THE CORRIDOR ISSUE

Evening Star, Issue 21503, 30 August 1933, Page 10

THE CORRIDOR ISSUE

REVISION NOT POSSIBLE POLAND AND GERMANY Politically, the Polish attitude towards the rest of the world is definitely one of peace above all things. Few people realise the skill of Marshal Pilsudski in playing off one. country against another, in accepting French aid, and yet not becoming a vassal_ of France, and in the dignified handling of Russian frontier questions. It is, indeed, doubtful whether any other statesman in Europe could have achieved such results, and to appreciate them one must remember how this modern Poland is made up. Its citizens are lately of German nationality, of Russian, of Austrian, and of any other neighbouring State which existed in pre-war Europe (writes the Warsaw correspondent of the ' Morning Post ’). Before 1914 Polish was a forbidden language in the Russian portion of the country, and, if not forbidden, at any rate frowned on by German rulers. To-day education is progressing in every town and every village,_ and a national mentality of culture is being evolved from what previously was only rather a sketchy national tradition. Poland, in fact, to-day is an old kingdom in a new cradle, and _ there is every reason to expect that he infant now in the cradle will grow up into one of the most powerful adults in Europe. But control of the infant is at the moment necessary, and that is exquisitely managed by the Pilsudski machine. No demonstration, whether anti-Russian or anti-German, are permitted; even the persecution of Jews in Germany has not been allowed to become an anti-German slogan _ where Jews are popular; the maxim is freedom for all, Poland for the Polish, and friendship with all neighbours. A REAL FREE STATE. The Poles do not wish for trouble in any direction, and least of all in that volcano of Northern Europe—i.e. .the Corridor. Responsible persons in Warsaw are just as much afraid of an incident in Danzig as are the people of Danzig themselves, but for a different reason. Danzig as a Free State is more valuable to Poland than would Danzig be as Polish territory, since if Poland were forced to occupy her the explosions would be recurrent, and the ill-feeling never healed. As a Free State, with all the traditions of tiro past, Danzig could, and

should, be the generous entrance gate of modern Poland, combining _ with Polish friendship the ancient history of German chivalry. The Corridor cannot be such a permanent sore in German eyes if the Free State continued, as it would be were the whole territory Polish. From a trade point of view, as well as politically, Poland needs the free harbour of Danzig as well as her own new creation of Gdynia. The Free State herself should be made, or perhaps remade is the word, the genuine Free State that was originally intended. To her would then come the trade and the banks of Poland, the products of Silesia, the exported glass and boots and shoes of Czecho-Sloyakia, the timber of Central Europe, and the normal East Prussian trade. The financial houses of Warsaw would be as much at home then as in their capital, and the aristocracy and merchants of the interior would flock there in the summer for holidays at Zoppot and bathing on the Baltic beaches. There is, indeed, no reason why Zoppot should not become the Monte Carlo of the north; she has the climate and situation for six months in the year, and she is already complete with a properly run casino, good shops, villas, and everything else. GERMANY AND THE CORRIDOR. The common sense of Germans and Poles may yet lead to some solution of this sort, but no solution can be obtained while whole-hearted revision is demanded.

The Poles wish for a solution; the best Germans in Danzig hope for one. Why should not the May elections point the way to a real settlement? The Polish creation of Gdynia is one of the greatest achievements of the post-war world. The Poles have every right to retain it and the value that the approach to it may give them. It should bo perfectly possible, in my opinion, to .internationalise the railway from Konitz to Dirshau (Tczew), thereby giving German nationals a sort of transport corridor of their own from the Reich to East Prussia.

It would not be possible, nor is it necessary, to hand back to Germany the land between that railway and the sea. In no country will the events of the next few months be watched more closely than in England. Sobieski’s friends, and the heirs_ of the “English Factory ” in Danzig of 1931, have an equal interest in a peaceful solution. The statesman or nation which opposes such a solution can hope for no sympathy in English minds; they will receive every assistance in the practical jyorking put of an agreed policy.