Imperial Valley press., 1919-03-05
(By Associated Press }

(By Associated Press)
London, March 5.-A general strike
began in Berlin Monday, German
wireless message announces. All
street car traffic has been stopped
according to Copenhagen reports.
Paris, March 5.-A new map o1
Europe rapidly is taking form ano
within week the frontiers of the
old states largely will be defnide as
they are to appear in the peace
treaty and the successive documents
fixing territorial limits.
First in Importance is Germany's
western frontier bordering or
France, which assumed international
significance as barrier against re-
newal of the present war. Owing
to the issues involved, final determi-
nation of this question is left to the
council of the great powers, but in
the meantime the tentatice plans
have been advanced by the commits
sion, which co-ordinates reports on
all frontier questions.
AS it stands, the western frontier
comes under three mean heads
first, Alsace-Lorraine; second, the
great iron and coal regions Of Briey
and the Saar valley, and, third, the
extensive strip of German territory
lying on the west bank of the Rhine
from the Palatinate northward.
Respecting Alsace-Lorraine, the
present tendency is to make recess
sion of this section to France with
out any condition of a plebiscite or
otherwise. 1t is occupied by mill
tary forces under the armistice, and
there is every indication the Occu-
patton will become permanent.
The Briey and Saar Valley Sec
tions are important chiefly as fur
nishing iron, steel and coal, on which
Germany's military power was based
and it is believed the new line defi-
nitely will end use of these sources
of German power. Part of Briey
and Saar sections will become French
by the return of Lorraine.
The main difficulty has been over
a large section of the Saar coal fields
lying beyond Lorraine and within
German territory.
The present idea seems to be some
what between annexation of that
section and leaving it to Germany.
According to this plan, the northern
Saar region would be neither French
nor German, but would occupy po-
sition somewhat similar to that of
the District of Columbia among the
American states. It's productive ca
pacity doubtless would go to France,
but politically it's 100000 inhabitants
would not be subject to conscription
or military service either to France
or Germany, and would not elect
delegates to the legislative body of
either country.
This and other measures are be-
ing considered with the object of
"sterllizing" the region so Germany
could not by sudden thrush again
turn it's production to war issues.
Concerning the region along the
west bank of the Rhine, the present
tendency is toward the same form
of sterilization" which would rem
der this impotent for German mill
tary uses without giving it a def
mite political status toward either
side. This probably will be accom-
panied by the same means as in the
Saar region.
This, on broad lines, is the present
plan, which, however, is only tenta-
tive.
The plans relative to other from
tiers, including those of the new
ICzecho- -Slovakia, Rumania, Serbia
and Greece, and relating to the ex-
pected acquisition in Thrace and
Asia Minor, also are nearing compile
ton. HF
Washington, March 5.-Director
Hines, commenting upon the failure
of Congress to pass the appropria-
ton for the Railroad Administration,
said he had not come to any con-
clusion as to the governments course
regarding the railroads.
Other administration officials,
however, are studying the War FL
nance Corporation act with view
to determining whether the corpora
tion has authority to make advances
to the railroads.
Washington, March 5-Dissatis-
faction among the western delegates
over the failure of the Conference
of Governors and Mayors to ta'-e
definite action toward relieving un-
employment, which has been in evil
dence since yesterday, eliminated to-
day in a row during which Secre-
tary Houston left the hail.
Mayor Rolph of San Francisco,
who criticised Congress yesterday,
precipitated the trouble today by sub
mitting a resolution demanding that
the president Immediately reconvene
congress and that his message de-
mand the passage of important leg
islation which failed at the adjourn
ment yesterday.