THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1935 TO-MORROW’S POLL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 25, 12 January 1935, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1935 TO-MORROW’S POLL.

On the eve of the poll that is to decide the destiny of the Saar Basin with its 800,000 people it may be as well to restate briefly the issues that are at stake. Under the Treaty of Versailles, which came into effect in January, 1920, Germany, by way of compensation for the wartime destruction of French coalmines, “ceded to France in full and absolute possession the coalmines situated in the Saar Basin, ’ ’ an area of some 700-odd square miles lying into France’s recovered provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. The Treaty further provided that this area should be detached from. German rule and for fifteen years be placed under the control of a Commission appointed by the League of Nations. At the end of that period, which comes to-mor-row, a vote of the people is to be taken for the adoption of one or other of three alternatives, viz.:—(a) maintenance of the regime established by the Treaty; (b) union with France; (c) union with Germany. It is to be specially noted that this vote is to take place by communes or districts and that it lies with the League, should it think fit, to decide on partition of the territory according to the preponderance of local voting. Curiously enough, the right to vote on this plebiscite does not belong to the population as it now stands, but is confined to “all persons without distinction of sex, more than 20 years old at the date of voting, resident in the territory at the date of signature of the Treaty.’’ This accounts for all we are hearing with regard to the tens of thousands now resident abroad who are being brought back to cast their votes to-morrow. It is further provided that in case of a majority in favour of continuing the present regime the League is forthwith to take “appropriate steps to adapt the regime to the permanent welfare of the territory and the general interest.” This feature of the position has been widely discussed as having a direct bearing on the choice to be made and it is pretty well accepted that any new “constitution” for this area would confer on the people a much greater measure of selfgovernment than they now enjoy. Another provision made is that, in case of reversion to Germany, that Government will take over the coalmines from France at a valution to be made by independent experts. However, according to messages received, France and Germany have agreed in advance on the price to be paid and also on terms of payment, which might otherwise have had to be settled by the League. Forecasts that reach us as to the probable result of to-mor-row’s poll all point pretty confidently to a heavy majority in favour of reunion with Germany, and evidently France is quite prepared for this. At the same lime, there may possibly be a mue’: bigger vote than is geiieralli es.

pected in favour of maintaining the present regime with such prospective modification as has been indicated. There seems to be no doubt that under conditions as they have developed during the last fifteen years the Saar population has enjoyed a very prosperous time, also not a few privileges and exemptions that will be lost in case of re-annexation to the Fatherland. The working of the Saar coalmines has fitted in splendidly with the operations of the important French ironworks in neighbouring Lorraine. Thus unemployment among the big mining section of the population has been unknown, a condition by no means assured in case of reunion with Germany. The Saar population is also fortunate in being free from any heavy burden of national taxation such as will re-attach itself in such a

The people, too, have enjoyed complete political and. religious liberty, while Nazi Germany has had to submit to its almost complete suppression. As one writer on the prospects puts it, “if the Saar is given back to Germany it means submission to Nazi dictatorship and a partnership in the social, economic and financial difficulties of the Reich. It is certain there would be unemployment, concentration camps and political subverviency. ” How far these considerations may weigh as against the “call of the blood” for return to Germany can scarcely be estimated, but there may possibly be a surprise in store for those who think that the vote in favour of return to Germany will be of an altogether overwhelming character. However, the franchise as explained above is a factor fighting on Germany’s side, and probably the cause of European concord will be best served by a strong restoration vote, perhaps the stronger the better.