Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-05
Plan to Annex Saar Valley
Coal Mines, Adjoining Briey
Fields, Stirs Deputies to
Great Enthusiasm.
CLAIM is AS GOOD
AS TO LORRAINE
Undoubtedly Public Has Been
Encouraged to Expect Dou-
bic Restoration and Seems
to Be Expecting It,
BY James II. Tuohy.
Copyright, 1919, by the Press Publish
ing Co

L Ht new IOi N w VI lN')
Especial Gable Dispatch to the World
and Albuquerque Journal)
Paris, Jan. 4.-The French politi-
cal situation, which has developed
symptoms of shakiness, has again
been established by the enormous. ma
jority vote sustaining the Clemenceau
government in the chamber of depu-
ties, after the exposition of the peace
Minister Pichon.
Franklin- Bouillon, chairman OF the
foreign affairs committee, who opened
the discussion, stirred the chamber to
noteworthy enthusiasm by the flat
footed claim to the Saar valley, which
is rich in coal mines, and by the dec
laration that not a single German sol
der or fortified place should be per-
mitted on the east bank of the Rhine.
That sti etCh of country is fast under
going transformation into Il neutral
zone.
These matters of territorial acquisi-
ton and of the protection OF neutral
zone are foremost inthe thought of
the French and at the moment.
Franklin Bouillon asserts that France
has as good claim to the Saar valley,
Prussia in 1915. as she has to the res
toration of Alsace-Lorraine, lost to
her in 1871. Undoubtedly the public
has been encouraged to expect the
double restoration and sentiment now
favors it.
Could Hamper Operations.
1t is urged that the Saar valley
coal mines complement vitality the ad
joining Briey iron fields, and If Ger
many were to retain control of the
coal supply necessarv for the Briey
works, she could hamper operations
to such an extent as to prevent France
from reaping the full benefit of the
reoccupation of Prey.
Minister Pichon refrained from
pledging the government to demand
possession of the Saar valley, hut
his declaration that the government
intended to reserve its right of action
in respect to the frontiers of Alsace-
Lorraine. because we don't consider
it n political annexation" was con-
strued as amounting to n diplomat
ic affirmation of franklin Bouillon's
demands.
If what France needs is free and
unfettered access to Saar COAL that
could probably be arranged in the
terms of the peace treaty, but it is
obvious that extension of the frontier
beyond the confines of Alsace-Lor-
raine would raise awkward questions.
When recovery of the Saar valley
and occupation of the left bank of the
Rhine were first suggested. states
men thought the claim had been put
forward for the purpose Of bargain
ing. Delays in the meeting of the
peace conference have given time for
these and kindred matters to crystal
ize into forms now G'fficult to ad
just.
CIcmcnccau's strength
Premier Clemenceati's disdain for
diplomatic punctilio serves to give him
distinctive strength in the chamber,
which was much impressed by his re-
cital of n conversation with Lloyd
George concerning freedom of the
seas. showing that at one time, at
least there was great uneasiness in the
British premier's mind as to what
President Wilson'S championship of
this measure might portend.
But while Premier Clemenceau was
recounting the pledge of support he
had given TO Lloyd George for the
maintenance of British sea power,
Premier Lloyd George was assuring
The American journalists u London
Continued on Page Two.)