BERLIN AND DANZIG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 12

BERLIN AND DANZIG

It is increasingly evident that the trouble in Danzig is closely related to the general situation in Europe. Herr Greiser's violent words to the League Council would never have been uttered had he not thought that the time was opportune for bold speech. News from Berlin, while reporting that the German Government does not expect troublesome developments in Danzig in the near future, certainly strengthens the opinion that the Nazi activity there is under orders from German headquarters. To view this activity as an effect of the European situation is therefore justified. It may be an influential cause also of increasing the gravity of that situation. The British Foreign Minister is understood to regard matters in this serious way; but there need be no wider survey than one covering the Polish reaction, to which Mr. Eden is said to have made pointed reference, to see how happenings in Danzig may speedily bring international friction. Poland is apparently prepared to insist on respect being paid to her rights in Danzig under the regime instituted by the peace treaty and supervised by the League, and about these rights other nations are bound t- be concerned. At present the firm attitude of Poland seems the factor most likely to prevent the internal affairs of the city from promoting an armed conflict Germany, pledged by a recent compact with Poland to preserve peace in the region, is unlikely to take overt action provocative of war, however desirous of seeing a turn in events promising an eventual closing of the gap between East Prussia and the rest of the Reich. There is to be feared, nevertheless, a hidden movement in which the Nazi Government will encourage its Danzig sympathisers to make League supervision so difficult that a crisis must lie precipitated. The Government that to-day promises to restrain the Nazi President of the Danzig Senate may to-morrow prompt him again to inflammatory speech and deed.