THE SAAR BASIN

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1939, Page 11

THE SAAR BASIN

VALUABLE TERRITORY RECENT HISTORY. After being in German hands for four vears, the Saar has been reoccupied by the French in the .present Western Front offensive, and unless the thrusts are checked the Saar is likely soon to become a wide and deep Ailied salient. , A. valuable industrial and mining region with an area of 726 square mles, the chief town of which is Saarbrucken, the Saar Basin, was occupied by France in 1920 under the Treaty of Versailles as compensation for the destruction of her northern mines during the Great . War. To assure the welfare of (he inhabitants and enable France to exploit the mines, an international governing commission, responsible to the League of Nations as trustee, but exercising all powers of government formerly held by the German Empire. Prussia and Bavaria, was instituted for 15 years. In spite of the naturally unsympathetic attitude of the people, the conrolting body achieved mucft in the way of caring for the. welfare of the inhabitants It also coped success-

fully witn periodical umvow. The Saar, however, was pre-eminent-ly German, anr it was soon clear that when the plebiscite was taken in 1930 to determine the future fate of the Saar Basin, there would be a strong desire to return to German control. When the plebiscite took, place on January 13, 1935, the overwhelming vote of the population for a return to the Reich took Geneva by surprise. It was generally felt that there would be a minority of at least 25 per cent, favouring the status quo. Of a total of 528.000 votes cast, 477,000 were for return to Germany, 46 000 for remaining under the League of Nations, and 2100 for France. Many foreign observers expressed the hope that the Saar, plebiscite would act as a pacifying event in Europe; in effect, it was but the beginning of the Na?i Government’s policy of aggressive expansion, with the except’on that the reoccupation of; the Saar Basin by Germany was in accordance with treaty undertakings. , Others predicted that it would create a situation which demanded great .Vigilance. They have'been lire true prophets.