DANZIG INCIDENTS.

Wairarapa Age, 6 July 1936, Page 5

DANZIG INCIDENTS.

DEFIANT GESTURE BY SENATE LEADER. AGGRESSIVE SPEECH BEFORE LEAGUE. CHARGES AGAINST HIGH COMMISSIONER. (Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m.) GENEVA, July 4. Herr Greiser, President of the Danzig Senate, upon arriving to attend the League Council’s meeting which was discussing the Danzig issue, was refused admittance because he did not possess a special card issued owing to police precautions following the Lux tragedy and Italian misbehaviours. Herr Greiser indignantly protested and said he had not flown 1,200 miles for fun. Such treatment was intolerable. Eventually he was admitted. Repeatedly banging his clenched fist on the table in order to emphasise the points, which is a gesture unusual at the League, Herr Greiser aggressively declared that there was no place in the world where liberty was greater than at Danzig. It would be still greater if the League minded its own business and Mr. Lester was more prudent. Mr. Lester’s conduct enabled a divided false minority shamelessly to terrorise the Nazi majority. “Even in wartime,” he said, “I have not seen corpses hacked about as those of the victims slaughtered by ths persons Mr. Lester supports.” Herr' Greiser demanded that the League either abolish the High Commissionership or send a representative who will not interfere in Danzig’s internal affairs. He added: J r l speak on behalf of 400,000 living Germans. We are not dealing with paragraphs of. reports but with living beings. If the League wants to restore confidence it must adopt one of those alternatives and show that it is a living organisation.” Herr wound up with a defiant gesture, flinging down his papers on the table and remarking: “Now I feel better.” Delegates obviously resented Herr Greiser's manner. When he finished he was loudly boed from the public galleries.

THIRD SHOCK. AMAZING SCENE BEFORE GREISER RETIRES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DEVELOPS. (Received Sunday, 11.20 p.m.) GENEVA, July 5. The League had its third shock hi a week of unprecedented sensations when Herr Greiser truculently defied the Council, arousing widespread resentment. The Nazi President’s behaviour is generally regarded as largely explanatory of Mr. Lester’s problems. It is believed that Herr Greiser, while en route to Geneva via Germany, saw General Goering and was encouraged to make a violent speech. It is also sug: gested that Greiser's outburst may be regarded as an indication of Germany's attitude towards the League. Greiser's misdemeanour culminated in an amazing scene when Mr. Eden, after the Council had adopted the resolution; intis mated that Greiser might retire. Greiser walked to the table where Mr. Eden was talking with M. Delbos and M. Beck and shook hands. The others gave the Nazi salute, causing a ripple of hilarity in the public galleries. Greiser, angrily departing, turned towards the Press gallery and put his fingers to his nose, such a storm of protest that Mr. Eden asked: “What's the matter f” and when told Mr. Eden replied: “I did not see the incident. I appeal to you to remain seated. The best way of treating such conduct is to ignore it.” Meanwhile some journalists hurried out with the intention of tackling Greiser but the police intervened and escorted the Danzig party outside amid 44 b005."

The Danzig situation, as the result of Greiser's recalcitrance, is regarded so dangerous that the Council immediately met privately and appointed a committee of Britain, France and Portugal, with Mr. Eden as rapporteur to keep in touch with the position, holding itself in readiness to meet within 24 hours, although Mr. Eden later returned to London. Greiser alleged that he was called to Geneva for hidden political motives, including the Italo-Abyssinian war (which is interpreted to mean that the League is using Danzig to divert attention therefrom). He added: “I am not surprised that officers of the aruiser Leipzig refused to call upon Mr. Lester, who was lamentably tactless on the occasion of a former German warship’s visit. I am speaking on behalf of four hundred thousand Germans, who are not bound to the League. Their ties of blood and race are bound to Germany. Danzig residents wont endure the League’s supervision much longer. If the Council doubts that let them arrange a plebiscite and abide by the result. The League has not helped the Danzig unemployment and economic troubles. For years the Nazis have made efforts to restore order. It was fortunate that Herr Hitler was the greatest statesman in Europe. Pilsudski was another great man and assisted us to save Danzig from a terrific explosion. Other Governments must be envious of such leaders.”

Mr. Eden waited for a translation of the speech from German, after which he pointed out that Greiser had been invited out of courtesy to attend the meeting, which, in any case, did not question the actions of the Danzig Government. The League, he said, was not responsible for the present Danzig regime and was onjy carrying out the functions and interests of a free city and Poland. He then adjourned meeting to enable the Assembly to deal with Abyssinia, when Mr. Remet Lester gave an unprejudiced account of his duties, ignoring Greiser’s personalities. M. Beck pointed out that the agenda was only for dealing with the Leipzig’s visit and he would reply to Grieser’s general statements later. Mr. Eden regretted the true of Greiser’s speech. The proper reply to Greiser’s charges was to express confidence of the manner in which Mr. Lester was carrying out his arduous duties. The council unanimously passed a resolution requesting Poland to deal with the matter through diplomatic channels and report to the council at its next session. Greiser, addressing the council, said he did not expect any other reply from

the League. “We are accustomed to their dilatoriness,” he said. “I again ask for a revision of Danzig’s relations with the League, not only in the name of Danzig residents but the whole of the German people, who look to the Council for a decision liberating the President of the Danzig Senate from the necessity of ever appearing here again.” Mr. Eden replied: “That Council U; dealing with the agenda and nothing' else.''