— 30 —
Let us remember this: The great national ideas were born and developed at Kiev, but historic and other circumstances and fortuitous events have produced the greatest progress during the last few years in East Galicia.
(b) After 1918.
Until the last hours of its existence the Austro-Hungarian Empire, desirous of the sympathy of the Poles, always upheld them to the detriment of the Ukrainians, and the last Minister of Foreign Affairs in this Empire was opposed, in the interest of the Poles, to the division of Galicia into two provinces, as demanded by the Ukrainians.
After the fall cf the Habsburg monarchy, the Ukrainian people of Austria instituted a National Council which comprised all the Ukrainian members of the Reichsrat, all those of the Diet of Galicia and Bukovina, to which were added the representatives of the Ukrainian parties and those of the various districts. These representatives were elected in the congresses of the provinces.
On October 19, 1918, the National Council proclaimed the Republic of Western Ukraine. It expelled the Austrian officials as well as the military authorities. It recognised the rights of the Polish and Jewish minorities.
For a long time the desire of all the Ukrainians has been to be united in a single State. But the realisation of this great national desire was made impossible until 1919 owing to the Austrian and Polish opposition. But on January 4, 1919, the National Council of the Western Republic, in expressing the earnest will of the people, was at last able to proclaim the union of the two Republics.
CHAPTER V.
CONCLUSION.
The supporters of the idea of Russian federation have often asked us if Eastern Ukraine aspired to detach herself from Russia.
