BARRIER'S UPROOTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 95, 16 January 1935, Page 9

BARRIER'S UPROOTED

Saarlanders Rush to Frontier

GERMANS EMBRACED

(Received January 16, 1.20 a.m.)

Saarbnititen, January 15.

Directly the results were known, excited Saarlanders rushed the German frontier and uprooted the barriers which had been placed there for 15 years, thus removing the symbol of separation from Germany. Others rushed across tire frontier and embraced Germans on the other side.

Herr Braun and Herr Pfordt, Socialist and Communist leaders, declare emphatically that they will not leave the Saar whatever pressure the Nazis exert, but will continue the underground fight against Fascism.

In a general atmosphere of good humour 350 international scrutineers, sitting in thoir shirt-sleeves in an over-heated hall, last night began the night-long ordeal of counting the plebiscite votes. Everyone entering the hall was searched for ajtms. The gallery was crowxled with, journalists and cine- ' matographers, and Major-General Brind, commander of the international force, and his. staff. It was possible to distinguish, from the gallery, until instructions Were given to turn the ballot-papers face down, how the poll v/as gqing, the- piles of papers obviously for Germany greatly exceeding those for flb.e status quo, which in turn greatly exceeded those for France. The Saaiilanders themselves were barely interested, only 100 congregating outside under the eyes of sentries. The “Daily Mail’s” Saarbrucken correspondent, a London cable states, said that after. the first count it was officially stated that an overwhelming vote for Germany had been recorded. Before the result was .announced the Saarbrucken correspondent of “The Times” .'stated that the German front was already prepared to celebrate an overwhelming majority. Many shop windows, displayed an enormous picture of Herr Hitler surrounded by garlands;. Flagstaffs had been erected everywhere for an orgy of Nazi bunting. • Crudely-coloured picture postcards were being sold celebrating the “day of liberation.” also pamphlets describing “16 years of foreign rule.” Although the French will not permit a “pifcnic flight” from the Saar, 5000 Saarlanders who are in danger of Nazi reprisals, -will automatically be granted visast Other requests to enter France are being examined individually. ■ During the voting, a British official wireless message states, troops of the international force were posted at strategic points throughout the territory, but were called upon to perform no. duties other than to escort ballot boxes from the polling booths to the counting stations. It is hoped that these peaceful conditions will continue and the League Council, in an appeal issued to the Saar population to preserve calmness and dignity, specially emphasised that this attitude should be maintained not only during, but after the voting. The population were urged to wait co’iffdently for the council to ' take with all speed the decisions that I are to follow voting, Saarbrucken’s 1246 Mullers and 1560 Schmidts had special booths. FRENCH PRESS VIEW Decisiveness Welcomed. (Received January 16, 1.20 a.m.) Paris, January 15. The French Press welcomes the decisiveness of the result as averting international complications.