VEHEMENT SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 9

VEHEMENT SPEECH

GERMAN AT LEAGUE COUNCIL DANZIG HIGH COMMISSIONER ATTACKED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. GENEVA, July 4. Herr Greiser, arriving to attend a League Council meeting which was discussing Danzig, was refused admittance because he did not possess the special card issued owing to police precautions following the Lux tragedy and the Italian misbehaviour. Herr Greiser indignantly protested, and said he had not flown 1,200 miles for fun. Such treatment was intolerable. Eventually he was admitted. Repeatedly banging his clenched fist on the table in order to emphasis© his points—a gesture unusual at the League meetings—Herr Greiser aggressively declared that there was no place in the world where liberty was greater than in Danzig. It would be still greater if the League would mind its own business and Mr Sean Lester (High Commissioner) were more prudent, Mr Lester’s conduct had enabled a divided and false minority shamelessly to terrorise the Nazi majority. “ Even in wartime,” he said, “ I have not seen corpses hadked about as were those of the victims slaughtered by the persons Mr Lester supports.” Herr Greiser demanded that the League should either abolish the 1 High Commissionership or send a representative who would not interfere in Danzig’s internal affairs. He added: “ I speak on behalf of 4,000 living Germans. We are not dealing with paragraphs and reports, but living beings. If the League wants to restore confidence it must adopt one of those alternatives, and show itself to be a living organisation.” Herr Greiser wound up with a defiant gesture, flinging down papers on the table and remarking: “ Now'l feel better.” Delegates obviously resented Herr Greiscr’s manner, and when ho had finished he was loudly booed from the public galleries. The Nazi official newspaper, ‘Voelkischer Beobachter,’ declares that Mr Lester must go. It was intolerable for Germany to see how the League constantly disturbed peace by allowing Mr Lester to mix in Danzig’s domestic affairs. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST LEAGUE DEMAND FOR PLEBISCITE. Herr Greiser declared that the fact that opposition newspapers had been informed of Mr Lester’s reports before they were available to the Government indicated an attempt at intimidation. He alleged that he had been 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 therefrom). He added: “I am not surprised that the officers of the cruiser Leipzig refused to call on Mr Lester, who was lamentably tactless on the occasion of a former German warship’s visit. 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. Danzig will not endure the League’s supervision much longer. If the Council doubts that let it arrange a plebiscite and abide by the result. The League has not helped Danzig’s unemployment and economic troubles for years. The Nazis’ efforts to restore order are fortunate. Herr Hitler is the greatest statesman in Europe. Marshal Pil•udski, another great man, had assisted us to save Danzig from a terrific explosion. Other Governments must be envious of such leaders.”

Mr Eden waited for a translation of the speech from the Gorman, after which he pointed out that Herr Greiser had been invited out of courtesy to attend the meeting, which in any case did not question the actions of the Danzig Government. The League, he said, was not responsible for the present Danzig regime, only in carrying out the functions and interests of the Free City and Poland. Mr Lester gave an unprejudiced account of his duties, ignoring Herr Greiser’s personalities. M. Beck pointed out that the agenda only dealt with the Leipzig’s visit. 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 Greiscr’s charges was to express confidence in the manner in which Mr Lester was carrying out his arduous duties.

The Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting Poland to deal with the matter through diplomatic channels and to report to the Council next session.

Herr Grciser, addressing the Council, said he did not expect any other reply from the League. “ Wo are accustomed,” he said, “ to its dilatoriness. I again ask for revision of Danzig’s relations with the League, not only in the name of the Danzigers, but the whole of the 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.” ANOTHER SENSATION HERE GREISER INSULTS PRESS GALLERY. GENEVA, July 5. (Received July G, at 1.30 a.m.) The League had its third shock in a week of unprecedented sensations when Herr Greiser truculently defied the Council and aroused widespread resentment. The Nazi President’s beha-

viour is generally regarded as largely explanatory of Mr Lester’s problems.

It is believed that Herr Greiser. while en route to Geneva via Germany, saw General Goering and was encouraged to make his violent speech. It is also suggested that Herr Greiser’s outburst may be regarded as an indication of Germany’s attitde towards the League.

Herr Greiser’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 with M. Delbos and M. Befck, 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 Press gallery and put his fingers to his nose, arousing such a storm of protest that Mr Eden asked: “What’s 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 hurried out with the intention of tackling Herr Greiser, but the police intervened and escorted the Danzigers outside, amid boos. The Danzig situation, as the result of Herr Greiser’s recalcitrance, is regarded as so dangerous that the Council immediately met privately and appointed a committee consisting of Britain, France, and Portugal, with Mr Eden as rapporteur, to keep in touch with the position, holding itself in readiness to meet within 24 hours, although Mr Eden later returned to London. _________ GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVED ' BERLIN, July 5. July 6, at 1.30 a.m.) Official and private opinion is unreservedly backing Herr Greiser. Observers believe that the situation involves grave developments, as the prestige of Nazism is involved to the same degree as in the Saar, hence the demand for a plebiscite. GERMAN PRESS SUPPORTS GREISER BERLIN, July 5. (Received July 6, at 9.35 a.m.) The Sunday newspapers support Herr Greiser. The ‘ Vokische Beobachter ’ says that only the abolition of the High Commissionership can guarantee stabilisation of the relations between Danzig and the League.