1939-07-11 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 11, 1989

"WE ARE FIRMLY RESOLVED..

PREMIER DANZIG

BUT HOPES DISCUSSIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE

London, To-day.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, made his eagerly awaited statement on Dan- zig in the House of Commons yesterday after-

noon.

Page

REPEATS WARNING

RIBBENTROP

TAKES A HOLIDAY

Berlin, To-day.

The Nazi Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, left Berlin yesterday on a holiday which he hopes will last several weeks.

Herr von Ribbentrop has been in poor health lately-Reuter,

"We have guaranteed to give our assistance to Poland in the case of

BRITISH AIR SERVICE FOR THE PACIFIC?

LONDON, TO-DAY. THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DECI- SION... TO MERGE IMPERIAL AIRWAYS AND BRITISH AIR- WAYS INTO ONE BIG PUBLIC. CORPORATION AND TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PRO-

J

clear threat to her independence VISION FOR THE OPERATION WAS MOVED IN THE COMMONS which she considers it vital to re- OF AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES, YESTERDAY BY THE SECRE-

Mr. Chamberlain said "I have previously stated a

that His Majesty's Government is maintaining sist with all her national forces, close contact with the Polish and French Gov-and we are firmly resolved to carry ernments on the question of Danzig.

out this undertaking..

“I have nothing at present to add to the informa- tion already given about the local situation, but I may perhaps usefully review the elements of this question as they appear to His Majesty's Government.

"Racially, Danzig is almost wholly

a German city, but the prosperity of its inhabitants depends to a very large extent upon Polish trade.

"The Vistula is Poland's only waterway to the Baltic, and port at its mouth is therefore vital strategical and economic portance to her.

NO OPPRESSION OF

GERMANS.

im-

THEY WERE WARNED

**

the

"They had before them events which had taken place in Austria, Czecho - Slovakia:

and Memelland.

"I have said that while the pre- unjust or illogical, it may be cap- sent settlement is neither basically able of improvement.

HOPE FOR DISCUSSIONS

TARY FOR AIR,

-

the oversea services now being run Sir Kingsley Wood stated that the new corporation would continue

new

by the constituent companies, and arrangements were also already in contemplation for the inception of

"It may be that in a clearer at-a new service in various parts of mosphere, possible

the world. improvement could be discussed.

Polish

оп

"Indeed, Col. Beck (the Foreign Minister) himself said May 5 that if the Reich was guided by two conditions, namely, peaceful intentions and peaceful methods of procedure, all conversations are

"Accordingly, they refused to possible, the

of accept the German point of view, "In his speech before the Reich. and themselves made suggestions stag on April 28, Herr Hitler said for

a possible solution of the pro- that if the Polish Government wish blems in which Germany was in-ed to come to fresh contractual terested.

Government wished to come to fresh arrangements governing relations with Germany, he could be welcome such an idea."

"Another Power established in Danzig.could, if she so desired, block Poland's access to the sea and so exert an economic and military stranglehold upon her.

"Those responsible for the present Statute of the City were fully conscious of facts and did their best to provision accordingly.

"Certain defensive measures were taken by Poland on March 23, and a reply sent to Berlin on March 26. "I ask the House to note · care- fully these dates.

..

"He added that any future ar- rangements would have to be based

equally binding both parties,

an absolutely clear obligation

in on

"It has been freely stated Germany that it was His Majesty's framing | Government's guarantee which en- Free couraged the Polish Government to these take the action which I have de- make scribed. But our guarantee

was

not given until March 31. By March 26 no mention of it had even been made to the Polish Govern

ment.

FAIT ACCOMPLI SUGGESTION

val

CONFIDENCE DISTURBED

was

Chief among these were extended services in Europe, a trans-Tasman service, a service across the North Atlantic and a service to West Africa and across the South Atlan- tic A trans-Pacific service

The Bill was criticised by also in contemplation.

the Labour opposition principally in respect to its financial provisions,, which it was contended, would start the corporation with an excessive capital burden.-British Wireless.

POLAND'S GREAT SATISFACTION

WARSAW, TO-DAY. CIRCLES IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE POLISH GOVERN- "His Majesty's Government alise that recent developments in CHAMBERLAIN'S ____・DECLARA- re- MENT DECLARE THAT MR. “Moreover, there is no question

the Free City have disturbed con- TION HAS CAUSED⠀⠀ “GREAT of any oppression of the German

fidence and rendered it difficult at SATISFACTION" IN POLAND. population in Danzig. On the con-

present to find an atmosphere in It is added trary, the administration of the

in the same circles which reasonable counsels can pre- that while the declaration introduc- Free City is in German hands and the only restrictions Imposed are

ed no new element into the situa not of a kind to curtail the liber-have inevitably given rise to fears "Recent occurrences in Danzig

"Faced with this situation, the tion, it crystallised the attitude of Polish Government remain calm, the British Government. that it is intended to settle

and the

His Majesty's Government There is also a feeling that Pos future status by unilateral action

hope that the Free City, with her land would have been forced to organised by surreptitious methods,

ancient traditions, may again prove recent developments in Danzig thus presenting Poland and the

as she has done before that different, and thus appear in the role other Powers with a fait accompli. when their real interests coincide drament had unequivocally declared nationalities can work together aggressor unless the British Gov-

ties of the citizens,

NOT UNJUST

"The present settlement, though it may be capable of improvement, cannot in itself be regarded as basically unjust or illogical.

"Meanwhile, I trust that all con- thef cerned will declare and show their determination not to incidente in connexi

"In such circumstances, any ac tion taken by Poland to restore the "Maintenance of the status quo situation would, it is suggested, be has in fact been guaranteed by the represented as an act of aggression German Chancellor up to 1944 by on her part, and if her action was the ten-year treaty which he con- supported by other Powers, they zig to assume such a c cluded with the late Marshal Pil- would be accused of abetting her in sudaki.

"Up to last March, Germany seemed to have felt that while the position in Danzig might ultimately re quire revision, the question was neither urgent nor likely t lead to serious disput -"But in Ma man Governmá

the use of

GRAVER ISSUES

constitute a peace of Europe. Reuter.

ALLIANCE PROPOSALS

London

The Foreign

called noon, and

the

of

of Poland,

that the speech, in unofficial cir- clear, has gone

preventing B by defining itude so firmly.

WARSHIPS IN SOUTHERN PORTS

unilat