DANZIG PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1939, Page 6

DANZIG PROBLEM

BRITISH PREMIER’S REVIEW

GERMAN CONTENTIONS

ANSWERED

POLAND DEFENDING VITAL

interests

NEED OF NATIONALITIES WORKING TOGETHER.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 12.25 p.m.) RUGBY. July 10. In. his statement in Ihe House of Commons on the Danzig’ situation, the Prime Minister (Mr Neville _ Chamberlain) described the importance of the Vistula and Danzig to Poland. He said another Power established in Danzig could, if it so desired, block Poland’s access to the sea and so exert an economic and military stranglehold upon her. Those who were responsible for framing the present statute of the Free City were fully conscious of these facts and did their best to make provision accordingly. The present settlement in respect to the status of Danzig, though it might be capable of improvement, could not in itself be regarded as basically unjust or illogical. Up till last March, Germany seemed to have felt that, while the position in Danzig might ultimately require revision. the question was neither urgent nor likely to lead to serious dispute. But in March last, when Germany advanced an offer in the form of certain desideration, accompanied by a Press campaign, the Polish Government realised that it might presently be faced with a unilateral solution which it would have to resist with all its forces. Certain defensive measures were taken by Poland on March .23 and a reply was sent to Berlin oh March 26. The Premier asked the House to note carefully those dates.

“it has been freely stated in Germany,” he said, “that it is Britain’s guarantee which has encouraged Poland to take the action which I have described, but it will be observed that our guarantee was not given until March 31. By March 26 no mention of it had even been made to Poland. “Recent occurrences in Danzig inevitably have given rise to fears that it is intended to settle her future' status by unilateral action, organised by surreptitious methods, thus presenting Poland and other Powers with a fait accompli. In such circumstances, any action taken by Poland to restore the situation would, it is suggested, be represented as an act of aggression on her part, and if her action were supported by other Powers they would be accused of aiding and abetting her in the use of force.” Concluding, the Premier expressed a hope that the Free City might prove again, as she had done before in history, that different nationalities could work together when their real interests coincided.