BID FOR POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 9

BID FOR POWER

NAZIS IN DANZIG EVE OF THE ELECTION LEADERS' ASSURANCES ADHERENCE TO TREATIES CASUALTIES IN RIOT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Maj 25, 5.5 p.m.) DANZIG, May 27 The general election to be held in Danzig to-morrow will decide whether the Nazis are to dominate internal politics here as well as in the Reich. At the last election in 1930 the Nazis won only 13 seats out of 72. They expect to-morrow, however, to receive at least 70 per cent of the total votes. The Nazi leaders have given assurances to M. Helrner Posting (Denmark), High Commissioner for the League of Nations, that they will scrupulously observe existing treaties, so that nothing shall disturb the relations between Danzig and Poland.

Almost all the residents of the houses in the Free City are displaying Nazi swastika flags. None dares show any other. Fifty people wore wounded yesterday in an election fight at Zoppot between Government supporters and uniformed Nazis. The police finally effected a separation. The Volkstag (Parliament) in Danzig consists of 72 members. It is elected for four years and can be dissolved. As the result of the last general election in 1930 the state of parties was as follows: — Social Democrats . . . , 10 German Nationalists . . 10 Zentruin Party . . . . 11 Communists . . . • 7 National Liberals . . . . 2 Populist Party . . • • 2 German Liberal . . . • 1 Polish Party . . • • 2 Nazis . . . • . . 13 Others . . . • • • 5 The Government (Senate) is elected by the Volkstag for an indefinite period, and may bo called upon to resign. The present Senate was formed in January, 1031. The President and Foreign Minister is Dr. Ernst Ziehm.

APPEAL TO GERMANS "STAND BY FATHERLAND" HERR HITLER'S MODERATION (Received May 28, 6.35 p.m.) BERLIN. May 27 The German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, in a moderately-worded broadcast speech urging Germans in Danzig to stand by the Fatherland, abstained from the use of language hostile to Poland. "National Socialism knows no policy of frontier changes at the expense of others," said Herr Hitler. "It does not want war for the purpose of incorporating in Germany people who are not desirous of becoming, and cannot become, Germans. Therefore, the Nazis aro limited to those who belong to our blood and speak our language. "The Nazis' great mission is to supply a bridge between Germans inside and outside tho frontiers." IN THE FREE CITY

SYMPATHY WITH GERMANY AUCKLANDER'S IMPRESSIONS The determination of the Nazis to secure power in the Free City of Danzig was referred to yesterday by Mr. D. F. MacCormick, of Auckland, who has returned after spending eight months there. Ho made his headquarters at Zoppot, which is a suburb of Danzig, and thus had an excellent opportunity of judging the sentiments of the people. "The inhabitants of Danzig, of whom 96 per cent are of pure German origin, arc sound, reliable and hospitable people," said Mr. MacCormick. "Like the German Nazis, the Danzig Nazis are recruited mainly from the younger generation. They appear to have no outdoor games, although I did see a little Association football and hockey,, but they thrill to the roll of a drum and delight in marching about. This characteristic is understandable from the fact that they come from generations of soldiers. Feelings of Bitterness

"In sympathy and language the people are German and there has been a great amount of bitterness since the Treaty of Versailles severed them from Germany. They have no army but the police are fully armed, and there is also a civic guard. In addition one sees the Nazis marching up and down all tho time, mostly in the evenings and at week-ends. University students learn flying at the aerodrome." Examples of the constantly recurring friction which has followed tho establishment of tho Polish Corridor were quoted by Mr. MacCormick. Ho instanced the caso of an ammunition clump placed on a Polish concession at Westorplattc, which is part of Danzig Free City, and at tho entranco to tho River Vistula. A guard of 80 Polish troops protected tho dump. A decision to double the guard caused a flare of protest, being interpreted as a covert attempt to strengthen tho military position. Control ol Railways Control by Poland of tho main railway system of Danzig also was a cause of unrest, said Mr. MacCormick. Danzig had its own currency, and that naturally was used in paying for railway services. The Poles then announced that. Polish money would in future be used in paying railway charges. As the Polish currency was very much debased tho proposal caused a great outcry, but it was finally quashed after roferenco to tho League of Nations.

A severe 'blow at the well-being of the Free City was struck when Poland built a new port at Gdynia, on the Baltic Coast, and only a few miles from Danzig. Polish produce was now being railed straight through to Gdynia, instead of going, as formerly, down the Vistula to Danzig. As a result the maintenance of the waterway could not be prosecuted with normal vigour, and the river was silting up. The economic position of Danzig was fairly desperate, said Mr. MaeCormick. In the city itself there were only 33,000 people employed, as against 35,000 out of work. The population of the State was about 400,000. In spito of the general difficulties the casino at Zoppot, which could bo termed the Monte Carlo of the north, continued to function. Zoppot was a very attractive pleasure resort and was popular with visitors.