Evening star., 1935-01-13
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.

- AARBRUCKEN, Saar Territory.
"A majority vote in the Saar
plebiscite, for or against re-
~ affiliation with Nazi Germany
which seems probable al
though by no means certain-un-
fortunately is not going to solve the
Saar problem. Consolidation Of Eu-
ropean peace and elimination Of the
scars of the World War. unhappily,
are not as simple as that.
Complex economic, financial, po-
litical and moral issues are involved
in any determination Of the terri
tory's future status, which demand
that a maximum amount Of interna-
tional good will and understanding,
especially on the part of France and
Germany, and patience, tolerance and
sacrifice on the part of the Saar'S
population. be exhibited.
The liquidation of is years of inter-
national administration, it is becom-
ing obvious, is going to work great
hardship upon the Saar Basin. Until
recently the Inhabitants of the region
did not realize what replacement of
the French franc with the German
mark, loss of the free French market,
imposition of the Nazi code, ETC.,
really meant. Now, perhaps, 1t Is
too late.
If Germany gets the territory as
the result of Sundays voting and the
League Councils decision, there will
be literally thousands of Saarlanders
who will voluntarily leave the terri
tory and go into exile. When the
basin came under League rule in 1920
there were about 100000 inhabitants.
Now there are more than 100000.
Many of the newcomers are refugees
from Nazi Germany-Socialists, Com
munists, Jews and Catholic and Prot
estant leaders. There are even former
Nazis who have fallen into disgrace
and who now share the lot of those
whom they formerly prosecuted.
Refugees Are Problem.
Where these thousands-and 1t Is
estimated there are nearly $4,000 Of
them-will go is problem. France,
Switzerland, Holland and England al
ready are protesting against the bur-
den inflicted upon them by the anti
Nazi exiles who already are on their
hands. Unfortunately, in Holland.
Belgium, Switzerland and France the
economic depression is deepening
rather than passing, because of their
adherence to the gold standard and
deflationist policies. Unemployment
is growing and every refugee adds
lust one more mouth for the public
purse to feed.
The League has demanded-and re-
ceived from the Nazis-aSsurances that
there will be no persecution of Saar-
landers after the plebiscite because OF
previous political activities or views
Of the minority. But few, least of all
the Saarlanders themselves, place
their faith in Nazi pledges. The Inter-
national Tribunal, established by the
League to try complaints for a period
of one year after the transfer Of the
territory, naturally will function. But
few of the opposition will dare bring
their cases before the court for fear
of violence.
Already the exodus Of capital has
reached alarming proportions despite
the fact that there is to be three
month period after the Councils de-
cision during which the people will be
allowed to take all their movable prop
erty out of the region if they so desire.
French exporters no longer ship goods
to the Saar on credit. They demand
payment within the time limit set for
export Of property and funds and some
orders must be accompanied with
credit Immediately available.
Freedom Now Reigns.
The Saar, until today, has been the
last refuge of thousands of German
Communists, trade unionists. Social
lists, Jews, intellectuals, etc., who have
defied and fled from Nazi domination.
In the Saar the press is absolutely
free (within recognized limits of social
decency and political morality, Ger
man workers still have their unions,
Catholics have their youth associa-
tions, and the Communists and So
cialists their party organizations. Jew
ish merchants can still engage in bus
mess and intellectuals still are free to
think.
But if the Saar becomes German
and Nazi-all that will pass. The
Saar Industrialists, who already, un-
der the leadership Of DR.. Herman
Rochling (the best hated man in the
Saar next to Vice Chancellor Fritz
Won Papen) "are through with the
blather of politicians and lawyers" in
tend to impose Nazi discipline upon
the Saar workers. They admit it
frankly.
The Catholic and Protestant
churches in the zone. today as free
and unfettered as is possible, have no
illusions as to what It will mean to