GALICIA’S GOVERNMENT

Evening Star, Issue 15910, 16 September 1915, Page 10

GALICIA’S GOVERNMENT

The reorganisation of Galicia ia not to be left to the local authorities, but to be managed by the central administration in Vienna. In other words, Galician autonomy, the great concession to the Austrian Poles which was intended to keep them loyal to the House of Hapsburg, is a thing of the past. The reasons for this change are clearly indicated in the ‘Cologne Gazette.’ “During the 10 months of Russian occupation,” it writes, "no small part of the urban inhabitants, especially those of Lemberg, had already gone over to the Russians.” People' of the better classes, and even officials, had also fallen victims “to the enticing rouble.” Polish women of rank played “ a very grave part in this process of decay.” In the earliest reports from “ liberated Lemberg ” it was said that many elegantly-clad ladies were arrested and deported. That, adds the 'Cologne Gazette,’ is only too true; and fresh cases are being daily brought to light by the “ horribly flourishing system of delation.”

Delation has ever been a cherished instrument of government in Austria, and the Austria! officials who are about to reorganise “liberated Galicia” will find in sundry nonPolish elements of the urban population many a willing helper. But if the * Cologne Gazette’ may be believed, the rural Poles are little better disposed towards their liberators than are the inhabitants of: the towns. 1 It alleges that when the Russians retired they took with them the whole male population between the ages of 17 and 50, but it adds that “many of these’men will have, gone willingly for- fear of the impending 1 punishment” at the hands of Austria. Ini any case the restoration of the economicstatus quo ante , will not arouse enthusiasm 1 among tbs peasants who have remained behind. Under- the. Russian regime, the‘Cologne Gazette’ explains, the peasants en-l joyed the greatest freedom. The return “of the old Austrian order, the enrolment of recruits, the paying of taxes, the manifold j rates and imposts, which under the Russians had ocased or had been suspended, will not be to the taste of many a man who had learned,to know only:.the agreeable.side,of ruiu»"