RISING FEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 9

RISING FEARS

DANZIG'S FUTURE

TROOPS ON FRONTIER

GERMAN AND POLISH

GREISER'S SPEECH

HITLER AS LEADER

Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 6, 5.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 5

The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that the aggressiveness of Herr G reiser, President of the Danzig Senate, at the meeting of the League Council yesterday has increased the anxiety and apprehension at Geneva and reduced the hope that the Locarno Powers will be able to reach a general European settlement with Germany.

The Daily Herald in an editorial article expresses the opinion that before the year is out tho League of Nations ivill be faced with the choice of asserting its authority over Danzig or watching Herr Hitler incorporating Danzig in Germany.

The Berlin correspondent of the Times says there is every sign of enjoyment at the vicarious German kick which Herr Greiser delivered to the League at its own tribunal. It is likely to go somewhat to German heads as no doubt it was intended to do.

Danzig's closer association with Germany seems to be inevitable, as was the reoccupation of the Rhineland, says the correspondent. Moreover, Herr Greiser's appeal in the name of the German people facilitates Herr Hitler's reply to Britain, as he can say that Germans outside Gefmany have proclaimed him their leader, which he is not able to repudiate. The News Chronicle's Danzig correspondent says that the house of Mr. Sean Lester, the League's High Commissioner, is closely guarded. The citizens are passing through anxious moments and their fears are intensified owing to all the German soldiers who were spending holidays in the city being recalled by telegraph to East Prussia, and the fact that there are large Polish contingents in the neighbourhood of the frontier.

The pro-German press already is declaring that Danzig no more is the vassal of the League but a sovereign State. Nevertheless, the non-Nazis in Danzig number 250,000 out of 400,000, and if a free vote were possible the Nazis would obtain only 30 per cent of the votes.

A message from Warsaw says the Polish newspapers criticise Herr Greiser's speech and declare it was a warning to Poland. Despatches from Berlin state that the Sunday newspapers support Herr Greiser. The Volkiscbe Beobachter says: "Only the abolition of the High Commissionership can guarantee the stabilisation of relations between Danzig and the League." «

The Council of the League of Nations on May 13, in the presence of Herr Greiser, extended the period of office of Mr. Sean Lester as High Commissioner for one year as from January 15, 1937.