Evening star., 1939-06-18
Return 10 GERMANY
Inevitable, Goebbe|s
Tells Danzigers
Promise by Fuehrer Not
Empty, Free City
Throng Informed
- the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
FREE CITY OF DANZIG, June
17.-Union of the Free City of Dan
zig with Germany is inevitable and
can be prevented by no power on
earth, Propaganda Minister Paul
Joseph Goebbels told a wildly cheer
ing throng in an informal address
here tonight.
II came to encourage you in your
resolution" DR.. Goebbels said, in
front of the State Theater after
thousands had clamored for word
from him.
But by your enthusiasm you en-
courage me-"
"I stand on German soil and greet
German men and women" the Ger
man propaganda minister continued
"You want to return to your home
In the Reich.
international Problem"
"Your misfortune is that you hap
pen to be situated at the mouth of
the Vistula River and it is curious
theory, supported in Warsaw, that
the mouth of a river belongs to
the state through which it flows
(Poland).
"By such reasoning. Rotterdam be-
longs to Germany because it lies at
the mouth of the Rhine. I" -
overnight you have become an
international problem and you have
become such against your will. Your
only desire is to come home to the
Reich and only an envious power
would try to prevent this union.
Any power trying to prevent the
inevitable makes a mistake if it
bases its calculations on the as
sumption that Germany is weak. 1t
is strong, and unlike some other
states whose destinies are in the
hands of weak men, this new Ger
many is led by Adolf Hitler.
Hitler has said, 'Danzig is Ger
man and from past experience the
world should by now understand
that Hitler does not utter empty
words
DanZig, Poles Exchange Notes.
Nazi-dominated Danzig and Po-
land meanwhile shook diplomatic
fists at each other on the eve of
two scheduled formal speeches by
DR.. Goebbels on German culture.
An exchange of notes was precip-
itated when Danzig demolished a
Polish peasants. cottage on Free
City territory after police said it
was in a dangerous condition.
Poles retaliated by serving notice
on Danzig mill owner near Tczew,
in the Polish Corridor, to tear
down his house by today. A pro-
test by Danzig brought only
second Polish order telling him to
tear down his mill, too.
Today's exchange started when
the Polish diplomatic representa-
tive delivered note saying. Every
of1cial action undertaken by Dan
zig authorities against Polish prop
erty or Polish citizens will be fol-
lowed by double and triple recip-
rocal action against Danzigers."
Danzig Threatens Reprisals.
Danzig authorities reacted almost
before the Polish diplomat had time
to get back across the street from
the Danzig government building to
his own offce.
The Danzig note said, "Danzig,
too, has decided to act on the basis
Of tit for tat" and threatened re-
prisals against all Polish house
owners In the Free City.
DR.. Goebbels will addres an audi
ence in the Danzig State Theater
tomorrow morning and in the after
noon he will speak to Hitler Youth
of the Free City. The occasion will
mark the end of the Danzig culture
week.
As Dr. Goebbels spoke tonight.
placards held aloft by the shouting
crowd read "Wir Wollen Helm ins
Reich" eve want to return home
to the Reich'').
A streamer stretched along a
building front proclaimed:
"Danzig ist cine Deutsche stadt
und sic will zu Deutschland"
CDanzig is German city and
wishes to belong to Germany.
These words were taken directly
from Hitler's last Reichstag address.
The Nazi leader spoke from the
balcony of the theater as floodlights
played over the crowd.
He cautioned the western democ-
racies they were making mistake"
II they thought they could bring
back policies of 1914 through "en-
circlement."