DANGERS IN DANZIG

OUTRAGEOUS NAZI CONDUCT Poland Determined To Resist
From Our Central European Correspondent Trouble is once again brewing in Danzig. Unpleasant incidents are increasing all the time. And non-Nazis are subject to constant terrorist intimidation, despite the League Commissioner's efforts.
Recently Nazis broke up a German Nationalist meeting. A serious rio, ensued and many • were injured, some even being killed. As one of the dem was a Nazi a wave of terrorism broke loose. Poles (including a Polish officer) Catholics, and Socialists were beaten up all over the territory.
More trouble is bound to come and Danzig is a permanent danger spo standing between Germany and Poland. To understand the situation and it seriousness we must take up the story at an earlier date.
After the war Danzig and the currounding territory were cut off from Germany and set up as a separate state under the wgis of the League of Nations.
The population of the territory amounts to 390,000 and the area of the state 726 square miles. Danzig always has been predominantly German, but there is a not inconsiderable Polish minority.
Nazi Progress
Since Hitler's rise to power in Germany things have steadily gone from bad to worse. Encouraged and aided by wholesale propaganda and funds from Germany the Nazis have gone from strength to strength. In 1933 the: obtained a majority at the polls and formed a government. And since then they have concentrated on their main objective—a two-thirds majority, which would enable them to petition the League for a change of constitution.
But they failed to attain this figure at the elections in 1935. And this was a bitter blow. For they had stopped at nothing. Terrorism, violence, obstruction, bans on Opposition papers and meetings were some of the methods. After the election the Polish Consul General, the Catholic Centre, and the Social Democrats protested against the unparalleled violence and fraud to the League.
Danzig and Poland
Foiled here, the Danzig Nazis' next move was against Poland. In the autumn of 1935 measures tantamount to a Customs Union with Germany were introduced. Vigorous action on the part of Poland, however, soon caused these measures to be rescinded. And since then Danzig currency (the gulden) has been devalued to the level of the Polish zoty.
For the Danzig Nazis know the power of Poland. Danzig needs Poland and Polnad needs Danzig. Danzig's foreign affairs are managed by the Polish Foreign Office. And Poland is rightly determined to maintain the status quo at Danzig.
The Irish League Commissioner
Moreover, Hitler's own understanding with Poland makes it necessary to go slow. As in Austria, action must come from within. And so open help from Germany or an armed coup is highly unlikely.
Mr. Sean Lester, the able and courageous Irish League Commissioner, has acted with energy, too. Largely thanks to his efforts, the Nazis' laws aiming at the prohibition of non-Nazi papers and the suppression of Opposition parties' rights, as well as others allowing Nazis alone to wear uniforms, were declared illegal by the League. And these laws, too, had to be rescinded.
Poland Not to be Shaken
Official Polish protests have followed the recent troubles, mentioned above. And local Nazis feared that matters had gone a little far. One, indeed, was good enough to say that passers-by in the street who were not Nazis must not necessarily be forced to salute the swastika flag! Such a statement in a nominally free state is alone sufficient to show the pitch matters have reached.
The energy of Poland is perhaps the greatest guarantee of some slight security for the future of the numerous non-Nazis.
It must never be forgotten that the Polish corridor, which separates Danzig from Germany, is—and has always been— inhabited by a majority of Poles. This is historic Polish territory. And in Danzil itself, German though its nature be, Polam will stand by its rights and act as a bul wark against encroachment upon then from within or without.