“Does Not Go To Root Of Problem.” Colonel Beck Disappoints

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 7

“Does Not Go To Root Of Problem.” Colonel Beck Disappoints

—-Nazi Comment r Per Press Association. Copyright.] WELLINGTON, This Day. r piJE FOLLOWING COMMENT ON COLONEL BECK’S SPEECH, FROM THE “VOELKISCHER BOEEACHTER,” OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST (GERMAN LABOUR) PARTY, HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE GERMAN CONSUL-GENERAL IN WELLINGTON: “THE SPEECH OF COLONEL BECK HAS DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT GO DOWN TO THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM. (

Breaking of Treaty. ' “(1) The main reason which obliged the German Reich to consider the agreement of 1934 as finished was not, the Polish refusal to accept the German proposals, but the conclusion of the Anglo-Polish treaty of alliance. .1 “By the stipulations of this treaty. Poland is obliged to attack Germany ■without the latter giving the slightest offence to Poland, whenever the Reich should be involved in a conflict with Britain anywhere else in the world—it does not matter for what reason. It is impossible to conform this obligation to attack Germany with the solemn declaration of the pact of 1934, by which the use of arms between Germany and Poland was mutually excluded.

What Does the Press Say?

'■‘(2) Colonel Beck’s assurance that neither Poland nor Britain has any Intention of attacking Germany cannot stand closer examination. It will be sufficient to have a look at the Warsaw and London newspapers, which explain with the greatest frankness the policy of encirclement.

“(3) The historical account which Colonel Beck gave of the development of the recent crisis also does not stand test. Colonel Beck tries to make the world believe that at least part of the offers which the Fuehrer formulated in his speech of April 28 were due to it, or that the proposals were never made before in concrete form. “The ‘Voelkischer Boebachter’ reminds its readers that not only in January and March, 1939, but also in October, 1938, the Polish Ambassador in Berlin was officially informed of the German ideas for a definite solution of the outstanding questions between the Reich and Poland. This applies as well to Danzig and the Corridor, as to the German offer to extend the non-aggressibh pact for 25 years. “This offer was not only made to the Polish Ambassador in Berlin by the Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs, but also to Colonel Beck personally, ■ when he saw the Fuehrer at Obersalzberg on January a. Peaceful Designs, “(4) If Colonel Beck demands peaceful designs arid methods of negotiation as a condition for solving the problem, it must be stated that this was exactly the supposition which induced the Reich to make the proposals mentioned above.

“These proposals Were made in a most, amicable form, giving the greatest consideration to the rights of Poland. There has not been a single German soldier near the GermanoPolish frontier to give these proposals the slightest resemblance of pressure cr menace. War Against Germany. “(5) It is incorrect when Colonel Beck reproaches the Reich with having made her ■ decisions on the basis of information given only by the press. There was an unmistakable declaration, Mr Chamberlain gave also on behalf of Colonel Beck in the House of Commons, whereby direct or indirect menace to ope of the two partners of the alliance was defined as the point at which automatically an attack on Germany should be launched by the other partner.

“(6) Regarding Danzig, Colonel Beck refuses to allow the return of this purely German town to the Reich, on. the pretence of the economic necessities of Poland. The Fuehrer recognised these necessities in a broadminded way, and took them into consideration when he made these proposals. Position of Danzig. “If the fact that the German town of Danzig is situated on the mouth of a river which flows through Polish territory ■ would justify the Polish thesis, the Reich could claim, with equal right,. Dutch ports because they happen to be situated on the Rhine.

“In this case the last decision can be given only by Danzig herself. It is not by chance that Colonel Beck did not mention the port of Gdingen (Gdynia), which has been constructed for the sole purpose of ruining Danzig economically,' under the hypocritical pretence-that the harbour of Danzig was not sufficiently large for Polish traffic.

“There are to-day more than 10 miles of unutilised harbour frontage in Danzig, which are at the disposal of Poland. These facts show better than all other words the degree of credibility of Colonel Beck’s argument. The rest is done by the unbridled Polish press, with its reckless demands for German territory.”