The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-09
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THE vote on Jan. 13 to settle the future
l. political afhliation of the Saar promises to
be the main international event of the imme-
date future. Hence it may be very useful
briefly to summarize the outstanding political
and economic facts which lie back of the i'm
pending plebiscite.
In the first place, where and what is the
Saar? The territory and its importance have
been very clearly described by Prof. Langsam:
This Rhenish territory, lying directly east
Of Lorraine and belonging partly to Prussia and
partly to Bavaria, is one Of the worlds greatest
coai-producing sections. With an area of 723
square miles and population of $4,000 1922,
1t is an exceedingly valuable stretch of territory
In 1913 its coal output was over II 900 900 tons
equal to 40 per cent Of the entire French pro-
duction. In that same year it also produced
more than 100000 tons of steel as well as
large quantities of glass and pottery. The esti-
mated coal reserves of the Saar Basin are IT,
000000,00O tons-more than those in all France
and equal to more than fifth of Germany's
pre-Nar reserves"
The demand of France for the Saar Basin
was based upon the allegation that the Germans
had deliberately wrecked many of the coal mines
in northern France during the World War
Clemenceau demanded that much of the Saar
be coded outright to France but this was de-
MED. Instead, a special committee of British
french and American experts was appointed
and it arranged the settlement which was later
ADOPTED by the Peace Conference.
| COMPLETE ownership of the invaluable coal
~ mines was given to France. Moreover
france was conceded the right to establish
SCHOOLS Tor the children of the coal miners and
to have the instruction given in French.
Inc government of the Saar was handed
over TO Commission of the League of Nations
inns was to control all aspects of the govern
ment or the Saar until its ultimate disposition
was decided upon. At the end of fifteen wears
the inhabitants of the Saar were to have the
privilege OF deciding whether they preferred to
remain under the control of the League to 90
PACK TO Germany or to go under French con-
Crol. After the pleblSclte the League of Nations
must decide what the final SoVereigntv over the
Saar region shall be, but the League is clearly
TO follow the wishes of the majority as ex-
pressed IN the plebiScite. In case the decision
is made to return the Saar to Germany. the
latter must buy back the coal mines from
France.
Like most other League products following
1919 the Saar Commission was decidedly pro-
french IN Its makeup and conduct. The chair
man was M. Rault jealous French patriot.
Two other members of the commission were
strongly pro-French one a Belgian and the
other Dane who had spent much of his life
as resident of Paris The representative of
the Saar on the commission Herr Won Boch re-
signed in disgust in September 1920 as a pro-
test against the pro-French makeup and policies
OF the commission. His resignation had. how
ever little effect at the time
T ME period from 1920 to 1923 was marked
l. by much discomfort on the part of the
inhabitants of the Saar The wishes of the
representatives of the Saar were usually ig-
nored by members of the commission Vari-
Gus subtle attempts were made to induce the
German children to attend the newly estab-
llshed French schools The treaty stipulated
that local police force should be created to
maintain order, but instead of this a French
army of between 5000 and 5000 men was sent
to the Saar and kept there. Finally in 1928
severely repreSSive measures were introduced
by the commission against striking German
miners
The condition became so tense that England
was constrained to request an investigation by
the Council of the League of Nations. While the
investigation was obviously attempt to white
wash the commission, very damaging evidence
against the latter brought forth It's mem
bership was, accordingly, revised in 1928 and
1924 and in 1925 Rault resigned.
In 1927 the French troops were withdrawn
and a small so-called Railway Defense Force"
was substituted to maintain order.
All of these things served to produce better
feelings in the Saar area, and in 1929 France
expressed willingness to discuss with Ger
many the future disposition of the Saar with
out waiting for the plebiScite. Negotiations were
begun but they dropped through.
Such are the essential facts lying back of the
extremely important action of the present
month. Those who wish to look into the matter
more closely will find extremely satisfactory DR..
M. T. Florinsky's recent book, THE Saar StrUg-
gle" macmillan, So