The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-10

basin outright for France. President
Wilson fought to preserve a semblance
Of adherence to his principle of self-de-
termination, The final result, after
many stormy debates. was announced in
the summary of the treaty on May z, in
such manner that the Presidents princl-
pie seemed TO have been Endorsed to the
extent OF guaranteeing self-determina-
ton. But the Official text shows that the
summary In this respect gave an appar-
ertly deliberate inaccurate impression of
what the real settlement had been.
The summary made self-determina-
ton appear a deciding factor by stating
that after fifteen years a plebescite
would be held to determine whether the
Saar basin went to France, or remained
under special international commits
sion. or went back to Germany. The
plain inference was given that the
plebescite would be binding and decisive
The actual text of the treaty shows,
however, that a plebescite favoring Ger
| many does not mean that the Saar goes
to Germany, as the summary implied
but only that in such an event the
League of Nations will take up the
question and decide whether the plebes-
cite should or should not prevail. As
France would never tolerate returning
the Saar basin to Germany, according
to all French statesmen. and as France
would sooner go to war than allow this
valuable territory to be given back the
decision of the League of Nations in
favor OF France against Germany would
be foregone conclusion, 1t is explained.
The summary, after describing the
three phase plebescite. said: Taking
into account the opinion thus expressed
the league will decide the ultimate
sovereignty" The next sentence of the
summary refers to parts restored to
Germany and every diplomat in Wash
ington. excepting the French. believed
that the plebescite was binding on the
league In determining the sovereignty.
Leaves League Free to Decide.
The treaty text refers to taking into
account the wishes of the inhabitants
but shows the plebscite does not bind
tho league In case the vote favors Ger
| many. The league Is free to decide one
way or the other no matter how the in
habitants vote, so long as the wishes OF
the Inhabitants are taken up for study
by the league.
The treaty text on this point says:
AT the termination OF a period OF fif-
teen years from the coming into force Of
the present treaty the population of the
territory OF the Saar basin will be
called upon to indicate their desires in
the following manner:
| "A vote will be taken by communes or
districts on the three following alterna-
tives:
"(a) Maintenance Of the regime es-
\ tsblished by the present treaty and by
| this annex;
"(b) Union with France:
"(c), Union with Germany
THE League of Nations shall decide
on the sovereignty under which the ter
rltory is to be placed. taking into sc-
count the wishes of the inhabitants as
expressed by the voting"
The text then proceeds to outline what
the procedure will be in case the League
| OF Nations decides one way or the other
but nothing is stated to show that this
decision will have to be determined by
the result OF the plebiscite.
| 1t is admitted here In official circles
that Premier Clemenceau has been very
| sensitive on this point, and that the
Tiger Premier" insisted absolutely in
| having guarantee against this territory
Gcing back to the enemy no matter what
tho result of the pleblscite might be.
Any weakening on the Saar question
would be serious for the present Minis
try in France, it Is explained. The Sc
verify of the terms and the camoufiaged
means OF multiplying the possible effects
| OF self-determinat!on might arouse OPP
! position from the Socialists and Ideal
=, ists, it is added. and for this reason it
| was regarded as highly desirable to
| maintain strict secrecy regarding the de-
| tailed terms.
France Gets Full Ownership.
| Perhaps even more important than
the provisions which give the League
OF Nations the power to overthrow the
result of a plebiscite In the Saar Valley
are those which provide for the COM
plete industrial and political domination
Of the territory by France during the
| fifteen years granted her for the ex-
ploitation OF Saar coal on the pretcxt
OF recouping the losses caused by the
German destruction Of her own coal
| mines in the northern invaded section.
| Under the head OF exploiting the Saar
coal she gets all of the mines ad con-
tent, the full ownership told of in the
Official summary, and their facilities,
subsidiaries and accessories"
The text of the treaty reveals that
this includes their plant and equipment,
both on and below the surface, their
extracting machinery, their plants for
Transforming coal into electric power.
coke and byproducts, their workshops.
means OF communication, electric lines,
plants for catching and distributing
water and buildings such as offices,
managers. employees and workmen's
dwellings, schools, hospitals and dis
pensaries, their stocks and supplies OF
every description, their archives and
plans-in general everything that those
| who oWp Or axnlnif he r,ipaS ,osso.. -