GERMAN WARNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19900, 30 March 1939, Page 5

GERMAN WARNING

HOSTILE POLES MALTREATMENT ALLEGED TENSION IN DANZIG CORRIDOR KETENTION MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS (Elec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.) (Reed. Mar. 30, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 29. The Warsaw correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the Get’r man Ambassador to-day visited the Polish Foreign Minister, Colonel J. Beck. It is understood that he received Colonel Beck’s assurance that Poland had no intention of departing from the principles of the

10-year non-aggression pact which was signed in 1934. . This is interpreted in some quarters as meaning that Poland will not join the anti-German coalition. Colonel Miedzinski, the Polish Senate marshal, announced in Warsaw to-day that Poland had rejected Germany’s proposal to change the sovereignty /of Danzig and for the building of a German road across the Corridor and also Poland’s adherence to the anti-Comintern pact. He added that Poland was sufficiently prepared to deal with the situation. The Independent Cable Service reports that the German Foreign Office, through the journal Diplomatic Correspondence, warned Poland that opposition to German wishes might be dangerous. Ominous Reference It referred ominously to the “particular geographical position of the State” and deplored anti-German propaganda. “Regardless of the strain placed on the relations between Germany and Poland by the Versailles Treaty, the Fuehrer has done his best to persuade the German people that an independent strong Poland should be regarded as essential to the stability of Central Europe and that it, therefore, is desirable to live in friendly relations,” continued the journal. “This is the basis of the 1934 treaty. If Poland now comes to the conclusion that the same consideration for the vital rights of the honour of the German people is no longer required, this would be regrettable for future harmonious developments in. Europe and detrimental to Poland herself.’ Heavy German troop movements were reported last night between Berlin and the Polish frontier. There is great uneasiness in Danzig. It is feared that the local Nazis might make some move, with or without support from Berlin. Efforts for Peace In the meantime Warsaw has been making an effort to prevent the slightest anti-German demonstration in a,ny part of the country. ! The German news agency in Berlin, however, continues to issue reports of anti-German demonstrations in Polish frontier regions. The windows of all German houses in Margonin and Bromberg were to-day reported to have been broken. It is alleged that two clerks who were proceeding to their homes after the day’s work were attacked and seriously injured. These alleged incidents are cited as typical of disturbances elsewhere. Under the Treaty of Versailles the ancient city of Danzig was constituted a “Free State,” independent of her former ruler, Germany, but not altogether of Poland. Poland is an inland country, and in order to give her trade communications with the sea a “Corridor” was cut by the Peace Treaty to the German port of Danzig, dividing Germany into two parts; and Danzig was made a Free City, separate from Germany, but controlled in many ways by Pdland. Both in the Corridor and in Danzig the great majority of the people are Germans and not Poles. Under the provisions of the Treaty Poland has many privileges. She is to represent Danzig abroad, to have her own interests safeguarded in its constitution, to have the port at her disposal (under certain conditions), to nominate half the harbour commissioners, and to share the control _ of the railway and transport services with the Danzig Senate.