13 JANUARY 1939, Page 2

Central Europe in Flux Since the Munich Agreement Central Europe

has, as many then foretold, entered a period of flux ; and it is difficult to place any confidence in the stability of its existing frontiers. Poland is immediately affected by such possi- bilities ; and Polish public opinion showed some anxiety on the occasion, last week, of Colonel Beck's visit to Herr Hitler. Any of the questions, of Danzig, Memel, minorities, the Ukraine, said to have been discussed contains serious difficulties for Poland. Yet despite so many sources of con- tention the conversations were officially reported to have shown that no obstacle existed to the continuance of Polish- German friendship. The strongest reason for doubting the report is Germany's plan for creating a Greater Ukraine; which cannot' be achieved without destroying the integrity of Poland. It is believed, however, that Herr Hitler has not yet decided in what order to pursue his objectives, and that for the moment he may be content with supporting Italian claims against France. He is intent, however, on limiting still further France's interests in Central Europe, and in breaking the Franco-Polish alliance. Hence, no doubt, the marks of friendship with which Colonel Beck was received by Herr Hitler, and the arrangements made for a visit by Herr von Ribbentrop to Warsaw.

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