Between the Lines

A Jewish delegation from Danzig is now in Warsaw seeking the protection of Polish authorities against growing anti-Jewish discrimination in the city of Danzig which is endangering the Jewish position there no less than in Nazi Germany.

Danzig is not a part of Poland. It is a free state governed by its own constitution and its own parliament. Certain provisions by the League of Nations, however, make it possible for Poland to have a say in Danzig affairs.

ASSISTANCE FROM POLAND

The assistance which Danzig Jews are now seeking from the Polish government against the Nazis is a result of the fact that the German Nazis have now obtained full control over Danzig and are trying to introduce the “Aryan paragraph” there. Furthermore, while in Germany the Jews are permitted to trade freely, Nazi leaders in Danzig are restricting Jewish rights even in commerce.

According to the Danzig constitution, the local administration is responsible to the parliament. However, since the Nazis now practically control the Danzig Senate, the entire administration is fully dependent on the National Socialist party.

THE NAZI DICTATOR

The Nazi party in Danzig considers itself a branch of the Nazi party in Germany. It is headed by Albert Forster, who is a member of the Nazi party in Germany and who has been sent down from Prussia to organize the Nazis and supervise the Nazi activities in Danzig. All power in Danzig, therefore, lies in his hands. He is not only a member of the Danzig Senate, but he practically rules the Senate. He is at present the dictator of Danzig.

A year ago, when the Jews of the world were considering the proclamation of a boycott against Danzig as a counter-measure to the anti-Jewish discriminations there, a Jewish delegation from Danzig went to Warsaw and appealed to the Jewish press there to refrain from stimulating a Jewish boycott against the Free State. Furthermore, a Jewish delegation went to Prague when the Zionist Congress was being held there and appealed to the members of the Congress not to indulge in any boycott activities against Danzig.

PARALYZING THE HARBOR

Now the situation has reached such a menacing point for the Jews in Danzig that they see themselves compelled to send a delegation to Warsaw, this time not to appeal in behalf of the commercial interests of Danzig but to seek protection for {SPAN}th###{/SPAN} Danzig Jews.

The Free State of Danzig depends entirely upon the income from the Danzig harbor. A Jewish boycott would paralyze the harbor of Danzig and would ruin the Free State. Its effects would be felt in Danzig very soon. The Jews of Danzig tried their best last year and prevented the anti-Danzig boycott. They believed last year that they would be able to fight for their rights alone, without outside assistance. This belief, however, no longer exists. Hence the Jewish delegation to Warsaw. Hence the apeal to the Polish authorities for protection.