Evening star., 1939-08-16

BAChGROUND-
Germany has been striving to
recover Free City OF Dansig since
last March after Reich's abSorp-
ton of Bohemia, MoraUia and
Memel. Poland insists that Dam
zig is Dital to her eriStence and
has expressed determination to
fight rather than yield Free City,
1Uith 1Uhich she is united in Gus
toms union. Dansig question dis
cusSed aDith Hitler By Prot. Carl j.
Burkhardt, League OF Nations
high commissioner for Dansig.
By the Associated Press.
The European scales tilted sharp
ly toward an impending showdown
today as the killing of Polish SOL
dier by Danzig frontier guards
clouded the efforts of Prof. Carl j.
Burckhardt, League of Nations high
commissioner, to clarity the grave
Danzig situation in a meeting with
Danzig Nazis and Polish officials.
Against background of rumors
which lacked tangible clues, but
with the feeling prevailing in most
Old World capitals that something
was in the wind, different indica-
tions came from the two ends of
the Rome-Berlin axis over posi-
BILE early settlement of the German
Polish dispute over Danzig.
In Berlin a stiffening of the Nazl
attitude towards Poland and other
signs of tension heightened the con-
viction among observers there that
the Danzig issue was shaping up
for an autumn solution.
Italians Urge Negotiations.
In Rome direct negotiations be-
tween Germany and Poland for the
German acquisition of Danzig
emerged as the apparent Italian
plan for settlement of the prob
lam The controlled Fascist press
proposed such negotiations with a
unanimity of expression that
seemed to indicate official inspira-
ton.
Premier Mussolini's preparations
to give Generalissimo Franco of
Spain an elaborate reception late in
September led to the conclusion in
the Italian capital that II Duce
expected neither major crisis nor
the likelihood of war next month.
The closing of section of the
Silesian frontier between Germany
and Poland was attributed officially
to Germany in Warsaw and inter-
preted by the Polish press as a step
to camouf1age German fortification
building and troop movements. A
strip along the frontier estimated
at 70 miles was involved.
In Berlin, Nazi newspapers ac-
cused Polish police of taking the
initiative in the closing.
Third Serious Incident.
The shooting of the Polish soldier,
Aleksander Rozanovske, was the
third serious incident which has
marked the bitter Danzig quarrel
between NaZi Germany and Po-
land in recent months.
Polish and Danzig versions of the
shooting differed, as they did in the
previous cases. Two Poles and one
Danziger have been killed in three
border incidents.
Danzig police said that Roza-
novske, carrying rifle, was some
300 yards within Danzig territory
when he failed to heed command
to halt and was shot.
The Polish version was that the
Polish soldier was only Is meters
(about 16 yards, from the border
after having lost his way in the
darkness. The shooting occurred in
the early morning hours.
When Danzig police claimed that
Rozanovske had fired at least one
shot, the official Polish version was
that the Polish soldier had not fired
at all
Half hour Conference.
Prof. Burkhardt had Arthur Grei-
ser, president of the Danzig Senate,
and Marian Chodacki, Polish COM
missioner general, in his office
here for a conversation which
lasted barely a half-hour Chodacki
planned to leave late today for War;
saw.
The meeting was described in
Polish circles as merely contact"
Danzig officials declined to make
any comment on the meeting with
Prof. Burckhardt
Foreign observers, viewing the
conversations in the light of Prof.
Burkhardt'S recent meeting with
Adolf Hitler, attached great signifi-
canoe to them
Prof. Burkhardt denied yesterday
In a communique that he intended
to 60 to London.
81 was not in Geneva" the COM
missioner's communique said, II have
not had any meeting with the gen.
eral secretary of the League of
Nations, and I shall not 60 to
London.
Il have had, in Germany, a short
conversation about internal Danzig
questions.
Tempest in Teapot"
In Paris French officials called the
furore over Prof Burckhardt's visit
to Hitler tempest in teapot"
They declared Prof. Burckhardt
(See DANZIG, Page A-40