DEFIANT NAZI

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 5, 6 July 1936, Page 9

DEFIANT NAZI

LEAGUE COUNCIL SCENE

A TRUCULENT SPEECH

DANGER IN DANZIG

United Press Association—By Electric Teleffraph—Copyright.

GENEVA, July 5. The League had its third shock in a week of unprecedented sensations when Hen- Greiser, Nazi President of the Danzig Seriate, truculently defied the Council, arousing widespread resentment. The Nazi President's behaviour is generally regarded as largely explanatory of the problems of Mr. Sean Lester, the League High Commissioner. It is believed-that Herr Greiser, while en route to Geneva via Germany, saw General Goering and was encouraged to make a violent speech. It is also suggested that Herr Greiser's outburst may be regarded as an indication of Germany's attitude towards ' the League.AN AMAZING SCENE. Herr Greiscr's misdemeanour culminated in an amazing scene when Mr. Eden, after the Council had adopted a resolution, intimated that Herr Greiser might retire. Herr Greiser walked to the table where Mr. Eden was talking to M. Delbos (France) and Colonel Beck (Poland), shook hands with the others, and gave the Nazi salute, causing a ripple of hilarity in the public galleries. Herr Greiser, angrily departing, turned towards the tress gallery and put his fingers' to his nose, arousing such a storm of protest that Mr. Eden asked, "What is the matter?" and when told, Mr. Eden replied that ■he had not seen the incident. "I appeal to you to remain seated," he said. "The best way of treating such, conduct is to ignore it."

Meanwhile some journalists had hurried out with the intention of tackling Herr Greiser, but police intervened and escorted the .Danzigers outside amid boos. DANGEROUS SITUATION. The Danzig situation, as a result of Herr Greiser's recalcitrance, is regarded as so dangerous that the Council immediately met privately and appointed a" committee of Britain, France, and Portugal, with Mr. Eden as rapporteur, to keep in touch with the position, holding itself in readiness to meet within twenty-four hours, although Mr! Eden later returned, to London. Herr Greiser, arriving to attend the League Council's meeting, which was discussing Danzig, was refused admittance because he did hot possess the special card issued owing to police precautions following the.Lux tragedy and the Italian misbehaviours. Herr Greiser indignantly protested and said that he had not flown 1200 miles for fun. Such treatment was intolerable. Eventually he was admitted. STRAIGHT TALK. Repeatedly banging his clenched fist on the table in order to emphasise his points, a gesture which is unusual at the League'sittings, Herr Greiser aggressively declared that there was no place in the word where liberty was greater than at.Danzig. It would be still greater if the League minded its own business and Mr. Lester was more prudent., Mn Lester's conduct had enabled a divided and false minority shamelessly to terrorise the Nazi majority. "Even in wartime I have not seen corpses hacked about as those of the victims slaughtered by the persons Mr. Lester supports," he said. Herr Greiser demanded that the League either abolish the High Comfnissionership or send a representative who would not interfere in Danzig's internal affairs. "I speak on behalf of 400,000 living Germans,' 'he added. "We are not dealing with paragraphs in reports, but with living beings. If the League ■wants to restore confidence it must adopt one of those alternatives and show it is a living organisation." ATTACK ON MR. LESTER. Herr Greiser declared that the fact that the opposition newspapers were informed of Mr. Lester's reports before they were available .to the Government indicated an attempt at intimidation. He alleged that he was called to Geneva for hidden political motives,' including the Italo-Abyssinian war (which is interpreted to mean that the League was using Danzig to'divert attention from it). He added: "I am not surprised that officers of the cruiser Leipzig refused to call on Mr. Lester, who was lamentabjy tactless on the occasion of a German warship's visit earlier. "I am speaking on behalf of 400,000 Germans who are not bound to the League by ties of blood and race as they are bound to Germany. Danzigers will not endure the League's supervision much longer. If the Council doubts that let them arrange a plebiscite and abide by the result. The League has not helped Danzig unemployment or economic troubles. For years Nazis have tried to restore order. "It was fortunate that Herr Hitler, the greatest statesman in Europe, and Marshal Pilsudski, another great man, assisted us to save Danzig from a terrific explosion. Other Governments must be envious of such leaders." Herr Greiser wound up with a defiant gesture, flinging down his papers on the table, and remarking: "Now I feel better." DELEGATES1 RESENTMENT. Delegates obviously resented Herr Greiser's manner. When he finished he was loudly booed from the public galleries.- ■ Mr. Eden waited for a translation of the speech from the German, after which he pointed out that Herr Greiser had been invited, out of courtesy, to attend the meeting, which in any case had not questioned the actions of the Danzig Government. ' The League, he said, was not responsible for the present Danzig regime and was only carrying out its functions in the interests of the free city and Poland. He then adjourned the meeting to enable the Assembly to deal with Abyssinia. When it again met Mr. Lester gave an unprejudiced account of fiis duties, ignoring Herr Greiser's personalities. Colonel Beck pointed out that the agenda was only ♦dealing with the Leipzig's visit, and he would reply to Herr Greiser's ' general statements later. Mr. Eden said he regretted the tone of Herr Greiser's speech. The proper reply to Herr Greiser's charges was to express confidence in the manner in which Mr. Lester was carrying out his arduous duties. . DELEGATED TO FOLAND. The Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting Poland to deal with the matter through diplomatic channels and to report to the Council at its next' session. Herr Greiser. addressing the Council, said: "i had not expected any other

reply from the League. We are accustomed to their dilatoriness. I again ask for a revision of Danzig's relations with the League, not only in the name of Danzigers but of the whole German people, who look to the Council for a decision liberating the president of the Danzig Senate from the necessity of ever appearing .here again."

Mr. Eden replied: "The Council is dealing with the agenda, nothing else."

The Free Port of Danzig, established by the Peace Treaties, affords Poland access to the sea (though Poland has been busy developing a rival port) and has been a storm centre for some years past. While the Germans were in a minority in the control of the Free City they complained of the methods of administration. Economic pressure has come into play, the 400,000 people, mainly engaged in industry, being forced to serve 30,000,000 mainly agricultural Poles and racial animosities have complicated the position further. Ninety-five ■per cent, of the population of Danzig are said to be of pure German stock and this majority has attempted to hold living standards twice as high as those of the surrounding Poles. Last April the people elected a Nazi majority in the Senate. Sixty per cent, of the electorate voted pro-Nazi last year. In July, 1935, the League had before it correspondence relating to a difference of opinion between Mr. Lester and the Nazi leaders over the Senate.