S. Lester on the full maintenance of constitutional rights during the elections; A. Greiser's explanation: elections held to restore the Councils superseded by State Commissioners; Party manoeuvre: elections held only in the two districts of Danzig out of three, in which the National Socialist Party was assured of a majority; incidents with the Police and the National Socialist Party, "Kulturkammer": doubtful aspects from a Constitutional point of view.
Incidents (violence and complaints) during the partial local elections in Danzig; Boettcher: new police order issued by the Senate providing reinforcements of the central police force in Danzig; Boettcher requested the suppression of the "Volkstimme", because of its headline "SA hinders election freedom" accusing, according to him, the Government (SA and Government same thing); Police's position further to A. Greiser's and A. Forster's speeches: the police had not only to be loyal to the State but also to have a "positive attitude" towards the National Socialist Party; Government's position: ideas and ideals dominating the Government Party were anti-constitutional and there existed a pressure on the Senate by people like A. Forster; "Volkstimme" suppressed on the Police President's grounds that the State administration was accused of being connected with the alleged hinderance of the Social Democratic election campaign; complains from Zentrum and Deutschnational Party: requested representatives of the Opposition Parties to be present at the voting and counting of votes; A. Forster denied the truth of the complaints against his Party; K. Papée on the conduct of foreign affairs (Poland and Danzig) in a temporary troubled situation in Danzig; Boettcher agreed that the election campaign had to be carried on without further outbreaks of violence; S. Lester's view: no case for receiving a petition declaring the elections invalid; S. Lester's questions to be placed on the agenda of the special Council meeting: suppression of the newspaper and the petition of the Catholic clergy.
Arrest of two journalists, Hirschfeld and Brost, belonging to the Social Democratic "Danziger Volkstimme" on the grounds of "gruel propaganda", but S. Lester's view was that Brost's arrest was connected with the fact he was his informant; Weber, editor of the "Volkstimme", alarmed at the arrest of both journalists; Hirchfeld's compromising situation as an undesirable journalist (correspondence with German emigrés in Prague and London, etc.), a German Citizen (expelled to East Prussia) and his association with the Social Democrats.
F. Walters informed J. Avenol of his talk with S. Lester on the Agenda questions; J. Avenol's reply: willing to help S. Lester if he needed the Council's support to carry on his task.
Rules of procedure of the Council: rather administrative and dissuasive ones, J. Avenol ready to help S. Lester if he really needed the Council's support to carry on his task.
F. Walters: S. Lester's telegram was a tactical move, asking for a written reply.
S. Lester gave up the idea of asking the Council to consider any of the Danzig matters, such as the suppression of the "Volkstimme".
Elections: majority to the National Socialists, but elections in areas favourable to National Socialism; "Volkstimme": the Senate refused to supply S. Lester with full information regarding the suppression of the newspaper; S. Lester's view: the decision to suppress the newspaper was obviously a political one, Senate's letter entirely different from the talk S. Lester had with Boettcher, further to S. Lester's threat to put the question before the special Council meeting for consideration (see S. Lester's enclosed letter of 17 November 1934); letter from A. Greiser, Acting President of the Senate, giving details on "Volkstimme" suppression.
H. Rauschning resigned; election by the Senate of a new president, without doubt A. Greiser; H. Rauschning's letter of 19th instant explaining he himself never spoke of ill-health and was ready to return to his post, on the understanding he would pursue his policy and the Party would declare itself in accord with his policy, and if this were not possible he would retire, he explained his divergences with A. Forster with regard to economic and financial situation in Danzig, and the conduct of internal affairs, he thought the League of Nations was the only force able to safeguard the independence of Danzig; the same day the Senate sent an "ultimatum" to H. Rauschning, the following day the National Socialist fraction of the Volkstag passed a vote of lack of confidence and called upon H. Rauschning to resign immediately, H. Rauschning made a declaration on his retirement published in the newspaper; S. Lester's view: Danzig had thrown over its best statesman.