of the reviving Polish state was The National Council for the Duchy of Cieszyn, formed on October 19th 1918, in Dom Narodowy, as a non-party organ representing the Polish residents of Cieszyn Silesia. The Austrian authorities were informed about the taking over of power in Cieszyn Silesia on behalf of the emerging Polish State. On October 27th forty thousand Poles, gathered at a rally, accepted the resolution, and on October 30th the National Council proclaimed, officially, the affiliation of Cieszyn Silesia to “free, independent and united Poland” while assuming authority over it, in the name of the Polish authorities that were only just forming.