The daily worker., 1935-01-04
World Front
Nazis Nervous in the Saar
Majority Against Hitler
But Why Some Waver
) BY HARRY CANNES :

/
NAZI fangs have already
~ been barred in the Saar,
and there is blood on them.
AS the date of the plebiscite,
Jan. 13, draws near in the
Saar, the Fascists become
more desperate. Their RASH
ness arises from the fact that con-
ditions in Fascist Germany are
now becoming so bad, the Saar be-
comes the straw at which the
drowning Nazis grasp, hoping this
will keep them af1oat a little while
longer.
The shootings and riots provoked
by the Nazis follow a deliberate
plan, the kind usually resorted to
by Hitler'S agents when the objec-
tive is to lead to armed struggles
on grand scale. This is the tactic
followed in Austria, to the assassi-
nation of Dollfuss.
What makes the Nazis SO des-
perate at this time? Hasn't Hitler
on a dozen occasions expressed his
utter and unshakable confioence in
the outcome of the plebiscite favor
ing return to fascist Germany?
Events, however, have occurred to
shatter the Nazis' confidence. The
majority of the saar population do
not want to be tied to the medieval
butcher shop of Hitler fascism,
which is the ruling force OF Ger
man capitalism. That is beyond
question, no matter what the plebi-
scite vote ultimately shows.
What is still unclear in the minds
of a large group of Saar voters
in other words, the chief unknown
factor-is their feeling that though
they do not want to return to Ger
many under Hitlers rule, they fear
if they dc not vote for annexation
of the Saar by Germany now they
are forever blocked from moving in
this direction.
TIME and again. both the Commu-
1 nists and Socialists, as well as
the Catholics in the united front
against Hitler and for the status
quo in the Saar (that is, continual
ton of administration by the
League of Nations as is now the
case) have made it clear, the Saar
is German territory. The only OBJ
jective of the status quo fight now
is to defeat Fascism in Germany.
to prevent it from spreading into
the Saar, and to continue the fight
for the future annexation to Ger
many under different conditions.
On the question of the future Of
the Saar assuming a victory for
the status quol, recent evidence
tends to show that this margin of
the voters is being convinced that
their wish Of future annexation to
a free Germany can be realized, and
that the main struggle for the lib
Grafton of the Saar people now is
to defeat Hitler's designs. For ex-
ample, the League OF Nations has
indicated that it will allow a second
plebiscite in the future. on express
sion of the wishes of the Saar
people. OF course, though this is
an assurance to these wavering
elements, it is not required by the
Socialists and Communists. whose
united front will be continued, even
If there is victory for the status
luo. 1t will be continued on the
basis of the struggle for the ending
Of fascist rule in Germany and the
of the Saar with Ger
many under workers rule.
ANOTHER factor tending to reas-
n sure this section of the Saar
population. so important on the
question of the outcome of the
is a recent occurrence in
he French Chamber of Deputies
,parliament). One of the Deputies
queried the Minister of
Foreign Affairs on Frances attitude
o a future plebiscite. He asked:
If the population of the Saar in
is majority decides on Jan. 13 to
maintain the present international
'egime, that is, the status quo,
would this mean that it would lose
orever the right of some day re-
urning to Germany? If, for in
tance, the Hitler regime were
'nded in Germany and the inhabi-
ants of the Saar intimate their de-
ire of being again allowed to vote,
would there be possibility of this
'eing done?"
Laval the foreign minister an-
wered:
AS to the question which has
'een put to me about the situation
which would be created if the Saar
population should in its majority
Iecide in favor of the maintenance
II the League of Nations govern
nent, declare that if at any future
ime the population of the Saar
Mould express the desire to be in
orporated with the German nation,
will not be France alone. but the
league Of Nations Council which
viii have to decide, by force of the
overeignty accorded to it by the
of the status quo,
rance will not raise any objection
n any case
IF COURSE, the French imperial
, lists are not acting or speaking
npartially in this case. They hope
hat future events may work to
heir benefit, and to the end of
'rench ccnt-cl over the SaEr. But
he same United front nniu unri,