The grave consequences of such a situation can be appreciated by studying the figures of Polish foreign trade. In 1938, total Polish exports, by weight, were 155 million quintals. Some 51 millions passed through Danzig and 74 millions through Gdynia. Polish exports by land amounted to 30 million quintals only, or Jess than one-fifth of the whole. Of total Polish imports of 33 million quintals, 8 millions passed through Danzig and 13 millions through Gdynia. Polish imports by land amounted to a little over one-third of the total. Thus, by acquiring full control over Danzig and securing a corridor, Germany would be in a position to block' four-fifths of Poland's exports, by volume, and two-thirds of Poland's imports. Admittedly, part of the foreign trade could be diverted through alternative routes. But as a result of the additional costs thus. incurred, many of the exports would cease to be profitable, and Poland's ability to pay for a significant part of her present imports would be threatened.
The result would be that, econo-tically, Poland would be largely at Germany's mercy. In such circumstances she vould hardly hope to retain her political independence indefinitely. Any refusal to comply with Berlin's demands would entail extreme economic hardships, by reason of Germany's ability to cut Poland's lifeline to the Baltic.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.