Evening star., 1919-05-08

by virtue OF the present treaty,
Germany shall be bound to respond
to any request for an explanation
which the council of the league of
nations may think it necessary to ad-
dress to her"
Provisions as to Alsace-Lorraine.
Alsace-Lorraine.- recognition of
the moral obligation to repair the wrong
done in 1871 by Germany to France and
the people of Alsace-Lorraine. the terri
tories ceded to Germany by the treaty of
Frankfort are restored to France with
their frontiers as before 1871, to date
from the signing of the armistice. and
to be free of all public debts
Citizenship is regulated by detailed
provisions Distinguishing those who
are Immediately restored to full
French citizenship, those who have to
make formal application therefor, and
after three years. The last named
class includes German residents in
Alsace-Lorraine as distinguished from
those who acquire the position of
AlSace- -Lorrainers as defined in the
treaty.
All public property and all private
property of German e1-sovereigns
pass to France without payment or
credit. France is substituted for Ger
many as regards ownership Of the
Of tramways. The Rhine bridges pass
to France with the obligation for
their upkeep.
For five years manufactured prod
ucts Of Alsace-Lorraine will be ad-
mitted to Germany free of duty to a
total amount not exceeding in any
year the average of the three years
preceding the war, and textile mate
rails may be imported from Germany
to Alsace-Lorraine and re-exporte
free of duty. Contracts for electric
power from the right bank must be
continued for ten years.
Supervision Over Ports.
For seven years. with possible ex-
tension to ten, the ports Of Kehl
and Strassburg shall be administer
ed as single unit by French ad-
ministrator appointed and supervised
by the central Rhine commission.
Property rights will be safeguarded
in both ports. and equality of treat
ment, as respects traffic, assured the
nationals, vessels and goods of every
country.
Contracts between Alsace- Lorrainers
Frances right to annul on grounds
of public interest judgments of courts
hold in certain classes of cases. while
in others judicial execuature is
first required. Political condemna-
tions during the war are null and
void and the obligation to repay war
fnes Is esta blished as in other parts
Of allied territory.
Various clauses adjust the general
provisions of the treaty to the spe-
E>cial conditions of Lorraine.
certain matters of execution being
left to conventions to be made be-
| tween France and Germany.
France Gets Saar Coal Mines.
The Saar.-In compensation for the
| destruction of coal mines in northern
! France and as payment on account of
reparation. Germany cedes to France
| full ownership of the coal mines of
the Saar basin. with their subsidiaries.
accessories and facilities. Their
! value will be estimated by the rep
] aration commission and credited
I against that account.
! The French rights will be governed
| by German law in force at the armi-
stice excepting war legislation. France
| replacing the present owners, whom
Germany undertakes to indemnify
France will continue to furnish the
present proportion of coal for local
! needs and contribute in Just proper
ton to local taxes. v.
| The basin extends from the frontier
/ OF Lorraine. as re-annexed to France
| north as far as st. Wendell. including
on the west the valley of the Saar as
| far as Saarholzbach and on the east
the town of Homburg.
Will Be Governed by Commission.
| In order to secure the rights and
welfare of the population and to guar
| antee to France entire freedom in
working the mines, the territory will
! be governed by a commission appoint
ed by the league of nations and con-
| sisting of five members, one French
one a native inhabitant of the saar
and three representing three different
countries other than France and Ger
many. The league will appoint a
| member OF the commission as chair
| man to act as executive of the com
mission. The commission will have all
powers OF government formerly be-
! longing to the German empire.
| Prussia and Bavaria will administer
the railroads and other public serv-
ices, and have full power to interpret
the treaty clauses. The local courts
will continue. but subject to the com
| mission. Existing German Legislation
| will remain the basis of the law, but
| the commission may make modif1ca-
tion after consulting q local repre-
| sentative assembly which it will or
| ganize. 1t will have the taxing pow
| er. but for local purposes only New
taxes must be approved by this as
sembly. Labor legislation will con-
| organizations and the labor program
! of the league.
| People Preserve Liberties.
French and other labor may be freely
utilized. the former being free to belong
to French unions. All rights acquired
I fn nd o1 {pc will