. The Slovenes in Prekmurje themselves massively expressed the same determination on several occasions. The diplomatic battle for the formal annexation of Prekmurje to the Kingdom of SCS was won at the Paris Peace Conference through the efforts of the Yugoslav delegation. The main credit went to the Slovene members of the delegation and, in particular, Matija Slavic, an expert on Prekmurje. His vast knowledge of its ethnic, linguistic, geographic, economic and historical aspects decisively contributed towards the adoption of the resolution on 9 July 1919, with which the Conference's Supreme Council awarded Prekmurje to the Kingdom of SCS. With the Council's approval, the Yugoslav army occupied the region on 12 August 1919. The unification of the Prekmurje Slovenes with the main national body immediately after the First World War was an act of highest national significance. With it, one of the historical foundations for the territorial integrity of the present Republic of Slovenia had been laid.