§ 1. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House of the situation in Danzig; and what is the position of the High Commissioner appointed by the League of Nations?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)I understand that, as was arranged at the meeting of the Council of the League on 4th July, the Polish Government are now dealing through the diplomatic channel with the recent incident during the visit to Danzig of the German cruiser "Leipzig," and also that the Government of Danzig have given assurances regarding the personal safety of the High Commissioner. According to an official communique which appeared in the Polish Press of 10th July, the Polish representative in Danzig has informed the President of the Danzig Senate that the Polish Government would not permit the unilateral revision of the Statute of Danzig. Herr Greiser is stated to have declared in his reply that the Senate did not intend to take any exceptional measures.
§ Mr. SMITHCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that His Majesty's Government's representative will pursue a policy at the Geneva meeting in keeping with the spirit and principles of the League?
§ Mr. EDENIn our duty as rapporteur we shall do our best to carry out what is a very unenviable task.
§ Mr. MANDERDo I understand that the High Commissioner is now able to carry out his duties unmolested, and with complete freedom as was the case before?
§ Mr. MANDERIs he able to function as High Commissioner in the same way as before?
§ Mr. DALTONIs it not the case that an order has been issued in Danzig that all public employés shall join the Nazi party or be dismissed? Is not that a gross breach of Treaty obligations? Are His Majesty's Government taking any action?
§ 2. Mr. E. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House of the circumstances that led to the decision with regard to trade unions by the supreme court of Danzig at the end of April, 1936?
§ Mr. EDENThis matter is not one which the Council of the League has been asked to consider, and I cannot therefore make a statement regarding it.
§ Miss WILKINSONCan the League give the same protection to trade unionists in Danzig as it is supposed to give to minorities?
§ Mr. EDENThe only point I am making here is that it has never come before the League. The proper channel is through the High Commissioner. It has not come before the Council at all.
§ 3. Mr. E. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the violent treatment of 2017 prominent members of the Conservative party in the free city of Danzig; and whether he will propose that action be taken to put an end to this violence through the provisions of the League of Nations constitution and the High Commissioner?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on 6th July, to which I have at present nothing to add.
§ Mr. SMITHWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to procure photographs of prominent members of the Conservative party who have been treated in this way in order that he may be reinforced with this knowledge at the forthcoming meeting of the League of Nations?
8. Mr. VYVYAN ADAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose before the Council of the League of Nations that new elections be held in Danzig in view of the admitted irregularity of the last elections; and whether he will propose that to ensure their proper conduct they be held under the protection of an international force?
§ Mr. EDENI do not think that in existing circumstances, my hon. Friend's suggestion would be likely to serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not clear that Germany would not permit any such election in the present circumstances?