1939-08-31 — Page 12

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 1, 1939.

GERMANY'S 16 POINTS

"7. The simple majority of votes cast in the plebiscite will deter- mine the fate of the territory.

Return Of Danzig: Plebiscite In Corridor FULL TEXT OF HITLER'S DEMANDS AS CONVEYED TO BRITISH AMBASSADOR.

BERLIN, TO-DAY.

THE "PROPOSALS” MADE BY GERMANY TO POLAND WERE PUBLISH-

ED HERE AT 9 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT.

The official statement reads: "On August 28 the British Government in-.

formed the German Government of its readiness to act as mediator be- tween Germany and Poland as to the present conflict.

"The British Government left no doubt that in view of the continuous fron- tier incidents and the general European tension, it realised the urgent necessity of settling the problem.

"The Germán Government thereupon in a Note dated Aug- ust 29, in spite of doubts as to Poland's willingness to ar- rive at an understanding, declared that in the interest of the maintenance of peace, they were ready to accept the British suggestion.

"The German Government in this Note stressed that if a catastrophe were to be avoided it was imperative to act quickly, and that therefore the German Government was ready to receive a Polish negotiator up to midnight on August 30, under the condition that the negotiator was not only empowered to discuss the matter but to conclude an agreement.

MATTER OF COURSE

that such

"Thus it is considered a matter of course

'an obligation is binding in regard to both partners.

"The German Government makes the following proposals:

"1. The Free City of Danzig, because of its purely German character and the unanimous will of its population to be incorpor- ated in Germany, to be imme- diately returned to the Reich. "2. The region of the so-called

EXTERRITORIAL ROAD

"8. In order to guarantee after the plebiscite-whatever the outcome may be undisturbed communications be- tween Germany and its province of Danzig-East Prussia, and Poland's communications with the Baltic Sea, Germany, in case the plebiscite dis- trict goes to Poland, will be given an extraterritorial traffic zone in the general direction of the cities Buetow- Danzig-Dirschau to construct a Reich auto highway and a four-track rail- way line.

"Construction of the auto highway and railway line to be carried out in such a way that Polish communica- tion roads remain untouched by over- · bridging or under-tunnelling.

"Width of this zone to be one kilo- metre.

same

SAME RIGHTS "Should the plebiscite favour Ger- many, Poland will receive the rights for free and unrestricted traf- fic to the port of Gydnia and similar extraterritorial roads and railway communications as would be award- ed to Germany.

"9. In case the Corridor comes back to the Reich, the latter is willing to facilitate an exchange of population with Poland to an extent suitable to Corridor ter.. ritory.

10. Any special rights desired by

parity basis.

COMMERCIAL CITIES

"11. Danzig Schaenlanke,

to and Gdynia

be

Corridor, reaching from the Baltic Sea Poland in Danzig port would be on a

to the line Marienwerder down Graudenz Külm - Bromberg, these cities inclusive, and extending ap- "The German Government, more-, practical purposes, although the Ger-proximately as far as over, pointed out that up to the time man Government maintains the view will have to decide on incorporation given the character of purely com-

-with Germany disclosed to

the that this Polish negotiator would ar-that the conditions

than selves. rive in Berlin; the British Government | British Government were more

ful- would be informed to the basis of the loyal, fair and capable of being German proposal of understanding to filled. Poland,

of "Instead of being informed the arrival of an authorised Po- lish negotiator in Berlin the Ger- man Government received news of the Polish general mobilisation and as late as midnight on Au- gust 30 the German Government was in receipt of an assurance, worded in general terms, ˆ from the British Government that Lon. don

In was willing to use its fluence to bring about the opening of negotiations.

!

"The Reich Government be. lieves that now the moment has be come when the public must informed of the basis for nego. tiations between Poland and Ger- many, as made known to the Bri- tish Government through the me- Ambassador 'dium of the British

to Berlin by

Minister."

the Reich Foreign

..

FULL TEXT. The full text of the "proposals" made by Germany for settlement of the Danzig-Corridor problem is as fol- lows:-

"CEASED TO EXIST" "Despite the fact that owing, to the

"The situation and the relations non-arrival of the Polish negotiater, between Poland and Germany at pre- the condition under which the Ger- sent are such that any further inci- man Government had undertaken to dent might lead to a clash between inform the British Government of the the armed forces which, on both sides German proposals to Poland ceased to of the frontier, have already taken up exist, the Reich Foreign Minister in-their positions. formed the British Ambassador to Berlin on the occasion of the handing the over, of the last British Note, of exact details of the proposals which the German Government suggested to make, to the Polish negotiator on the latter's arrival in Berlin.

