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On 30 September 1936, the League of Nations Council decided to appoint S. Lester as Deputy Secretary-General, in replacement of Pablo de Azcarate, although his appointment as High Commissioner in Danzig had been prolonged till October, 1937. S. Lester was to take up new responsibilities in February 1938.

S. Lester's departure from Danzig caused consternation among the opponents of the Nazi regime, and satisfaction among the Nazis, who regarded S. Lester as an obstacle to the establishment of a totalitarian State in Danzig, it was mainly a victory for A. Forster, the Nazi district leader and A. Greiser, the President of the Danzig Senate.

S. Lester succeeded P. Azcarate, who resigned the post of Under Secretary-General to become Spanish Ambassador in London.

September 1936, S. Lester appointed League of Nations Under Secretary-General, a position previously held by Ascarati, of Spain. S. Lester's appointment will take effect when his successor in Danzig is announced. By the appointment S. Lester became the second highest official at Geneva and will be in charge whenever Joseph A.C. Avenol, Secretary-General, is absent.

5 October 1936: the Council considered the position of the High Commissioner in Danzig. The Council asked Poland to take up matter on their behalf, i.e. abandon all formal attempt to hold up Danzig Constitution. Poland did not act. Nazi Government liquidated opposition press, abolished opposition Parties, arrested or forced out opposition leaders.

The Council reluctantly decided to maintain pretence (F. Walters) and to appoint a new High Commissioner in February 1937.

S. Lester placed in a special envelope, marked "Secret-Private Diary" his notes and some letters-copies for a crucial period July-December 1936. This envelope was mislaid but found many years later, after the rest of his papers (perhaps in the early eighties). Its contents have now been incorporated in the general collection of S. Lester papers, chronologically.

Document · 1937.07.08
Part of Private Archives

A. Eden on the Danzig Constitution; powers of Danzig government; A. Forster would benefit by Constitutional change; A. Greiser-A. Forster; Komarnicki and Polish information activities; hopes for delay in Constitution changes; moderates and extremists within the Nazi party; international criticism unites Nazi party; A. Forster's attachment to British; invitation to J. Avenol to visit Danzig; evolution of National-Socialist party; careerism of Danzig National-Socialist leaders.

Document · 1935.07.09
Part of Private Archives

Two of them, Ludwig Weber, "Oberregierungsrat Verwaltungsgerichtdirektor" and F. Chall, "Kriminalsekretär", were in Schutzhaft (protective custody); protests against A. Greiser's action, the Danzig Constitution had to be respected.

Document · 1935.07.29
Part of Private Archives

Further to the agreement reached between A. Eden and A. Greiser at Geneva regarding the curtailment of the ban imposed on the "Danziger Volkstimme", three letters from A. Greiser dated 24 May, 17 June and 5 July and two letters from A. Eden dated 2 and 15 July.

Document · 1935.03.27
Part of Private Archives

Senate's reply to Polish Minister regarding the Saar/Danzig placard; "Gazette Gdansk"; Polish paper seized by the Police on account of the article: "Election terror by National Socialists"; A. Greiser's invitation to A. Eden to visit Danzig: negative reply; Aide-Mémoire dated 26 March 1935: S. Lester's reply to A. Greiser's speech containing fundamental inexactitudes as to the functions attributed to the League of Nations by the Treaties in force.

Document · 1937.07.10
Part of Private Archives

Survey on International Affairs by Toynbee on Danzig for '36; S. Lester's comments; constant uncertainty regarding German line; A. Greiser's and A. Forster's characters; A. Greiser's departure from reception in 1936; Polish alarm in July 1936; Poland's position with League of Nations in retreat; J. Avenol and not Council responsible for S. Lester's appointment as Deputy Secretary-General; C. Burckhardt's sympathy towards National-Socialists.

Document · 1936.08.06
Part of Private Archives

A. Greiser's ridiculous declaration to the American press, illustrating his naïveté; A. Forster too busy to be interviewed by the American press; A. Greiser's congratulations regarding S. Lester's reappointment; League of Nations' guarantees in Danzig.