Evening star., 1939-03-22
Berlin
Continued from First Page)

Lithuania and Germany are ex-
pected to be:
l. Memel will be ceded uncondi-
tionally to Germany;
2. Lithuania will be permitted to
use the harbor of Memel as a free
port;
3. Germany will become the prin-
cipal. If not the exclusive, purchaser
Of Lithuanian exports, namely,
poultry, butter, eggs, potatoes, tim
Der, linseed, fax, hides, pigs and
horses.
Under Nazi Control.
Memel has been virtually under
Nazi control since December, when
the martial law under which the
area had been ruled by Lithuania
was lifted and full permission to
practice National Socialism was
granted.
In acquiring Memel, Hitler, for
the first time since he came to
power in 1888, has added seasport
to Germany For a seafaring ma
ton this is an important item.
More than 1900 vessels totaling
almost 100000 tons call at Memel
annually. Lithuania alone ships IS
per cent of her exports through this
harbor. Under German admins
tration much German trade un-
doubtedly also will be routed
through there.
1t may also be expected that Hitler
will not overlook the possibility of
Memel as a submarine base. His
domination of the Baltic will thus
be enhanced, and Soviet Russia will
be just that much closer.
Besides acquiring strip of terri
tory consisting chiefly of agricultural
and timber land, Hitler becomes
master over a population that is in
dustrious, hard working and hard
ened. 1t consists chiefly of lumber
jacks, farmers and fishermen.
In the City of Memel there are
some Is prosperous sawmills, cellu-
lose factory, a fertilizer plant, three
textile mills, an export slaughter
house and a furniture factory.
Government opposition groups in
Poland, concerned by Nazi expan-
sion, were urging with little apparent
success new cabinet dedicated to
national defense.
The Socialist party there ap-
pealed to President Moscicki for q
national defense cabinet because
after annexation of the Czechs and
Slovaks" Germany's position in the
south "endangers the country"
Informed Polish quarters said the
government would give little heed to
these demands because such a move
could be interpreted as taking sides
in the present situation.
The swift capitulation attributed
to Lithuania came after a confer
ence between the Lithuanian anc
German foreign ministers and had
been expected for several days.
Propaganda Minister Goebbels
Der Angrif came out with a one.
page spread as an extra edition an
nouncing the new territorial acqusi-
ton. Chancellor Hitlers Voelkischel
Beobatcher had an extra.
Press Attacks Continue.
There were these other develop
ments having bearing on the in
ternational situation:
The press continued strong criti-
cisms of Western democracies fol
what Germany considers efforts at
"encirclement" Of the authoritarian
states by British-sponsored stop
Hitler" bloc.
Newspapers specifically attacked
the United States for its note de-
claring absorption of Bohemia and
Moravia was illegal.
The German economics ministry
was reported studying the Is per
cent extra duties imposed by the
United States on most German
goods, presumably with a view to re-
taliatory action.
It was taken for granted that the
American note would be rejected as
coldly as were similar representa-
tions from France and Britain-on
the ground that it lacked political,
legal or moral foundation"