Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1934. THE SAAR PLEBISCITE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 November 1934, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1934. THE SAAR PLEBISCITE.

The fateful plebiscite to determine tbe future of the Saar territory will be taken in less than ten weeks. On November 19 the League of Nations Council will meet at Geneva to give consideration to the final plans that will ensure as far as possible the smooth working of tiie machinery it is required to set in motion under the Treaty of Versailles. As the fifteen years in which the League has governed the territory and the French. have had control of the mines draw to an end, tension in both France and Germany, and particularly in the Valley itself, is reaching a stage that ■ frankly disturbs • Europe. The Reich Leader-Chancellor in his agitation against the Peace Treaties has in many ways in recent months sought to influence the Saarlanders to vote for union with Germany. By demonstration he has impressed upon the people the solid basis of German confidence in them; by propaganda the Nazis have made it clear that those who oppose restoration to Germany will feel the oppression of Hitlerism if it is endorsed. Nazi troops have paraded in the Valley to give substance to propaganda by leaflet, and the Governing Commission has felt constrained to complain to the League of the influence being brought to bear upon the Saar people. Erance has strongly objected to the Nazi propaganda, and has asserted a determination to carry out her international obligations in the event of trouble developing in the territory. Germany, meanwhile, is protesting against the concentration of French troops on the frontier in case the Nazis should attempt a “putsch.” The statement made in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) must to some extent allay anxiety for the immediate future. In his opinion a “situation in which the Government of the Saar found itself unable to maintain order ought not to occur.” Only if it is unable to discharge its task will the Commission ask for the League’s assistance. The German Government through its Ambassador in London has informed Great Britain that Nazi troops for a period during which the plebiscite will be taken have been prohibited from wearinguniforms, parading, or taking part in gatherings, and at the same time has given an assurance that the territory will not be invaded. The French Government states that its arrangements are purely precautionary. Only by orderly restraint on the part of the Nazi organisations will the League Council be able to discharge the duty placed upon it by tbe Treaty of Versailles. Yet, in spite of these assurances, the tension in Germany and France must remain, and it may be most difficult for voting in which “freedom, secrecy and trustworthiness” are to be vital factors to take place. There are three issues for the Saarlanders — continuance of the present regime under the Leagueunion with France, or union with Germany as existed prior to the Great War. The Saar Valley is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe, with coal deposits said to total 12,000 million tons. Its people are mostly German, but there is economic attachment to Lorraine, because of its great iron works, and this territory has been restored to France It had been generally accepted, prior to the Hitler re-o-ime, that the people would not hesitate to place themselves ao-ain under Germany rule, but the Nazi excesses are understood £ have .swayed a large mmorrly to remain under the » Union with Trance is not pos

sible from a people German in thought, race, and habits. It is difficult, therefore, to see what the Leader-Chancellor fears from the voting, as the evidence is that it will favour German sovereignty. He has declared that once the Saar question is out of the way Germany will have no territorial dispute with France. But the voting must comply with the League’s conditions to satisfy France, and until German propaganda and Nazism are restrained the tension is not likely to abate.