The Danzig Constitution Herr Greiser, the President of the .
Danzig Senate, allowed exactly a fortnight to elapse after his demonstra- tion at Geneva before carrying out his threat. On July 18th the Danzig Government: promulgated new " security decrees," which inter alia enable the political police to take offenders into " preventive custody " for three months without trial and disqualify the courts from examining or revising such measures.. The manner and time of the -promulgation are both ominous. It seems only too probable that the interval has been utilised for negotiations with the Polish Government, and that the latter, in return for 'compensation elsewhere, has agreed to turn a blind eye on these infringements of the Danzig constitution. If this surmise be correct, the position of the High Commissioner and of the League itself will be more than difficult. The League guarantee of the Danzig constitution had a twofold purpose. It was designed. to guarantee the liberties of Danzig against Polish interference, and to protect Polish rights in Danzig against the obstructiveness of Danzig politicians. The possibility of upholding the Danzig constitution against the joint will of the Polish and Danzig governments was never contemplated ; and if that is the situation which has now arisen, the League Council will have no option but to reconsider its attitude.
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