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Short biography on S. Lester in view of his appointment as High Commissioner at Danzig.
The League of Nations Council unanimously appointed S. Lester as High Commissioner at Danzig for a period of three years from 15 January 1934; short biography on S. Lester.
The Status of Danzig:
The Free City of Danzig was an autonomous Baltic port and city-state established on January 10, 1920, in accordance with the terms of Treaty of Versailles of 1919.
When Poland was reconstituted under the Peace Treaty of Versailles, the country was ensured a free and secure access to the sea by what is known as the Polish or Danzig Corridor, formerly territory of the ancient Polish province of Romorze. This restoration and establishment of Polish territory, taken from German occupation, made a frontier that cut right through eastern Germany, separating east Prussia from the rest of Germany. This partitioning arrangement was bitterly resented by Germans, and stood in the forefront of the Nazi programme for treaty revision.
Poland's interests in Danzig are both political and economic. The Versailles Treaty gave her charge of the foreign affairs of the Free City and, in 1922, also by treaty, Danzig entered the Polish Customs Union.
Danzig was placed under the protection of the League of Nation. The chief preoccupation of the League of Nations during that period 1934-1936 was connected with Danzig.
A point not generally recognised is that this "free city" was, in fact, a tract of territory nearly as large as Wales. Danzig included not only the Free City of Danzig proper, but several other considerable towns, and no fewer than 252 villages (SLP-1936-Aug-25-P). The Free City of Danzig was far larger than Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino. It comprised not only Danzig itself, but several other considerable towns and no fewer than 252 villages (SLP-1936-Sep-22-P).
About the guard detachment for the Polish war material depot: appeal from the Free City of Danzig regarding the reinforcement of the Polish guards at the Westerplatte; on J. Simon's report regarding the harbour police; and on the death of Thomas S. Adams, Professor at the Yale University and American member of the Fiscal Committee.
1933: S. Lester was appointed High Commissioner of the Free City of Danzig by the League of Nations Council. He officially took his functions on 15 January 1934. His main role was the one of mediator between the Danzig population, the Poles and Germans.
On S. Lester's fulfilment of his future task at Danzig.
S. Lester's letter of thanks for a publication on Danzig and the German-Polish problem entitled "Dantzig et quelques aspects du problème germano-polonais", published in 1932 by the Carnegie Foundation; letters dated 24th November and 2nd December from S. Lester resquesting the Carnegie Foundation an English translation of the publication on Danzig; letter dated 28th November from the Secretary-General of the Carnegie Foundation explaining that it only existed an article in English from van Hamel published in the "bulletin de la Conciliation Internationale américaine, no.288".
F. Walters referred to S. Lester's formal letter of resignation, F. Walters worked on the draft report on the Danzig Constitution and asked S. Lester to remind him of the suggestion he made on this subject.
Sort of "secret code" established between S. Lester and F. Walters to be able to freely speak on the Danzig situation.
Concerned the High-Commissioner's responsibility towards the League of Nations, the Danzig Constitution, the Danzig-Polish dispute, the veto right regarding Danzig treaties, the Free City of Danzig loan, the petitions addressed by Danzig people to the League of Nations, the Poles expelled from the Danzig territory, the appointment of the Danzig Port and waterways Board President, military questions, etc.