Saar Danger Revived

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 12

Saar Danger Revived

■ The dice are rather heavily loaded against the “ European ” statute for the Saar, which will be the subject of a plebiscite by the Saarlanders on Sunday. The detachment of the Saar from Germany and its integration with the French customs and monetary systems was agreed upon : in 1947, when it became clear at the Moscow conference that the reunification of Germany and the : conclusion of a peace -reaty were things of the distant future- On the > whole, the arrangement has worked well, although its anomalous nature • is exemplified by this wholly . German-speaking country using the i French franc as its legal currency. 1 The Saar, however, continued to be a source of friction between the Federal German and French Government*—and might well have wrecked the plan for Western European Union. But on the brink of this disaster Dr. Adenauer and Mr Mendes-France a year ago agreed that the Saar should be

established as an autonomous territory under European control, guaranteed by Britain and the United States. Its economic ties with France were to be continued; but Western Germany was to be given a greater share of Saar trade. It is this agreement, embodied in a statute, upon which the Saarlanders will vote on Sunday. Three months have been allowed for electioneering; and in this period pro-German parties have, for the first time, been given complete freedom to campaign against the statute. It has been a stormy campaign, marked by bitter complaints from both sides to the supervising European commission. The Saar Government of Mr Hoffmann alleges that the proGerman parties have been assisted, in contravention of the agreement, by organisers and speakers from Western Germany and by radio propaganda from outside the country. The pro-German parties, for their part, have alleged interference with the free expression of their views and misuse of the | national radio by the Government. After a meeting in Luxemburg early this month, Dr. Adenauer and Mr Faure jointly appealed for order and for calm and reasoned consideration of the issues before the people. The real danger is that emotion will overrule reason, among the voters. It is doubtful whether the Saarlanders, although a shrewd as well as thrifty people, fully understand the issue before them. It would be surprising if they did, because in spite of the accord between the West German and French Governments, the people of Germany and France obviously have distinct and contradictory understandings of the meaning of that accord. The French already regard the Saar as part of their country and assume that the plebiscite is intended to confirm its detachment from Germany. In fact, the final settlement of the Saar must wait upon a German peace treaty, when it is intended that the Saarlanders should, through another plebiscite, finally determine the status of their country. The “ European ” solution now before the electors is a temporary measure, though it is hoped it will point the way to a permanent solution. Its acceptance would provide a breathing-space of a few years in which the Saarlanders could discover for themselves the advantages and the disadvantages, if any, of autonomy- Unfortunately, the pro-German parties in the Saar have persuaded many of the people that a vote against the statute is a vote for the return of the Saar to Germany. So it may be, in the long run. In the short term, however, the rejection of the statute will mean returning to the situation existing before the Franco-German agreement last year. There may be this difference: the pro-German parties, having once been allowed freedom of expression, will not easily be persuaded to cease their campaigning for reunion with the Fatherland. Such a situation would be a severe test of the new-found cordiality between Paris and Bonn.