The declaration was opposed by Bosniak leaders such as the president of the Diet of Bosnia, Safvet-beg Bašagić. A counter-proposal was submitted to the Emperor, whereby Bosnia and Herzegovina would be attached to Hungary and given a degree of autonomy. The Bosnian Serbs were reserved, while the Croatian Serbs largely opposed the declaration demands. The declaration was also criticised by some Roman Catholics, such as Krek, who preferred a unified state outside Habsburg realms.
