Evening star., 1934-01-21
SAAR STUDY LEFT
TO GROUP OF THREE
Committee to Devise Protec.
ton Against ReprisaIs
and Disorders.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, January 2o.-The pressing
problem of the Saar Basin territory,
whose inhabitants next year will decide
whether they want to be ruled by
France, Germany or the League of Ma
tions, was left today with a commit
tee Of the League Council.
Before adjourning its seventy-eighth
session the body named three men to
prepare measures for protecting the
population against threats, pressure
and reprisals and to study how to
maintain order in the small but rich
mining area.
This means that the committee must
ternational police to the Saar. in ac-
! cordance with the wishes of France, in
an effort to end alleged terrorism and
border incidents" and to insure fair
plebiscite
Its members are Jose M. Cantilo of
Argentina, Salvador Madariaga of
Spain and Baron Pompeo Aloisi Of
Italy.
The Council, meanwhile, refrained
from taking drastic action in the Gran
Chaco warfare between Bolivia and
Paraguay, and merely urged its COM
mission. now on the spot, to continue its
efforts toward settlement, believing
that the situation holds out hope for
success.
Disarmament Work Waits.
On disarmament, the third question
treated at length today which affects
international peace, officers of the Dis
armement Conference decided, in view
Of Franco German conversations, not
to precipitate a resumption of work.
The leaders adjourned their meeting
until February 13, when they will
gather to Ak date for a resumption Of
the World Disarmament Conference
Many regarded their statement that
progress has been reported" as indi-
eating that a German reply to a
French arms aide memoire offers rea-
sonable hopes for reaching a Franco
German agreement.
A declaration presented to the Coun-
Gil by Baron Aloisi affirmed an inten-
ton to carry cut the Saar plebiscite in
1885 In a manner which would secure
freedom secrecy, and trustWorthineSs
during the voting and safeguard the
population against pressure or the ex-
ecution of threats"
Cognizance was thereby taken of re-
peated charges and counter charges by
Nazi and anti-Nazi groups in the terri
tory and by French leaders of illegal
Nazi activities in the Saar, undue in
1uence exerted by various factions, and
threats.
Regarding the instructions to the
committee this afternoon, Joseph Paul
he y,
emphasized that a grave responsibility
rested on the committee and the Coun-
Gil alike.
Assurances for People.
The people of the Saar must he as
sured they will be able to exercise their
franchise freely, and that there viii
be no reprisals afterward
He insisted that the plebiscite pre-
sented a grave problem Strict order
must be maintained" he said. Anthony
Eden OF Great Britain likewise referred
to the vote as grave matter.
The committee will report at the
next meeting of the Council in May.
1t was provided that the group can
ask the help of experts
Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia de-
clared 1t was the duty of the Council
TO carry out the terms of the Versailles
treaty regarding the Saar. Under it,
the territory was handed over to France
for Is years for use of the coal mines,
In payment for damage done French
industrial plants during the World War,
During the discussion on the Chaco
border conflict, Cantilo said Argentina
had recommended that the League
Commission study the problem of COM
munlcations, which he said he under
stood Bolivia had deemed an essential
point.
The Council Bedoya of Paraguay said
his country refused to extend a recent
Paraguayan-Bo Bolivian armistice because
Bolivia was assembling new troops and
munitions and because "a prolongat ton
of the truce meant Paraguay risked
defeat"
Time for Arbitration.
Arbitration, he added. would be pos
sible only after evacuation of invaded
Paraguayan territory in the Chaco.
He announced that Paraguay would
be ready to make peace and economic
treaties with Bolivia provided they dc
not affect Paraguayan sovereignty.
The Chaco CommiS0n reported I'd
the Council that 1t advocates ''the con-
clusion of an armistice presenting suf-
f1cient guarantees to enable a solution
to be reached as soon as possible"
It also said the fact that the two
combatants expressed the wish that the
commission continue its work creates
a situation allowing a hope for an ear
1y success"