SAAR TRANSFER

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 January 1935, Page 5

SAAR TRANSFER

EXPERT CONSIDERATION

Minorities Appeal to Commissioner for Protection

FEAR OF REPRISALS PATRIOTISM TO GERMANY (British Oificia! Wireless.) (Received 1 p.m. to-da.v. RUGBY, Jan. 16. Important details in connection with the transfer of the Saar following the result of ihe plebiscite is engaging expert attention at Genova. The question was not before the League Council to-day, and is not mentioned in the agenda, for to-morrow's meeting. Geneva reports, however, .state that at the latest it will be before the .council on Friday. ,ancl the council’s session will conclude on Saturday, as arranged. The Saar Commissioner, Mr. Knox, is .snowed under with appeals for protection from members of the defeated parties. Sixteen Communists have been arrested and their houses searched. The Times Saarbruekcn correspond-, out says a steady movement of refugees across the French frontier has begun. The Saar vote was received with a sigh of relief throughout Europe, mingled with surprise at the size of the majority. The French are of the opinion that it removes a thorn from the side of Europe, leading to fresh hope of Franco-German appeasement. An Italian spokesman said Italy was elated that the problem was solved expediently and peacefully. The Pope considers the outcome a step towards peace, and Austria believes it will aid peace. Mr. G. Ward Price sums up the position as follows: “Despite fantastic anti-Hitler propaganda the Saarlanders have proved they are Germans always. “Although the status quo would have been of economical advantage the Saarlanders’ patriotism prevailed over profit. “Herr Hitler’s position is vastly strengthened, as Ids fellow countrymen for the second time have given him a 90 per cent, majority, recalling his opponents declaration that the German plebiscite was faked, which could not be said about the Saar plebiscite, taken under neutral auspices. “The Germans are instinctively enemies of Communism, the Saar Catholics evidently saying : ‘Better Nazis than Bolshovike.’ “The Saar population represents an army corps and returns to Germany the corridor through which the Crown Prince’s men marched to Verdun. “The Germans want a plebiscite in the disputed regions, especially Memel. ” Directly the results of the Saar plebiscite were known excited Saarlanders rushed to 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 the frontier and embraced Germans on the other side . Dr. Goebbebs, speaking from the Reichstag stops, bitterly attacked Mr. Knox, declaring that bis days were numbered. He accused Mr. Knox or siding with the status quo party, adding : “If ridicule could kill. Mr Knox’s only remaining task would be to dig a mass grave for the separatists.”