The sun., 1919-02-13
FRANCE WAVES
CLAIM TO RHINE
Will Ask Annexation of Saar
Coal Basin, but Seeks
Security.
SUGGESTS BUFFER STATE
If That Fails She Will Expect
Naturalization of Left
Bank.
SUGGESTS BUFFER STATE
Special Wireless Despatch TO THs sux.

Copyright. 1919; all rights reserved.
PARIS. Feb. 12.-France will present
to the Peace Congress her demand for
the Saar coal basin in the Rhineland,
parts OF which, are occupied by Ameri-
can troops. She will not ask the an
nexation OF other German territory on
the west bank OF the river. The re-
union OF Alsace and Lorraine with
/ France is taken for granted by every
one. This sums up the French terri
torial aspirations in Europe. and she is
likely to get what she wants.
! So far as the Saar basin Is con-
cerned. President Wilson Is likely to
acquiesce in the French demand The
French Government expects this, and
the American peace commissioners
have expressed no hostility; neither
has any other OF the Allies.
AS regards the left hank OF the
Rhine, the French Government does
not want to annex it and will not ask
1t. This positive assurance Is made to
SET at rest rumors Of imperialistic de-
signs which have caused Ill feeling.
Foch's Statement Embarrassins.
Marshal Fochs statement reflects his
own view alone. 1t is not supported'by
the Government and has proved rather
embarrassing because II was not fore
seen that much Importance would
be attached TO IT. Articles appearing in
many French newspapers limiting that
France should have the left bank OF
the Rhine II not saying so openly are
not inspired by the Ciemenceau Gov.
ernrent: they reflect only the sentiment
OF their writer's
These assurances are given from Q
good source in the hope OF allayine
whatever mistrust may have arisen con-
corning the aims OF France. She does
not desire to annex territory on the
left bank OF the Rhine because she real
ICES the danger in forced annexation
from her own experience.
France does desire. however. safety
on the Rhine frontier. This could be ac-
compl!shed in two ways, by the creation
Of separate RhiDeand republic in
dependent OF the remainder OF Germany
to act as buffer State or by permitting
the Rhneland TO remain a part of Ger
many, but neutraliz,ng In a military
way all German territory west OF and
UP to the Rhine. rot permitting the
Germans to fortfy the left bank or to
keep troops or war material there, thus
rendering impossible a sudden descent
upon France.
RhineIsnd Sentiment Changes.
Either plan would insure compa rative
safety for France. When the American
troops first entered Treves and Coblenz
they found some sentiment in favor OF
an ndePendent Rhine republic. but many
observers believe that this was due to
two causes, neither OF which is as domi-
/ nant now as 1t was: First. the Rhine
landers hoped in that way to avoid the
payment OF their share of Germanys in
IDENTITIES second. the Rhinelanders.
who are very conservative. feared that
/ Prussia would become the prey OF the
Bolshevists or even the radical Social
I lists, with whom the Rhnelanders have
( little sympathy.
: Concerning Frances claim to the
whole OF the Saar Valley there Is no
/ doubt that it will be based upon eco
nomic and historic grounds. France
! feels that the Saar basin must come TO
! her as the inevitable accompaniment of
Alsace-Torraine. BY the return OF the
lost provinces France regains valuable
iron mines but she has no coal with
which TO work them The Lens coal
! mines practically have been destroyed
! by the Germans and those OF the Saar
basin In a measure will replace them.
| on the historical side the French bark
/ back strangely enough to Napoleonic
days to prove that the development OF
| these coal mines was really French. The
work was first undertaken under Ma
I poleons orders after Waterloo part OF
| the Saar basin was returned to the Ger
mans, but French engineers continued
| the exploitation OF the part that re-
mained French until 1871, when the
| Prussians took that also