The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-08

be a disguised imperialist venture of
France, but a solution, adopted by the
entire league of nations, Of the problem
presented by the French need for Sc
curity growing out Of the injuries Of
the last war.
The question OF the Saar valley has
been discussed in this correspondence
many times. The territory affected Is
an area rather less han a thousand
square miles OF either side Of the Saar
river, north Of the point where this
stream crosses the old frontier OF AL
sace-Lorraine-as fixed in 1915. Prac-
tically all the territory affected was
nee a portion of the old province of
Lorraine, which came to France, not
by conquest, but by peaceable agree
'ment in the eighteenth century. 1t was
French culture and in fact. although
not by law, part Of France. In 100
years following its annexation to Prus-
sia and the Bavarian p~alatinate this
region has become totally German.
Three hundred thousands inhabitants
would unquestionably choose German
rather than French nationality at this
time, but the question of self-determi-
nation in this specific case Is affected
by other considerations.
Had Set Purpose.
When Germany invaded Northern
France, she came with the express pur-
pose OF annexing all the industrial and
mineral regions north of the Sommc.
When she found such annexation would
be impossible, since there was no pos
sibility that she could win the war
so completely as to draw the frontiers
as she chose, Germany undertook sys-
tematic destruction of French factories
and French mines, which resulted in de-
VNrt,tfnr L'ra ma 1f hnr anaI unnn1inc for
a period Of between five and ten years,
and OF making her dependent either
upon Germany or England for the coal
necessary to her industries. Unless this
condition were modified in the French
favor Germany would to this extent win
the war.
In weighing arguments on the Saar
valley, the claim of France, based upon
ancient possession prior to German
spoliation Of 1914 and 1915, has only
a restricted influence upon the Ameri-
can mind. 1t is clearly recognized that
II claims as old as those which no long
err find support among inhabitants Of
the region were to form the basis of a
new Europe, endless future trouble
would be assured. By contrast the
American mind has been deeply i'm
pressed by the fact that Germany has
not fought this var as a civilized ma
ton, that her depredations in Northern
France were lieu W pIOuuCO pa
ralysis OF French industry to the profit
Of Germany, and that as a result of
destruction in the Lens coal area
France will be at the mercy of her
~neighbors In the matter of coal for long
years to come, unless she receives the
Saar coal region. Clearly, American
| sympathy and influence in Paris leans
toward accepting the following solution,
First, annexation without reservation
of the whole Saar area, amounting to
some thousand square miles and con-
tanning some 800, 600 inhabitants. Sec
ond, valuation of this region in terms
Of money and subtraction OF this sun
from the total damage claim which is
to be brought by France against Ger
many.
Held as Payment.
In a word, the Saar coal region is to b,
regarded purely and simply as paymeen
by Germany for destruction, wanton anC
indefensible destruction, in Northern
France. and France is to accept thit
payment as a partial discharge of Ger
man obligations. Unless all signs fal
this is to be the western solution. Pend
ing the discharge of her obligations
Germany will have to consent to the oc
cupation Of her Rhine territory, com
parable to her occupation Of the eastern
departments of France after 1871, unit
France had paid the indemnity imposed
upon her by Bismarck. DuEing the pc
riod Of occupation the Rhine territorie
are to be separated from Germany an,
to be permitted to have their own po
ltical organizations, their W politica
life. but not as a part of Germany.
Instead, they are to unite in An in
dependent state Of their own, in whic
order will be assured by allied armie
of occupation, and they will be equal
guaranteed against the dangers Of Ger
mar revolution and against the posi-
bilities of annexation by France or Be
GUM. In n word they become for tina
indefinite period Of allied ~occupatio
which may last for a decade, the joir
mandatory OF all the nations who sui
! scribed to the league; and during TIL
Z whole time Germany will end at tn
: Rhine and France, while she is recoN
! ering from the wound of the last wa
! will have nothing to fear from a ne
= German attack and French and Be
gian restoration can proceed withol
any hesitation resulting from Germa
i anxieties.
y This will, Think, prove to be tn
: settlement which will be agreed upo
: by all the allied nations within II
next two weeks. The realization tn;
= the American commissioners here al
sympathetic with such a settlement
a which from the French point Of vie
3 Is a matter Of life and death, has r.
: suited In a very great modification
a feeling or the part Of the French, wi
In recent weeks have had a fear TIL
. Americans too little appreciated Il
problems which were vital to Franc
and no one could fail to have remark,
the very great improvement in the a
n mosphere OF Paris within the last
n days.
n From the beginning TO the end
- France, radical and conservative, roya
list and socialist, has been equally co
n cerned with obtaining for hts count
v security against Germany. There h
,e been joint recognition that for Fran
/. the war with all its terrible sacrifice
would prove a lost war II its securi
r, were not obtained, and the new pla
20 backed by American as well as Britt