Evening star., 1918-01-27

w SVHlSHl
III " This was the statement
- once made by an Austrian
Reader in discussing Hungarian dis
content.
Galicia lies across the Carpathians
from Hungary, but it may not mean
tcontent now.
The region comes within the purview
of peace settlements, particularly in
relation to the Poland that is to be.
1t offers puzzle. If the future Poland
IS to comprise the territories inhabited
by predominant Polish populations.
part of Galicia must be included. II
sthere is no dismemberment of Austria
Hungary an empire and peace set
Element is to be on the basis OF the
freest opportunity of autonomous de-
Eelopment Of the nationalities included
in the present territorial bounds of the
empire. Polish Galicia must remain iso-
hated from the Poland Of the Poles.
President Wilson and Lloyd George
have indicated both an Independent
Polish state as a war aim and at the
same time a willingness to observe the
'hSAi Ahoi AoA VI lilS AUSkIV-ouu.
garian empire. There Is some difficulty
in reconciling these policies. It Ii
trtAing. however. compared with the
difficulty of the central powers recon-
ciling their own conflicting interests
TN setting up puppet kingdom Of Po-
eand which should be under their eco-
noInic and political domination.
Germany at the very beginning, ex-
cluded Posen and all of Polish Prussia
from the proposed new kingdom. Aus
1ria apparently did not for a moment
contemplate the separation of Polish
Galicia from the empire Yet Poles
throughout the world whose support
the Teutonic powers sought to secure
could not see how Polish nationality
could be created without the re-estab-
lishment of the ancient bounds within
(which the people have still remained
Polish, Notwithstanding Russian, Prus-
sian and Austrian domination. Nor do
the Poles OF Warsaw see it in any Diff
ferent light.
The difficulties of the central powers
In their scheme for creating a sham
Poland were further enhanced by the
outbreak of the military autocracy in
Germany when it was proposed that
the new Poland nominally should be
under Hapsburg instead Of under a
Hohenzonern ruler. The German kaiser
IN q generous mOOu, proper To kalSerS,
had proposed that the nominal SOW
ereignty should rest in his brother
kaiser of the Hapsburg line. The mill
tary autocracy at once made 1t plain
that they would not tolerate this prop
osition. They seemed to fear either
that Austria might consent to the an
nexation of Polish Galicia to the pup
pet Poland. and thereby made it un-
manageable, or else that the puppet
Poland should prove an annex to Polish
Galicia, and thereby increase the In
fuence of the Austrian empire
This is still the international situa-
ton as 1t relates to the United States,
the entente powers and the central
powers. In the meantime it is inter-
esting to know something of Galicia
itself.
1t comprises about 10000 square miles
of territory. and is. therefore. about tho
size of South Carolina, or a little
smaller than Maine. 1t has a popula-
tion approximating 100000. This is
Russians. Jews and some minor ele-
ments in the polyglot nationalities Of
that section of central Europe.
Il
to living conditions. The cold winds
from the Baltic sweep down on it, and
the warm winds from the Mediterran-
can are shut out by the Carpathians
The rigorous climate. however, pro-
duces vigorous. sturdy people.
The resources of the country are both
aRxicultural and uniuaral. On TIA u,arn.