NEWS OF THE WEEK
DANZIG still remains the danger-centre of Europe, and it appears to be the intention of Herr Hitler to keep it so, in the hope that either Poland's nerves will crack or Britain and France will bring pressure on her to accept a settlement agreeable to Germany. Of neither of these developments is there any sign or likelihood. There are, indeed, some indications that it is the genuine Danzigers, as opposed to the importations from Berlin, who are feeling the strain most. One minor crisis, however, has been safely passed. The Danzig Senate has disavowed the threat, said to have been issued by the head of the Danzig Customs Service, that as from last Monday no Polish Customs Inspec- tors would be allowed to continue their work in the Free City, and negotiations on the subject are about to open be- tween the Polish Commissioner in Danzig, M. Chodacky, and the President of the Senate, Herr Greiser. But the real ruler of Danzig is not Herr Greiser, but Herr Foerster, appointed as Gauleiter by Herr Hitler. He has just paid a visit to Berchtesgaden, and the speeches he is about to deliver at Danzig may throw some light on the Fiihrer's intentions. But it is more likely that they will not. Herr Hitler is in the habit of keeping his own counsel, and it is perfectly possible that he intends to seize Danzig by a sudden coup, believing that France and Britain will accept the fait accompli, and ready to face the consequences even if they stand by their pledge to Poland.
