Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-08

by diplomatic pressure by Louis XIV
In the seventeenth century, but after
II years he was forced TO disgorse ii.
In 1892 French revolutionary troops
entered the Saar and it become French
until the final defeat Of Napoleon in
1915, when it was returned to German
rule.
French Claims to Saar.
AT the peace conference France put
forth moral claims to the Saar,
although the region had not been
classed with Alsace and Lorraine in
statements of war aims 1t was really
French, Clemenceau claimed, but IN
vestigation failed to reveal the $780,
600 Frenchmen he said were reside Mt
there. Pre-war records showed only
about 100 French residents. Elections
later for local assemblies showed a
predominance of German sentiment.
The French arguments failed to
convince Woodrow Wilson. and the
compromise was made.
The governing commission of five
evidently was designed to be neutral.
France and the Saar each had a rep
resentative. The majority of three
was to be made up of men represent
ing uninterested nations. From the
first France controlled the commits
sion.
Minority OF One.
The Belgian member naturally was
sympathetic with France. Count
Moltke Huitfeld of Denmark had
lived most of his life in Paris. NJ.
Rault of France was president of the
commission. The Saar member soon
resigned in protest against the meth
DDS OF the majority and Dr. Hector,
90
tary control, was appointed. r. d.
Waugh, the British representative
be came a consistent minority of one.
In March, 1928, the situation in the
Saar attracted world attention. The
miners had gone on strike in Febru-
airy. On March the commission is
sued a Tess majestic" decree. 1t made
1t a criminal offense to criticize the
commission, the League of Nations or
any member of the league, specifically
France and French troops. Three Ger
man newspapers were suppressed.
The British protested. Lord Robert
Cecil led in demanding an investiga-
ton by the league. The strike ended
in May with an increase in the miners
pay, but the decree was not lifted.
The French objected to the British
demand for an inquiry and an inter
national crisis developed. The decree
ed down.
In August Waugh resigned his post
after the league council had failed to
act to his satisfaction on his protests
against tactics which he considered
oppre ssive.
In the Summer of 1924 there were
new protests, especially by Germany,
against conditions in the Saar
objection was made to the keeping
-.
there were 10000 troops there, and it
is understood they are being with
drawn gradually as the local gendar-
merle is Increased
Pupils. It was commended are being
attracted to French schools by free
books, handsome Christmas presents,
etc, while French economic power
makes 1T impossible for German par
ents to object strenuously. BY with
holding coal from Germans the
French have gained control of practi-
cally all industry. The pay rolls are
French
BY "Frenchifying' the children the
French hope to gain many votes in
the coming plebiscite.
The treaty granted to Germany five
years OF free trade with the Saar
Last Summer Germans protested they
We're forced to pay duty. In January
1925. the five years ended. The Gus
toms barrier between the Saar and
Germany has been raised, the Saar is
part OF the French revenue system.
me Liberals in England recently
have renewed the protests about the
regime in the Saar. and they are de-
manding that the next league council
meeting remove M. Rault, who still
dominates the governing commission.
Iheir sentiments were expressed by
II. A l. Fisher in the House of Com
mons Thursday. They see in the
Saar breeding place for war in 1895,
the year or the plebiscite, if the stu
alton is not changed
Copyright. 1922,