SAAR COALFIELDS

Southland Times, Issue 20939, 23 November 1929, Page 7

SAAR COALFIELDS

FUTURE UNDER DISCUSSION. FRENCH AND GERMAN DELEGATIONS. (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) Paris, November 22. The Franco-German delegations began negotiations, says the Quai d’Orsay, concerning Saar. After the speech of welcome sub-committees were appointed to deal with mines, tariffs and legal questions. The negotiations are expected to be the most lengthy yet under the Versailles Treaty. ' The exploitation of the Saar mines was handed over to France as compensation for the German destruction of mines in Northern France. The Germans say that France has already ‘received 26,000 tons of coal more than she lost through the destruction of her mines in war time. She has had an economic advantage, including the Saar district, in her customs system for a decennium, the profits therefrom not figuring in any reparations account. It is also recalled that the future of Saar must be settled by plebiscite in 1935. It is agreed that this will almost certainly favour. Germany, hence French anxiety for an earlier agreement, which Germany is using as a lever for earlier restoration. According to the correspondent of the Morning Post France is willing to cede the mines on reasonable terms. She wants equitable tariff between Saar and France which will not hinder the export of coal from Saar needed for French industries and on the other hand not hinder the import of French goods into Saar. France’s idea is that the mines should be vested in a Franco-German company virtually representative of the two states.