SPECIAL MEETINGS OF CABINET

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 11

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF CABINET

Britain And The Polish Situation

GERMAN MILITARY MOVES ON FRONTIER

“Many Burning Questions To Be

Solved”

(By telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,)

(Received March 31, 10.30 p.m.)

LONDON, March 31. According to “The Times” two special meetings of the Cabinet were convened today to consider reports from the Continent regarding Polish-German relations.

Reports were confirmed of German suggestions to Poland for a settlement of the Danzig question, the construction of a motor road across the corridor and a clarification of Poland’s attitude toward the Soviet. Reports were also received of German military activity at points near the Polish frontier.

The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that the German Government regards it as essential that Poland shall now declare where she stands, and consequently conversations between the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, and the Polish Ambassador in Berlin, coinciding with those between the German Ambassador and the Polish Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, in Warsaw, may be assumed to be most important.

Poland, as far as can be gathered, has a chance of collaborating with the Reich on the basis of the sacrifice of Danzig, though not necessarilv immediately, and the concession of additional facilities to the Reich across the Polish Corridor.

The Reich is prepared to guarantee Poland’s outlet to the sea. There are also suggestions of frontier guarantees and an extension of the treaty of friendship for a further five years.

Poland may regard these terms as being preferable to conflict, in which she stands to lose <>ven more than has been indicated.

A message from Berlin states that the German Minister of the Interior, Dr. Brick, said in a speech yesterday that the minorities’ agreement between Germany and Poland in 1937 did not satisfy all wishes, and thai there was a series of burning questions for solution. The treatment of the German minority in another State would not fail to affect the treatment of the respective minority in Germany. Dr. Frick made reference to the ■ favoured position of the Polish minority in Germany. Meanwhile, the Polisii Press umr.tniniously emphasiaes the impu.'ttiiife el' the visit to London of the Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck. Tlie Warsaw correspondent of "The Times” says that the so-called Nazi white stockings, emblematic of Nazis in foreign countries, have not appeared in Poland. The wearers are German nationals. It is reported that contributions to tlie Polish internal defence loan exceed £1.500.000. President Moscicki yesterday received leading members of the Opposition, and also leaders of the Peasant Party.