The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1939. POOR POLAND!

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20025, 25 August 1939, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1939. POOR POLAND!

Since August, 1914, when the Great War was forced upon the world by the then rulers of Germany, a new generation has grown up which might well be reminded at the present critical juncture, that, if Britain had not at once responded to little Belgium’s call for help when her territory was about to be violated by Germany, the map of Europe would have been very different from that with which they become familiar in their schools days. In the event of non-intervention on the part of Britain, Belgium would almost for certain, have been swallowed up by Germany; France (which had lost Alsace and Lorraine in the earlier Franco-Prussian war) would have been shorn of additional provinces; what is now Poland would have come under Germany’s domination, and the smaller nations of Western and Central Europe would also have found themselves at her mercy. Italy, at that time, had not gone over to the Allies and might, temporarily, have been spared a like humiliation. Thus it will be seen that, a quarter of a century ago, Europe was saved from becoming subject to German domination only by the prompt intervention of Britain (at a later date, France and the other Allies were, of course, greatly helped also by the United States). If Britain had stood aloof, it would have meant not only that most of the European States would speedily have lost their political independence, but also that they would have been held in economic bondage until Germany had recovered at least the cost of her conquests, Unnecessary it should be to stress that, if Britain had wavered,'the opportunity to render timely help to her distressed neighbours would Soon have passed. The present unhappy crisis requires ‘o be viewed in the light of what has already been narrated. In some quarters —but not in many—the suggestion has been put forward that Britain should never have interested herself in Poland’s wretched plight. But, surely, that is a careless thought. Where critics who take that stand err ! s that they reckon that Germany’s quarrel with Poland is over only a narrow strip of territory and a seaport of little importance. It is true that both were part of Germany before the Great War, but it is overlooked that, m the long ago, they belonged for

centuries to Poland. Let consideration be given to the matter of what they mean to Poland to-day. In a vecent broadcast address, President Moscieki, of Poland, put the position in these pregnant words: “The nation’s war-worn seacoast of Pomorze, the Polish Corridor, are the air and sun of our existence as a State. . . . Today we pass (in our minds) along the banks of the Vistula, the queen of Polish rivers, to Danzig and to Gdynia

. . The consciousness of their value exists in the heart and in the mind of every Pole and the greater the adversities that may require to be encountered, and the more hostile the external circumstances, the firmer will be our determination to hold them.” When it is also borne in mind that three-quarters of Poland’s foreign trade passes along the route in question, it cannot occasion surprise that it is regarded by Poland as having much more than a sentimental value to her. It should not be forgotten also that Britain was one of the sponsors of the movement to re-grant Poland the all-time right of access by this outlet to the Baltic and that it is to-day the basic element of her economic and political independence. Nobody should believe that Germany has been sore merely because Danzig and the Corridor were not voluntarily returned to her years ago. Nor should anybody assume that, if that had been done, she would have seen to it that Poland would never have been a loser thereby. For some time, Germany’s policy has included a claim that Britain in particular should recognise the whole of Central Europe as being within the sphere of German influence. In June last, for instance, Dr. Goebbels, who has the high-sounding title of Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, told the world that such a condition of things must be conceded to Germany. To quote Dr. Goebbels again: “Germany knows what she wants and she also wants what she wants.” The awkward part of the business, however, is that the world at large is being kept in the dark as to her full programme. What might be asked is this: “After Danzig and the Corridor, what would come next in her demands?” If Germany should be permitted to continue from one triumph to another, it is certain that the date would not be long distant when she would press vex-y detenninedly for the return of her lost colonies. This particular claim, indeed, stands to-day at the top of her terms for an accord in the case of Britain.