Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1939. “DEMANDS CONCERNING DANZIG.”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1939. “DEMANDS CONCERNING DANZIG.”

A NEW turn is given to the German-Polish situation by Heir 2V Hitler’s appeal to the Pope to exert renewed influence on Poland to settle the Nazi demands concerning Danzig “before the situation becomes such that negotiations would be extremely difficult.’’ According to the Nazi Jead in Danzig, Herr Forster, the city’s fate has “advanced to the stao'e which it was hoped would lead to an early return to tl _ Reich.” Taking account, however, of both the economic and political problems involved, it is by no means certain that even the return of Danzig to the Reich would lead to a stable settlement. Tn a speech last month in which he replied to the German demand for Danzig, the Polish Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, said that the population of the. city was predominantly German, but its livelihood and prosperity depended on the economic potentialities of Poland. Observing also that 1 oland had purposely not endeavoured to exert any influence on the free, national, ideological and cultural development of the German majority in the Free City, Colonel Beck added: But when after repeated statements of German statesmen, who respected our views, and expressed the opinion that this provincial town will not be the object of a conflict ™ Poland and Germany”—l hear demands for annexation of JDanzi g by the Reich, when I get no reply to our proposal of March 26 for a common guarantee of the existence and rights of the Fiee City and I learn subsequently that it has been regarded as a lefusa of negotiations, I have to ask myself, What is the real aim of it all? Is it the freedom of the German population of Danzig, which is not lacking, or is it matters of prestige, or is it a jp^te 1 ’ of barring Poland from the Baltic, from which Poland will not let herself be barred? The reallv vital issue at stake no doubt is that of Poland s access to the’ Baltic. Politically the so-called Free City is controlled so completely by the Nazis that for practical purposes it might almost as well be part of the Reich. Save, however, in guaranteed conditions which will not easily be attained, the transfer of the citv and its adjacent territory to Germany might mean that Poland would find herself shut off from the Baltic by a fortified barrier and with her railway outlet to that sea at Germany’s mercy. Apparently dispassionate observers do not deny that the Germans in Danzig have some legitimate grievances. Distress has been caused by much of the trade of the hinterland, foi which Danzig was formerly the only natural outlet, being diveited to the Polish port of Gdynia. There is a cumbersome dual postage system, and, as the position was described recently by a writer in the “Sydney Morning Herald”: — The railways in Danzig are entirely under Polish control, their whole revenue being paid to Poland. The Free State thus loses large sums annually. All income derived from the Free State Customs is placed to the credit of Poland, Danzig meiely retaining a percentage to cover the expense of administration. Tn peaceful conditions, the whole of the problems that centre on Danzig might easily be brought to an equitable and stable adjustment. The formidable obstacle to a settlement fair to all’concerned is that the Nazi regime has earned for. itself the reputation of being incapable of making in good faith a just and dependable agreement.

HELPING CRIPPLED CHILDREN.

SYMPATHY and support, should be given very readily by thinking' people to the effort now being' made by the Wairarapa branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society to build up its membership. The executive considers that at least 500 members should be enrolled, and considering the merit of the work that is being' done and the modest amount of the annual subscription—five shilling's this cannot be called at all an extravagant aspiration in an area like the Wairarapa.

It would perhaps be too much to expect that the unspectacular activities of the society should attract as wide attention as they deserve, but these activities and the opportunity of doing something to further them should appeal strongly to all who are capable of giving sympathetic consideration to the welfare of those upon whom an undeserved and often serious handicap has been imposed.

As may have been seen from its third annual report, which was published recently, the Wairarapa branch ol the society has been able already to do a great deal of. admirably uselul and helpful work. It is a part only, though an admittedly important part, of the work of the society to ensure that crippled children are given at the earliest stage possible the advantages of skilled advice and treatment. In addition, earnest and untiring efforts are made to enable cripples in the greatest degree that is practicable to overcome their disabilities and to get rid of any inferiority complex they may have developed. Kindly personal contact and vocational training, much of it of necessity improvised in special circumstances, play an important part in these helpful efforts. The riding aim is to enable cripples to play as nearly as may be an independent, normal and happy part in life and the degree of success attained is highly encouraging.

The Wairarapa branch of the Crippled Children Society is being assisted most generously in its work by members of the medical and dental professions, instructors and others, bid it needs also a greatly i-ncreased membership in order that its activities may develop unhampered and on the scale that is desirable.. Through its welfare officer and the members of its executive the branch is offering assistance to all crippled children in the area extending from Mangatainoka to I’irinoa and if kindly and generous people throughout that area will respond to its membership appeal it will not be long before the immediate objective of five hundred enrolments is reached and exceeded.