Evening star., 1939-05-05
Text of Beck's Speech
Polish Foreign Minister States Position
Before Germun Demands With Firmness

.mondS with flrmneSS
good neighborhood and as such 1t
brought positive value into the life
of our country, the life Of Germany
and of the whole Of Europe. Since,
however, there have appeared ten
denotes to interpret 1t as limit to
the freedom of our policy, or as q
ground for demanding from US one
sided concessions contrary to our
vital interests, 1t has lost its real
character.
Memorandum to Germany.
Let us now pass to the present sit
uation. The German Reich has
taken the very fact Of Polish Brit
ish understanding as motive for
breaking Of the pact Of 1894. Va
rious legal objections were raised on
the German side. I will take the
liberty Of referring to a lawyers
text Of our reply to the German
memorandum, which will be handed
today to the German government.
I should not like to detain you
any longer on the diplomatic form
of these events, but one Of its aspects
has special significance. The Reich
government, as it appeared from the
text of German memorandum, made
its decision on grounds Of press re-
ports, without consulting the views
of either the British or Polish gov
ernments as to the character of
agreement concluded.
It was not difficult to do so, for I
expressed Immediately on my re-
turn from London my readiness to
receive the Ambassador of the
Reich, who did not avail himself Of
the opportunity until this day.
Why Is this circumstance i'm
portant? Even for the man Of SIM
pie reasoning it Is clear that neither
the character nor the purpose and
scope of the agreement were de-
cisive, but the mere fact that such
an agreement was concluded. And
this in turn is important for the
appreciation of the intentions Of the
Reich policy, for If. contrary to
previous statements, the government
of the Reich interpreted the decla-
ration of non-aggression between
Poland and Germany Of 1884 as
meant for isolating Poland and
making for our country normal
friendly collaboration with Western
powers impossible, we would have
always rejected such Interpretation
ourselves. (Applause)
What Is Real Aim, He Asks.
To make a proper estimate of the
situation, we should first Of all ask
the question, what is the real aim
of it?
Without that question and our
reply to 1t, we cannot properly ap-
preciate the essence of the German
statements with regard to matters
concerning Poland
I have already referred to our
attitude toward the west.
There remains the problem Of
German proposals as to the future
Of the Free City Of Danzig, COM
munications Of the Reich with East
Prussia through our province Of
Pomorze and the additional SUBJ
jects mentioned as matters of COM
mon interest to Poland and Ger
many.
Let us, therefore, investigate, in
turn, these problems.
As to Danzig, first some general
remarks. Free City Of Danzig was
not invented by the Versailles
treaty. cloud roars Of applause0
It has existed for many centuries
as result, properly speaking, If we
set apart the emotional element, Of
a positive cross between Polish and
German interests.
The German merchants Of Danzig
have shared in the development
and prosperity of that town. thanks
to Polish overseas trade. Not only
the development, but the very rea-
son for the existence of that city
was formerly due to the then de-
cisive fact that 1t is situated at
the mouth Of our own great river,
with its position on the main
waterway and railway lines con-
Meeting us with the Baltic.
This is a truth which no new
formulas can change. The popula-
ton of Danzig is today predom-
inantly German, but its livelihood
and prosperity depend on the eco
nomic potentialities of Poland.
Stand on Rights, Interests.
What conclusions have we drawn
from those facts?
We have stood and we stand
firmly on the ground Of the rights
and interests of our overseas trade
and our maritime policy in Danzig.
wild applause)
Seeking reasonable and concilia-
tory solution, we have purposely not
endeavored to exert any influence
on the free, national, theological and
cultural development Of the German
majority in the Free City.
I shall not extend my address by
quoting examples. They are sum-
GENTLY well known to all those who