POLAND INSISTS THAT DANZIG MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE REICH BORDERS

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 160, 10 July 1939, Page 7

POLAND INSISTS THAT DANZIG MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE REICH BORDERS

WARSAW, July 7. A Polish Government spokesman, in summing up thc Polish attitude towards the Free City of Danzig, said: “Danzig first of all must remain a separate entity outside the Reich frontiers; secondly, it must remain inside the Polish Customs area; thirdly, Poland’s rights in Danzig must not bo at the mercy of any foreign Power; fourthly, Danzig’s population must continue to enjoy full cultural rights.”

this respected constituted one of the principal difficulties in the way of rapid progress in the Moscow negotiations.

In diplomatic circles in London, comment on the attitude of the Baltic States tends to follow the line that, while their feelings regarding the “guarantees question” are thoroughly appreciated and, as stated, are being taken fully into account, nevertheless the fact should not be overlooked that the sole aim of French and British policy is to provide a deterrent to aggression, and that the smaller countries are among the beneficiaries if that policy succeeds in restoring confidence in Europe. The British and French Ambassadors, Sir William Seeds and M. Naggiar, are seeking an interview' with the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, to-morrow to submit new proposals for th c Soviet’s participation with Britain and France in a three-Power pact. The Warsaw correspondent of The Times reports that the Baltic Times, the Estonian Government’s organ, again emphasises that the Baltic States clo not want their frontiers guaranteed. If such an agreement is concluded, the paper says, they will consider it non-existent. The British United Press correspondent at Tallin reports that Foreign Office circles claim that Britain gave Estonia a solemn assurance that she would protect the interests of the Baltic States during the Moscow talks and would not approve of a guarantee of automatic Russian aid to the Baltic States.

The official spokesman said: “We have reason to believe that the original British proposals conformed to these assurances, on which Estonia placed the greatest reliance. Nov/ for some reason the British are yielding to Moscow’s demands and retreating from their solemn assurances.”

The upper classes are pro-German, but the mass of the people ar e favourably disposed towards Russia, the cor-) respondent adds.