SEIZURE OF DANZIG

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17769, 3 May 1932, Page 5

SEIZURE OF DANZIG

POLISH PLOT REVEALED SERIOUS CONFLICT AVERTED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, May 2. Sensational reports are abroad that Poland is plotting to seize Danzig, a free port controlled by the League of Nations.

The Daily Express’ Geneva correspondent says that Poland had completed her plans for the sciz.ure of Danzig. But for an eleventh hour intervention by France, the Polish licet would already have sailed into Danzig harbor and thus brought direct conflict between Germany and Poland. The Daily Herald’s Danzig correspondent confirms the report of preparations for the seizure. Eight warships were ready in Dgyiua harbor, eight miles distant, but the raid was (called off owing to urgent warnings from Geneva.

The Daily Herald’s correspondent is of the opinion that if conflict between Germany and Poland arises, Russia on the one side and France on the other would not be able to hold aloof.

Possession of Danzig has been keenly disputed on various occasions since early in the tenth century, its situation making it a strategical commercial centre for north-eastern Europe. Having an area of about 72G square miles, and an estimated population of nearly 400,000, it is a large, seaport on the Baltic Sea, lying between Poland and Eastern Prussia. From the earliest times it was competed for between the Danes, Pomeranians, Prussians, Brandenburgers, Poles, and Teutonic Knights, the last-named holding it from 1308 to 1454; When it was established a free city under Poland. In 1793 it fell to the Prussians, who held it continuously until 1919, except for a brief period during the Napoleonic wars when rt existed as a separate dukedom.

Following the Great War it reverted to the status of a free city under the protection of the League of Nations, Poland being responsible for the conduct of its foreign affairs. The harbor is administrated by a mixed board of Poles and Danzigers undor a neutral president.