Sacrifice

When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, every patriotic young German eagerly looked to the day when Germany would eliminate the Polish Corridor which joins Poland to the Baltic and separates the flat lands of German East Prussia from the rest of Germany. In 1934. with many troubles on his back, Adolf Hitler shrewdly pacified one enemy by signing a treaty with Poland promising not to agitate the Polish Corridor question for another ten years, a treaty violently unpopular among Germans.

Fortnight ago Polish Foreign Minister Beck went to Berlin, conferred with the Fuehrer, left Germany smiling cryptically but saying nothing.

Close to the mouth of the Polish Corridor lies the Free City of Danzig with a population predominantly German. Nearly three years ago Danzig's citizens went to the polls and voted overwhelmingly for a pro-Nazi local government. Last year Danzig's ancient Hanseatic flag was given a corner in the Nazi Swastika flag, Nazi Leader Albert Forster publicly acknowledged his loyalty to Adolf Hitler, and the world waited to see how soon Germany would openly annex the Baltic city.

Last week after Pole Beck had returned to Warsaw, Danzig's private Fuehrer Forster ended a speech in Berlin with this cryptic remark:

"Danzig gladly sacrifices for the interests of the Reich, and its inhabitants have the same faith in the Fuehrer as all other Germans."

Danzigers promptly guessed what sacrifice had occurred in Berlin: That Hitler had promised for several years to come not to annoy touchy Poland by annexing Danzig.

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