The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

Croatia likewise was passing under the same régime of German centralisation and absolutism. Ban Jelaci¢ exhausted himself in vain struggles against the introduction of the German speech in Croatia and the italianisation of Fiume (Rieka). He died sadly disappointed; as his biographer, Mr. Hartley, says—

“Tt is painful to dwell on this picture of a strong man exhausting himself physically and mentally in a hopeless struggle against a bureaucracy. It seemed, as Anastasius Griin wrote, ‘that the result of the revolution with all its tragedy and heroism had been to fill the supperpots of the officials, and that Herr Bach and Co. might have portfolios and gold-laced uniforms.’

‘For Croatia the great effort had been made in vain. She loved and honoured her Ban so long as he lived, but she had to realise that neither his desire nor her services would reach fulfilment and reward.””?

During the few years which elapsed between the war with France (1859) and the war with Prussia (1866) Austria’s policy was characterised by hesitation and temporisation. The old path of centralisation, germanisation and absolutism was abandoned, but no new and decisive policy was adopted, The Magyars continued in their passive resistance, all the time intriguing and plotting with Berlin, and the Slavs, utterly disap-

1 M. Hartley, The Man who Saved Austria. Mills & Boon,

Ltd., London. 82