POLAND’S FEARS

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 9

POLAND’S FEARS

WATCHFUL EYE ON GERMANY INDICATIONS OF DANGEROUS CRISIS RUSSIA WOULD BE INVOLVED & Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 23. The ‘ Manchester Guardian’s ’ diplomatic correspondent says: “ There are indications that a dangerous crisis between Poland and Germany is imminent. “ The Poles are most disappointed that the plans for a common frontier between Poland and Hungary have been thwarted by Germany, and are exercising terrorist pressure in Carpathia and Ruthenia to prepare the way for occupation by Poland and Hungary. They fear that Germany is seriously planning to treat Poland as it treated Czechoslovakia and promote the independence of tho Polish Ukrainians, thereby dismembering Poland, in, which the German minority is not formidable but useful.” The correspondent adds: “The establishment of an independent Ukraine would be a prelude to Herr Hitler's plan for the dismemberment and colonisation of Russia; therefore it is unlikely that a German-Polish conflict would occur without involving Russia.” GERMANY MORE PLIANT OMINOUS POLISH TROOP MOVEMENTS SEIZURE OF RUTHENIA FEARED (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, November 24. (Received November 25, at 1 p.m.) The ‘ Evening Standard ’ says that Poland, in conjunction with Hungary, is planning to seize the remnant of Ruthenia. It has massed seven divisions on the Ruthenian border, with 40,000 more polish troops on the Rumanian frontier to prevent Rumania assisting Czechoslovakia. Germany, which has hitherto opposed the plan, has now informed Budapest and Warsaw that its objections will be withdrawn if, in the first place, Danzig is freed from League control (becoming, in effect, a German city), and secondly, if the Germans are granted concessions to build a railway and trunk road to the Rumanian frontier. (Rumania is anxious to preserve the Munich boundaries, and has warned Britain and France of tho plan. The situation is being discussed at the Paris conference. In the meanwhile, the conditions in Ruthenia are reported to be chaotic, owing to the activities of bands of Hungarian and Polish irregulars. POSITION AT DANZIG \ HIGH COMMISSIONER TO RESIGN WARSAW, November 24. Tho intention of Professor Karl Burdkhardt to resign the Danzig High Commissionership was announced by a pro-Government newspaper from Danzig. It adds: “The office will be liquidated, making Danzig independent of the League of Nations, whereupon the Statute will be replaced by an agreement between Poland and Germany.” NEW DECREES ISSUED DISSOLUTION OF FREEMASONRY WARSAW, November 24. (Received Novembr 25, at 10 a.m.) M. Moscicki announced decrees which include "dissolution of Freemasonry, confiscation of the property and finances of lodges, and prohibition of general agricultural strikes or strikes paralysing one industry.