LEAGUE AND DANZIG

POLICY NOT ANTI-NAZI l

The League no longer takes such aa active interest in Danzig affairs as it did even a year ago, wrote P. E. Briquet -in the "Christian Science Monitor" recently. 'The reason is simple enough. An open clash with the Danzig National Socialists might lead to a severance of all ties between Geneva and the Free City, as it is not certain that Poland would not choose a direct understanding with Germany.

In such circumstances the League policy is clearly defined—to preserve the present constitutional structure of the Free City for better times, keep up in Danzig the League position in the interest of peace. . -

High Commissioner Burckhardt "has definite instructions. His main effort must not lie along the line of spectacular and probably useless protests, but of actual influence in the sense of moderation. So far this influence has not been without effect.

The essential point, not always remembered, is that the League has assumed its present duties in Danzig to maintain peace and order between Germany and Poland. The League has not been entrusted with the task ol maintaining in Danzig democracy against National Socialism. TJhis latter duty would be only incidental; it results from a juridical interpretation of the Treaty of Versailles, but it is possible to give other interpretations. It is possible, for instance, to support the opinion that Geneva must not sacrifice its position in Danzig and its obligations towards GermanPolish relations, which are the most important ones, to an accessory and probably temporary duty, unforeseen by the treaty, the protection of some political minorities in the Free City. It may be added that these minorities would in all probability not be the better off for it, while the League might suffer a blow. •- The League seems to have adopted the wisest policy in the present circumstances, that is to limit itself to the realm of practical possibilities, obtain now the maximum of justice and tolerance for the political minorities, while maintaining its position and influence for future developments.