Later on 31 October, the MSZDP convened a rally of supporters in front of Timișoara City Hall. Roth spoke from the balcony, addressing thousands of supporters carrying socialist red flags; he proclaimed himself Commissioner for civilian affairs of the Banat Republic, with Bartha taking over as military Commissioner. Although this is sometimes read as a declaration of independence,Cerović, p. 151 Republican officials intended to create a federal Hungary, directly modeled on Swiss cantonalism.Kókai, p. 68 Regionally, the result would have meant "limited autonomy within the Magyar state" or a "Republic of Banat within the borders of Hungary." A telegram received by the MNT on 1 November evidenced "a fear that the Banat will secede from Hungary as a result of the proclamation.""Temesvárott kikiáltották a köztársaságot", in Pesti Hírlap, 1 November 1918, p. 4 On 6 November, Népszava summarized the events, noting that the crowds "unanimously took a position in favor of the republican form of government", but at a national-Hungarian level. Népszava dismissed any claims that Roth and his supporters were separatists: "There is no such thing; those who know the mood of the population there can vouch as to the baselessness of this rumor.""A vidék csatlakozása a Nemzeti Tanácshoz. A népkormány és a köztársaság diadalútja", in Népszava, 6 November 1918, p. 6
