Evening star., 1940-02-01
Germany Ruling
In Poles Interest,
Seyss.Inquart Says
Conquered Must Revise
Thinking Processes,
Deputy Governor Holds

By the Associated PreSS.
BERLIN, Feb. 1.-Germany's way
of ruling occupied Poland is in the
best interest of the Polish popula-
ton but the Poles must recognize
Greater Germany's right, as a war
ring nation of 80 millions, to elimi-
nate enemies on her flank, Arthur
Seyss-I -Inquart, deputy governor OF
the area, told correspondents yester-
day.
Germany's future relation to any
such Polish state as may survive
will be determined, the Austrian
Nazi leader predicted, by the readi-
ness with which Poles revise their
thinking processes and cease to con-
spire against the Reich.
He decried as gross exaggera-
tions" claims by the exiled Polish
government in Paris that $4,000 per-
sons had been executed by the Ger
mans in Poland, but warned that
Germans, fighting the fight Of our
lives" could not tolerate conditions
which might amount to a stab in
the back"
Taught Orderliness, Efficiency.
1t would benefit the Poles, Seyss-
Inquart insisted, if foreign countries
would cease meddling in Poland and
inciting the Polish intelligentsia.
Stiff measures often have to be
taken with chauvinistic Polish in
tellectuals, he acknowledged, but
the Polish workers and peasants, he
said, are easily led and are being
taught German orderliness and ef-
flciency.
The Red Cross and Quakers are
permitted to function in Poland and
have observers on the spot, he re-
lated, but Germany insists on con-
trolling their operations.
"It is true" he said, that We have
forbidden Jews at present to ride on
express trains. The reason, how
ever, is hygienic. The Jews :nvari-
ably carried lice and vermin with
them, which in turn resulted in the
spread of typhus and other dis
eases"
In Warsaw alone, he continued,
$4,000 vaccinations had been ef-
fected, more than ever were made
under Polish rule.
Ten thousand tons of grain, he
said, were shipped monthly from
Germany to Poland to help feed the
population, and a bank of issue soon
is to be established to regulate the
hopeless financial situation which
obtained with the collapse of Po-
land.
Seyss-Inquart denied emphatic
ally that Germans had interfered
with church life in Poland.
I'VE recognize that the Pole is
deeply religious he said, land we
have no intention of interfering.
Except for the churches ruined by
war, all are open. Priests off1ciate
as usual. In scattered cases when
priests continued chauvinistic agi-
tation from the pulpit we forbade
them to preach"
| Sunday the Polish Embassy to
the Vatican asserted Germans had
made brutal attempts to wipe out
the church in German-occupied Po-
land and declared there had been
wide persecution of Catholics.
Seyss-Inquart said that in the
German-occupied area German
workers had repaired about 1000
bridges destroyed by "the Poles"
including 100 railway bridges. Gas,
water works, electric light plants,
telephones and cables again func-
ton. Polish physicians have been
put into public health services, he
recounted.
Stores to Be Reopened.
Textile and shoe stores are closed
at present, he said, but this Is to
prevent boarding and price in
creases. Inventories are being taken
now, but after reopening the stores
will sell only to those really need
ing clothing and shoes. The Ger
man administration has continued
to pay pensions and 1000 unem-
ployed are receiving doles, he con-
tended.
Yet the paramount consideration
in Poland now must be Germany's
needs and interests, Seyss-Inquart
insisted.