THE RETURN OF MEMEL
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
SIR,—May I make a few remarks upon your note " The Return of Memel " in your issue of December 16th ?
(t) You seem to attach undue importance to the figures of the last Memel elections, in which the German Culture Union obtained 25 seats out of 29 (and not, as you state, 28). It must be pointed out, in order that the British public does not obtain a wrong impression, that the Germans, or Memel- landers, previously had 24 seats in the local diet, so that the increase is just one seat. This is clearly due to the Nazi election method : prevention from voting by Jews and non-Nazis by the police, cancellation of citizenship of many Lithuanians, and similar steps.
(2) You then state, that " Lithuania has neither the will nor the power to resist the reversal of an act of injustice . ." No Lithuanian will and can agree with this statement. The majority of the population of that district is of Lithuanian race (a section of .the Indo-German family). Geographically and economically Memel is bound with Lithuania and the East. It always served as a port for the exports and imports of its natural Hinterland. The names of most of the Nazi leaders there are Lithuanian, and the oldest paper, which now serves the Nazi cause, is still published in Lithuanian, as the majority of the population still speaks mainly that language.
(3) And finally you say that " the guarantors of Memel's present status, which include Great Britain, France, Japan and Italy, who watched the wrong committed will not be greatly troubled at seeing it righted." May I remind you that in 1932 the Hague Tribunal refuted Germany's accusations against Lithuania ?
However, I otherwise agree with the last statement : Japan and Italy will support their partner's claims ; and what can one expect from the Western Democracies after Munich ?—Yours
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