The Polish government again has made it clear to the League of Nations that it stands by its declaration of last September and considers its national minority obligations non-existent. This was done last Friday, when the Council of the League assembled to consider the fate of the minorities in the Saar.
The Polish representative walked out from the session when the question of minority treaties came up. He thus indicated that the Polish government, though a member of the League of Nations, does not care the slightest about the work which the League has proposed for the protection of national minorities.
A SLAP TO THE LEAGUE
The action of the Polish representative is nothing but a slap to the entire Council of the League of Nations. The Polish government did not even see to it that Dr. Komarnicki, its representative, acted in a diplomatic manner. Stubbornly and sternly it made the Council feel that the declaration made in Geneva last September by Colonel Beck, the Polish Foreign Minister, renouncing the international obligations, is still in power.
This latest action of the Polish representative in Geneva may perhaps serve as a cold shower on the heads of the British and French representatives of the League. He may serve the other members of the League as proof that national minority rights will not be observed in Poland unless measures other than quiet diplomatic discussions will be adopted by the League.
LEAGUE’S SITUATION CHANGED
When the Polish government renounced its national minority obligations at the session of the League last September, the position of the League was quite different than it is now. Poland insisted then on being treated as a big European power. The League was unable at that time to exercise any effective pressure on Poland.
Now the position has changed. The League of Nations has been strengthened since September by the entrance of Soviet Russia, by the Franco-Italian agreement, and by the fact that the return of the Saar to Germany removes the tense relations between France and the Reich. Furthermore, the re-entry of Germany into the League in the very near future is also likely.
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE
Under such circumstances, the claim which Poland maintains that it must be treated by the League as a big power and must be relieved of its national minority responsibilities will now be discussed in quite a different light if taken up again by the League Council.
The withdrawal of the Polish delegate from the Council session when the question of minority rights came up opens a new opportunity for a discussion on Poland’s attitude. It may bring consequences. Captain Eden, the leader of the British delegation at the League of Nations, who still hoped that Poland would show sense in the question of its minority obligations, and who indicated this very clearly in his speech last September, will now learn that his hopes as well as the hopes of the French and Italian representatives at the League—are not at all respected by the Polish government.
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