SAAR RETURNS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 5

SAAR RETURNS

LEAGUE HANDS OVER DELIRIOUS ENTHUSIASM MULTITUDE HAILS HITLER “FIRST HOUR OF LIBERTY” TROOPERS LINE STREETS By Telegraph—Press Assn,—Copyright. Saarbrucken, March 1. The handing over of the Saar was carried out in accordance with the programme. Baron Aloisi, president of the League of Nations Committee of Three, briefly addressed Herr Frick, Nazi commissioner for the Saar, in French. Baron Aloisi said: “In the name of the League of Nations and in my capacity as president of the Commission of Three, which regulated all questions connected with the Saar, I have the honour, to-day to complete the actual transfer of the Saar territory to the Reich. This closes a page in history and with it disappears an element of unrest in the relations among peoples. I express the wish that the solution of this problem, reached after long and difficult negotiations carried on in a spirit of loyalty and mutual understanding, may prove a good omen for the quiet and peace of Europe.” After the translation Herr Frick walked to the microphone and gave a curt order to hoist the flags. He then broadcast a speech in which he said that what the Saar had yearned for for 15 years had become a reality. “The Saar has been German for more than 1000 years,” he said, “and to-day returns to the Fatherland. Never again shall we tolerate German land being torn from us by force.” No triumphant Caesar received a reception such as that accorded Herr Hitler when he stepped out of his car. Storm Troopers lined the streets. Herr Hitler with his arm continuously raised in salute, was obviously moved as the Saarlanders streamed from the beer houses and cheered, hailed and saluted. “HITLER IS HERE!” “Hitler is here,” was the news which electrified the city, transformed overnight into a mighty stage ringing with music and bedecked with banners and garlands under which a thousand Black Guards, Storm Troops and police marched and counter-marched like supers in a vast play. The enactment of to-day’s historic drama was prolonged far into the night with ceremonies. The demonstrations, loud-speakers, martial music and -tramp of troops defied sleep as incoming thousands from Germany strode triumphantly to quarters unmindful of the bitter cold drizzle. Amid delirious enthusiasm in which 20,000 participated, Herr Hitler took the salute at the impressive march past from the steps of the illuminated town hall. He spoke to the cheering concourse. He recalled addressing the Saarlanders in 1933 and declared that Germany had kept the promise then broadcast to stand. by them. Herr Hitler added: “I am happy to be with you during the first hours of liberty. It is a day of happiness for all Germany, even for Europe, because it has removed the crisis under which two great nations suffered. Let us hope France is as. ready as ,we are to seek peace. It must be possible to grasp hands and remove all obstacles to peace. “To-day,” he continued, “should be a lesson to those who believe that a nation can be robbed of its character by force or that its soul can be stolen. This cannot be done. Blood is stronger than documents. To-day is only the beginning of the work for the great Reich. I ' implore you who have been faithful for 15 years to have faith in the new Germany, whose millions are now marching in step.” The cheers having subsided, a leader shouted, “Germany is Adolf Hitler. Hitler is our Germany.” Herr Hitler, standing erect and bareheaded in his car, doffed his overcoat on arrival at the town hall, despite the downpour. In order to demonstrate that he scorned protection, he did not possess a Nazi bodyguard. Herr Hitler’s absence from the official handing over ceremony occasioned surprise. It was learned, however, that he was flying from Berlin to make a triumphal entry to Saarbrucken, but the aerodrome there was waterlogged so he left the plane at Mannheim. Sir Geoffrey Knox, chairman of the former Governing Commission, handed over the administration to the Committee of Three yesterday, after which he left the Saar where he had fulfilled for three years an extremely difficult task. British newspapers to-day pay tributes to the tact and courage he displayed, despite the unfortunate campaigns of vilification to which he at times was subjected. The Berlin correspondent of the Times states that the Propaganda Department has given £50,800 for the relief of needy Saarlanders.