NOTHING HEARD

"Doing this, the German Govern- ment thought itself entitled the be-

If an attempt at a peaceful' solution la to be made the greatest care must be taken that on the next similar occasion, events can. not again lead to repetition of the present occurrences, upsetting not only eastern Europe but also. other regions.

this

RESPONSIBLE CAUSES "The causes responsible for lief that now at last a Polish negotia-development are: tor would be nominated, because no- 1. The impossible demarcation of body can expect the German Govern-the frontiers imposed by the Versailles ment to continually show not only a dictate, and readiness to negotiate but also to sit "2. The impossible treatment of waiting for the other partner to ar-minorities in the ceded territories. rive, while from Poland nothing is heard but empty phrases.

de-

the

it

ha

"On the occasion of the marche made meanwhile by Polish Ambassador to Berlin, was ascertained that neither

Polish negotiator nor any other was then empowered to enter in- to negotiations with Germany. "Thus the Fuehrer and the Reich Government have waited two days in vain for the arrival of a duly author- ised Polish negotiator.

THE “PROPOSALS REJECTED"

"Under these circumstances the German Government must consider its proposals as being rejected for all

military and

or Poland by them-mercial cities, without

other fortifications. PLEBISCITE PROPOSAL "3. To arrive at this decision a plebiscité to be held in this district. Entitled to vote in this plebiscite will be all Germans who resided there on January 1, 1918, or else were born up to that date within this district, more- over all Poles and Kashoubs and so forth who up to the date mentioned were residing in the district or else were born there.

12. The Hela Peninsula, which in accordance with the plebiscite act, would have to decide to join Poland or Germany, would have to be de- militarised in any case.

"13. Since the German Govern- ment has grave complaints about the treatment of the German minority in Poland, and since the Polish Govern- ment believes it must make similar complaints as regards treatment of the Polish minority in Germany, both governments declare themselves ready to submit such complaints to an in- ternational commission of investiga- tion which would deal with all com- be plaints of economic and physical damage and of all reported terroristic acts.

"Germans expelled from the dis- trict are to be allowed to return there for the plebiscite. In order to safe- guard an objective plebiscite and to arrange the necessary, preliminaries, as international commission

French

to

appointed similar to that watching over the Saar plebiscite.

SOVEREIGN RIGHTS

"Germany and Poland undertake the "The commission, which will con-obligation to make good all economic sist of Itallan, Soviet,

and and other damage done since 1918 to British members, to have sovereign their respective minorities. rights over the plebiscite district still which, up to a date which is to be agreed upon, must within the shortest time be evacuated by Polish soldiers, Polish police and the Polish authorities.

MINORITY PACT

"14. In order to take away from Germans residing in Poland and from Poles remaining in Germany a feel- ing of being without protection, and in particular in order to give them a guarantee that they cannot be made to commit acts or service incompa- tible with their national feeling, Po- land and Germany agree to place the rights of their respective minorities

"4. Excepted from this, terri- tory is to be the Polish port of Gdynia, which is to remain Po Tish, sovereign territory as far to as it is territorially limited Polish settlement. The exact frontiers of this Polish on a secure basis by a binding agree- harbour to be defined between Germent concerning the maintenance of many and Poland by negotiation,

if necessary by an international court of arbitration..

UNLIMITED GUARANTEE

or their national customs and habits.

"Both countries" allow the Co- tablishment of a special organis- ation for such a purpose. More. over, both countries agree not to force members of the other coun try's ́minority to serve with the armed forces.

48. During this, period an unlimit~

*5. In order to have the necessary "The German Government, in mak-time for carrying out the comprehen- ing its proposals, is led by a desire sive preliminary work in connexion to find a final solution removing the with a just plebiscite, such a plebiscite Is not to be held before 12 months impossible frontiers in a manner satisfactory to both Poland and Ger- | from now. many, by securing for the two coun- tries alike vital communication roads, and to settle the minority problem, if there is no other way out, by guar- rights through anteeing minority agreement.

"The German Government le convinced that it is imperative to and phy- remove the economic aloal wrongs done since 1918, and. tc. make reparation for them të the fullest extent.

an

DIRECT NEGOTIATION 15. In the event that an agree- ed guarantee is given to Germany's ment is reached on the basis of these de- communication with East Prussia proposals, Germany and Poland

communication and Poland's

with clare themselves ready to order the Baltic by determining certain immediate demolisation of their arm- highways and railway lines, enabling ed forces.

"16. All measures deemed neces- free transit traffic.

besary to accelerate the above-mentiou- "Only such fees and duties, to levied to enable the maintenance of ed arrangements to be agreed roads or which are found necessary to by Poland and Germany in direct ne- carry through transportation.

gotiations."--Trans-Ocean.

upon