19 MAY 1933, Page 1

Danger at Danzig It is not surprising that in the

atmosphere prevailing in Europe today the reports of a Nazi seizure of Trade Union offices at Danzig should -have been given what is obviously an exaggerated importance. Danzig is unques- tionably one of the danger areas in Europe, but the danger is of a clash between Danzigers and Poles, not between DanZigers and Danzigers. The League High Commissioner was manifestly correct in his ruling that no illegal or unconstitutional act had so far taken place. The Free City is self-governing, except in regard to certain matters in which Poland shares jurisdiction, and as long as the treaty with Poland is observed, no case for external intervention exists. The real crisis may cony:" in con- nexion with the elections for the Free City Diet on May 28th, for the general ebullition which has marked such occasions in Germany may easily precipitate some incident in which Poles are involved. But to anticipate the danger is to go some distance, at any rate, towards averting it. The Poles will certainly do nothing to encourage any incident and it is doubtful if the Nazi leaders will either, though their rank and file may.

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