DANZIG PROBLEM

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20886, 18 August 1939, Page 7

DANZIG PROBLEM

PROPOSED CONFERENCE DESIGNS OF GERMANY PRESSURE ON POLAND (Official Wireless) (Received Aug. 18, i p.m.) RUGBY, August 17 The suggestions for a four-Power Conference over Danzig, which have been much canvassed in the foreign press during the past few days, continue the subject of unfavourable comment in the newspapers. It can be stated that no plan for such a conference as recommended in these reports has been officially brought to the notice of London, where the inclination is to regard the reports as incidents in a campaign of rumour designed to maintain tension and divert attention from the incontrovertible facts of the situation. The German pressure on Poland, the mobilisation of the German Army, and the German encouragement of the Danzig Senate in its demands, figure no less prominently among these factors than do the reciprocal undertakings among the peace front Powers. Yesterday's preliminary conversations at Danzig between M. Chodacki and Herr Greiser also takes its place in the events of which, as distinct from rumour, note is taken here. Poland’s Agreement Necessary The Times notes that it would, of course, be beyond the province of these officials, who hold posts within the framework of the present Danzig system to discuss officially any suggestions for a modification of the status of the Free City. The larger issue, it remarks, raised by Herr Hitler could only usefully be discussed by the plenipotentiaries of the countries concerned—in the first instance, Poland and Germany. Ju no circumstances can useful discussions be imagined at which Poland is not fully and formally represented. After discussing the recent history of the Danzig question, the Times emphasised the desirability of having the whole position regularised, and adds: “ Nofhing whatever can be done without Poland's full agreement. That is the fundamental condition which concerns this country and on which it is irrevocable and united. There must be an end of intimidation and intimidatory propaganda, which can only be met by increased preparations for selfdefence on the other side.” German Persecution of Poles M. Chodacke has gone to Danzig, where the correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports there is Polish indignation over the German persecution. The Polish press claims that 386 Poles were arrested between January 1 and July J, 417 families forced out of the Free City, and children ordered to attend German schools. Abount 150 miles of the PolishGerman frontier are now closed. BERLIN, August 17 It is reported that Poland has closed the entire frontier of Bohemia and Slovakia.

REPORTED CONFERENCE

NO KNOWLEDGE IN ENGLAND MALTREATMENT OF GERMANS i United Y res* Assn. —Elec. TeU Copyrlgnt) (Received August 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 17 The Foreign Office spokesman declared that he had no knowledge of any conference plan regarding Danzig. He added that if such a conference is held Poland and Russia must attend. WARSAW, August 17 Official circles say that German reports of arrests and maltreatment of German minority people are exaggerated, although they admit maltreatment in cases where the minority Germans bragged about Germany or threatened Poland. EXAGGERATED STORY STONES THROWN BY BOY United Press. Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) DANZIG, August 17 It' is reported that the firing at journalists at Dirschau turned out to he the action of a boy, who threw a stone at a garage window.