The Polish Government has definitely declined the German offer to renew the German-Polish convention protecting minorities in Upper Silesia, which expires July 15, 1937, it was reported here today.
The Reich is seeking a renewal of the pact to save the German minority in Polish Silesia from Poland’s determined efforts to Polonize
the area, although renewal would prevent Germany from extending anti-Semitic legislation to German Silesia.
Poland, however, is not anxious to renew the agreement, it was learned, apparently because of her desires to make her portion of the territory an integral part of Poland, and may take measures to bring this about once the convention expires.
Hopes were expressed here that diplomatic and other forms of pressure would be put on Poland for renewal of the agreement. It was believed that Jewish organizations will also make an effort to influence Poland to renew the convention in order to prevent extension of the Nuremberg race and citizenship laws to the Silesian Jews.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.