POLAND WAITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 11

POLAND WAITS

REPLY BY GERMANY INCREASING TENSION BERLIN PRESS ACTIVE POPE MAY MEDIATE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 7, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 0 The Berlin newspapers reflect a grave increase in tension between Poland and Germany.- They carry violent reports of alleged Polish attacks on Germans in the Corridor.

The Warsaw correspondent of the British United Press says it is officially stated that Poland has no intention of taking the initiative in negotiations with Germany: it is considered Germany must reply to the passage of Colonel Beck's speech in which he set out Poland's readiness to talk on the basis of good neighbourliness. German aeroplanes and war materials are accumulating on the Polish frontier, but troop concentrations do not suggest that an attack on Poland is imminent. Military measures in Slovakia close to Polish industrial centres are more significant.

Despatches from the Vatican City state that it is confirmed in se'mi-official quarters that the Popo is doing his utmost through diplomatic channels to produce a settlement between Germany and Poland. It is believed the Pope is willing to mediate if such an offer should bo acceptable to Poland and Germany. His Holiness has received numerous diplomats during the last two days, and has urged papal nuncios throughout Europe to use their good offices with the heads of States.

It is authoritatively reported from Munich that the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Orsenigo, secretly visited Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden, where it is reported the Danzig Nazi leaders, Herr Foerster and Dr. Greiser, were also present. Archbishop Orsenigo later returned by a special Government aeroplane to Berlin.

NOTE TO BERLIN TERMS AS IN SPEECH PROBLEM OF DANZIG GERMAN VIEWS RE-STATED (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, May 5 A Polish Note, was delivered at the German Foreign Office five minutes before Colonel Beck spoke. It replied to tho denunciation of the Polo-German' pact in almost identical terms with the Minister's speech. Official comment on tho speech is not likely at present. A statement to representatives of the foreign press declared that Colonel Beck had disregarded tho fact that the right ,of selfdetermination of the people of Danzig must have a part in deciding Danzig's future. Poland could not claim influence in Danzig merely because it was at the mouth of tho Polish river.

The Polo-German treaty was signed in the spirit of friendship, and must be invalidated when one of the partners made alliances with Powers inimical to tho other.

The evening newspapers did not publish Colonel Beck's speech, and there was no reference to, it. They continued to warn Poland against intransigeance as if there had been no speech. However, a much mutilated version of the speech was issued for this morning's papers at 11 o'clock last night.

GERMAN DESTROYERS TWO PASS GIBRALTAR (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) GIBRALTAR. May 6 The German destroyers Erich Steinbrinck and Friedrich Eckoldt passed Gibraltar yesterday going eastward.