TENSION IN THE SAAR

Opunake Times, 8 January 1935, Page 2

TENSION IN THE SAAR

VOTING ON SATURDAY DELICATE SITUATION The outbreak of holiday disorders iii Uie Saar is not entirely unexpected, but 'it is capable, nevertJieiess, of having undesirable effects. So far the outbreaks have all been isolated instances, hilt the very fact of their occurrence lias raised difficulties which may trouble the international force. r ihe conflicting interests in the territory are many and verse, end it is very difficult to determine when any resort to violence acquires sufficient dimensions to warrant interference.

The (rermau Front, the most, powerful political organisation, is the embodiment of the Nazi party in the Saar, but it does not represent the entire body of German sentiment. There are also the German Catholics, the small German minority which favours the continuance of the. present regime—they might also be designated as the Saarlanders roper—and also a small and diminishing number of French sympathisers. Holidays revels, in such circumstances, must inevitably lead to heated arguments and the use of force, but exactly when these incidents assume the proportions of a menace to peace is a very delicate question. From the reports which, have been received from the Saar, it is fairly obvious that the Saar police are woefully incapable of handling the situation with either firmness or impartiality. Members of the police hav© themselves figured ingloriously in various brawls that have arisen, and any confidence that may have been felt in them will be irrevocably destroyed by the knowledge that policitcal feelings have been allowed to influence their behaviour.

The task which therefore remains for the international force is not an easy one. Theoretically the force is the delegated representative of th power and authority of the League of Nations, ihe lawful ruling body. In practice, however, the troops are foreign soldiery, and any disciplinary action by them would lie bound to arouse resentment, whatever the manner of its accomplishment.

'Fortunately six 3ays remain before the voting on the plebiscite will takp place. The interval should provide an opportunity for a subsidence of tlie disorders if they are io be attributed purely to festive hotheadedness. On tlic other hand it is possible, though hardly probable, that these are the symptoms of a carefully nl anned campaign of propaganda designed to hinder much as possible the maintenance of order. If such is the case, the international force will be called ed unon_ to deal with the situation and it is only to be hoped that the utmost tact and firmness will be employed.