THE SAAR VOTE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1935, Page 5

THE SAAR VOTE

GERMAN PROMISES

EXCITEMENT AT GENEVA.

(United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.)

GENEVA, Janaury 12

M. Aloisi’s Committee is ! drafting the (League Council’s last minute appeal to the. Saar populace for a calm and orderly carrying-out-, of the Pleb-

iscite. . • Sir J. Simon (British Foreign Minister) urged on the League Council 'the importance of implementing, the Plebiscite decision as soon a s possible after the result became known.

The delegates of the Council are assuming an .air of deliberate ca hn, which does not altogethr. hide an atmosphere of suppressed, t excitement. BERI/IN r f Jfipuary 11.

It is officially announced that “after the Plebiscite, .when; the Saar has re ~ turned to,, Germany,’.’ Buerekel, Herr Hitler s Commissiary for -the R-aar, will take over the transition. It is reiterated 'that therp will b 6 no discrimination against those who are well disposed, and no terror or concentration camps, but that there will only he the utmost concern for the welfare of the workers.

German .Front newspapers in the Saar, in a conciliatory vein, offer a “pardon” to all the opponents of a return of the Saar to Germany who even now join their organisation., The reason for announcing the Plebiscite result at eight o’clock.on the morning of Tuesday is in order to discourage anticipated demonstrations by dissatisfied voters, which. naturally, would be more difficult to restrain, if they occurred on Monday night, ‘when it was originally intended to proclaim the result.

KEEPING ORDER IN SAAR

SAARBRUCKEN, January 12.

Snow is now falling heavily in the Saar. It is assisting "the(-police to maintain order.

Excitement is running high, but the indications point to everything passing off calmly on Sunday, during the voting. . .

AN INQUIRY FINDING

SAARBRUCKEN, January 11

The prosecution of Captain James Justice resulted in a finding of “No case.” While driving home from a night club on December ,10, Captain Justice, a member of the ordinary Saar police force, ran his car on to the {footpath and' injured a., woman. A crowd, in which members of the German Front allegedly predominated, quickly gathered and uncomplijjientUry remarks were made. One story at the time was that Captain Justice was threatened. He drew his revolver and one shot struck a. bystander, slightly injuring him. The incident created much excitement and Captain Justice was suspended from the police force pending an inquiry. ■ < '■

EVE OP VOTING COST OF CAMPAIGN SAABBRUCKEN, January 13. On the eve .of thf> plebiscite there was no serious outbreak of trouble. [Brutal attacks of supporters of the statu s quo continue in isolated regions.

RnW has .fallen - eontinuiouslv for twenty •four 'hours, accompanied by Jbitter wind which is favourable to a quiet poll- but it adds difficulties to motor lorries driven by intcrnati |r| nnl troops,, which bring in the ballot boxes from outlying districts. .Polling day was ushered in to-nwht picturesquely with huge bonfires lighting up the snow-covered countryside. Meantime -the church bells on both sides of the German frontier pealed out.

A surprise order w\s issued' tonight fonbiding the publication of any newspaper or the distribution • of 'handbills on nolling dav.

More surprising still for a continental country is thaff Saar until Wednesday, has gone semi-dry. Only wine •and beer may be sewed a”- 1 then onlv during /certain hours. The sale of spirits is • fin-bidden. The “Sund->v Express” points out that this is probahk- the most expensive election ever held. The costs include hundreds of special trains from Germany and the expenses of voters from every part of the world are heavy. Campaigning oasts, particularly Oerm n n Front including twentv-six nazj newspapers all run at a loss.. The total is estimated to work out about- £2 for each vote cast.

The maioritv for a return to Germany, everywhere, is Mken fo r granted /but it is admitted in Oermanv that unless the majority is overwhelming it will be a rebuff to Hitler, because the real issue of Saar become <<< love of Germany against hatred of Hitler.

THE LAST ELECTOR

KERL T N. January 13

The Oast elector rushing across the world to vote in S'ar is a woman* who has travelled from Shanghai via transSiberian Railway. She-is expected here early in 'the morning -and will rush to Tempelhof aerodrome, thence to Saar by specie.] plane.

The Government has banned Gigolos as derogatory to mnscutline dignity.

THE MORNING VOTING. PASSES OFF QUIETLY (Received this da v at 11.30 a.m.) •SAARBRUCKEN, January 13. Queues of hundreds of yards formed at many pollinor places. The morning's passed off without disturbance. Troops were kept in the barracks in readiness for emergencies which are unlikely to arise.