FOERSTER’S SPEECH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1939, Page 5

FOERSTER’S SPEECH

STRONG PROTEST MADE AGAINST POLISH THREATS FAITH IN NAZI LEADERSHIP. WILL DO RIGHT THING AT RIGHT TIME. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrjght (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) DANZIG, August 10. Herr Foerster, addressing a crowd whose thunderous roars, “We want to return to the Reich!” drowned his opening words, declared that the meeting was assembled at a serious moment, to protest against threats of war uttered by Polish newspapers and speakers. "Anybody expecting sensational announcements tonight,’ he continued, "is mistaken. Danzigers have shown their love of pence. If the Polish threats had not been serious, we would have been content'to pass them over. However, since they continue, and since the threats are even supported by official Polish utterances, the time has come to bring our viewpoint before the world in no uncertain terms.” He cited Polish utterances as a proof that Poland wished to establish a protectorate in Danzig. He declared: “It must be clear to us and to the whole German people, as well as to sensible foreigners, that such constantly repeated Polish vituperation cannot continue. We have done everything possible in recent weeks to defend ourselves in answer to attacks of every kind. Threats of war, however challenging, do not frighten Danzig, because the people, on the basis of previous experience, have faith in Nazi leadership and .know that it will do the right thing at the right time." Herr Foerster denounced AngloFrench meddling in Danzig’s affairs. “Danzig," he said, “had been a purely German city since its foundation. Its people fear Marshall Smigly-Rydz’s guns as little as their forefathers feared the cannon of the Polish king. Rights of self-determination were violated at Versailles, after which Danzig was reduced to second place to Gdynia, proving that Danzig gets only economic disadvantages and not advantages from Poland. The Danzig people are absolutely clear and firm in their conviction that liberation is at hand. Danzig will again return to the Reich. We can do nothing better than swear that

we shall hold together and resist every attack on holy German soil. The Fuhrer will stand at our side in the event of a Polish attack.” At the conclusion of Herr Foerster’s speech a telegram was sent to Herr Hitler, reading: “My Fuhrer, tens of thousands of Danzig people have assembled to protest against threats to bombard Danzig with cannon, and look to you confidently and greet you with unshakeable loyalty.” The Lange market was jammed with 30,000 people and another 20.000 were in adjacent streets, while 50.000 assembled at various points in the suburbs, where loud-speakers were installed. The crowds frequently interrupted the speech with Nazi slogans: “One folk, one Reich, one Fuhrer!” and shouts of "We want to return to the Reich!”

The crowds roared with laughter when Herr Foerster cited the opinions of English and French, including Messrs Lloyd. George and Winston Churchill, to the effect that the Polish Corridor was a mistake, and hissed when he read out inflammatory statements from Polish newspapers, also the recent threat by Marshal Smigly-Rydz that Danzig would be the first to stage a crusade against Germany.