The archive sources vvere the basis of this article in vvhich the author gives a survey of the situation of the Slovenes in Carinthia during the reign of the count Edvard Taaffe. He particularly shovvs that the Slovenes in Carinthia could not gain any concessions in the national sphere, because the regime vvas not interested in changing the situation in the country vvhich vvas in the hands of German nationalistic "leaseholders", vvho tried to destroy and prevent everything that might be beneficial for the grovvth and reaffirmation of national consciousness among the Slovenes in Carinthia.