Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1939. BACK TO THE REICH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1939. BACK TO THE REICH.

Memel has returned to the Reich, its surrender being accomplished in true Nazi style. In spite oi Herr Hitler’s assurance that the Statute would not be violated, given sis months ago, there had developed within the territory an assertive campaign for its restoration to Germany. His success in Central Europe last week has encouraged the Fuehrer to give immediate effect to plans which have been maturing steadily, and the German octopus has reached out again to add another slice of territory to the Third Reich. Its brutality stands naked and unashamed once again, for the Foreign Minister (Herr von Ribbentrop) made it quite clear to Lithuania that resistance would earn its own penalty, and that weaker State had no option but to agree, accepting the German assurances of consideration for Lithuania’s economic interests for what they are worth, and that is nothing at all. Since the Czechoslovakian affair of last September the “Back to the Reich” . movement in Memel had made progress from a mild agitation to a deliberate campaign for the consummation of Nazi designs. The election for the Diet in December last gave the Nazi Party 28 of the 29 seats and Lithuania, seriously concerned previously with the insidious Nazi propaganda’s growth, became most alarmed. There was very good reason for this. Prior to the election the deputy-Leader of the Memel German Party had made a formal demand for the return of the territory, holding that it -was separated from the Reich against its will. The Lithuanian authorities had meanwhile attempted to suppress Nazi demonstrations by instituting martial law in Memel, but had been compelled to withdraw these measures by Germany. Insidiously the movement continued, without ostensible support from Herr Hitler, but all the time encouraged by the implied promise of interference if the German minority were not accorded proper treatment, the same strategy that is to be perceived elsewhere. With the w r rong that has been done to Lithuania Germany is not concerned at all. After the Great War Memel, formerly a German port, was with its territory converted into a State under surveillance of the League. In 1923 Lithuania, incensed at the Poles’ seizure of Yilna, took

Memel, and a year later the League recognised the new situation by the creation of the Memel Statute safeguarding the rights of minorities. A large measure of legislative, judicial, economic, and financial autonomy was granted Memelland under a governor appointed by Lithuania. The port was to be international in character and its harbour board representative of the various national interests concerned, including also a technical expert appointed by the League. The port serves Lithuania, part of Russia, East Prussia, and Poland, and under Lithuanian surveillance a considerable sum has been spent in modernising its facilities. With fourfifths of the State’s seaborne trade passing through Memel, it was proposed to increase the expenditure on the port. Now the territory has suffered the fate of parts of Central Europe, ruthlessly taken by Herr Hitler under threat of military force. Lithuania submitted to save her own State from passing under German rule. This latest example of Germany’s merciless treatment of ether nations was not unexpected at some time or another, but taken in conjunction with last week’s events it shows Nazi strategy in the clearest light. After Memel, perhaps the Corridor of Danzig, and with it the restoration of East Prussia without a dividing line. The situation the Fuehrer is creating in Europe is growing graver with each conquest.