Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-28
GIVING
SARRE TO LEAGUE
French German Contention
Would Be LeSsened, Peace
Group Strengthened.
Special Dispatch 70 The star.

Special Dispatch 10 The star.
PARIS, November asa new idea
has been flung before European states
men. Should 1t materialize some day
and this 10 not altogether impossible
1t would mean the achievement Of two
NEST important eliminating the
primary bone Of contention between
Germany and France and increasing
tenfold the power Of the League Of Ma
tions. The idea, suggested quite re-
Gently by prominent French political
writer, Count de Fels, consists in giving
over permanently the Sarre Province to
the League. In the SarTe the League
would have its administration, its army,
its aviation, its permanent seat. There
it could build its pala ceof nations,
which heretofore was planned for Ge-
neva, but the construction Of which has
not yet been started.
Neutral Buffer Formed.
It would form a neutral buffer state
between Germany and France. Its from
tiers would open on both sides, making
the territory a free market. The re-
turns Of the territory are exceedingly
rich in coal and pig iron, with highly
developed industry, which would go to
strengthen the Leagues finances. They
would eventually be used as a means of
pressure on the states DESTROYS to start
war. Thus the Sarre, instead of be-
ing, as 1t is now, the apple Of discord
and a constant danger Of war, would
become the instrument Of peace.
This scheme, launched but few
days ago in the popular magazine, Revue
de Paris, has aroused tremendous inter-
est here and has called forth number
of comments in the press. It Is likely
to lead in the near future to important
international negotiations. In fact, the
situation Of the Sarre as it appears now
League until 1885, when the plebiscite
will decide whether its people want to
become German or French or remain
under the League.
Depression Alters Things.
Until a year ago no one doubted the
plebiscite outcome. Even the French
know 1t would be in favor Of Germany.
But the worlds economic depression
changed things. Whereas the Sarre Is
bordered on one side by Germany, where
industry and trade at present are very
low and finance bad, it has on the other
France, with no unemployment, tons Of
gold, and a fairly prosperous econom1-
cal situation. Since the war French
business has deeply penetrated into the
Sarre. France Is now the Sarre's best
client, who consumes so per cent Of its
exports.
The closing Of Frances frontier to
the Sarre would have deadly conse-
quences for this small mining province.
During the endless negotiations between
German and French delegates, which
were carried on without result in Paris
all throughout this year, France asked
Germany to leave her share in the Sarre
mines and keep the frontier open to ex-
change of goods. Germany refused. 1t
was in her interest to outplace France
ON the Sarre market. But the Sarre
population knew only too well that Ger
many would not be for them as good a
client as France. Their desire to become
are at q loss what regime they should
adopt when the year 1885 arrives.
Neither incorporation into France nor
Germany would satisfy them.
FeIs Solution Is Attractive.
The Fels solution would naturally be
Of nature to please them. Though by
voting for the League they would be
deprived of any definite nationality,
the world. Military service would be
merely joke for them. Taxes would
be lower than before, prosperity GER
tatnly greater, since they would enjoy
free-door regime.
The arrangement would highly please
France, who does not hope to. have the
Sarre population vote for her. The
chief obstacle would naturally come
from Germany, who does in no way
L.. g. IL. -. ~ ID
territory she owned before the war and
which supplied her industry with coke
and steel.
(oopyright, 1930)