  For the coherently driven \Lambda-type three-level systems the general
ready-to-calculate expression for the susceptibility tensor at the frequency of
the weak probe field is obtained for the arbitrary polarization of the strong
coupling laser field and arbitrary values of the angular momenta of resonant
atomic levels. The dependence of the relative difference in the group
velocities of the two polarization components of the probe field on the
polarization of the coupling field is studied.
