Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
'NAZI GRIND SAARLANDERS
INTO NEW POLITICAL MOLD
Guarantees of Plebiscite Forgotten in
Rush to Seize Resources and
Force Allegiance.
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.

n
cial handing over of the Saar
government to the Nazis, by the
. departing League Commission,
the curtain has been rung down
on the "Saar problem" so far as its
European aspects are concerned. After
IS years the territory no longer occu-
pies the international spotlight. 1t
no longer can be regarded as sore
spot" or trading point" and If Adolf
Hitlers word can be accepted, there
is no longer any territorial question
which might lead to war, between
France and Germany.
But while the Saar has disappeared
from the international political scene,
the tribulations Of the Saarlanders
have not ended. In fact, they have
Just started. The veil of secrecy has
been drawn by the Hitlerites while an
intensive campaign Of Modification"
of more than $780, 900 heretofore free"
Germans has begun.
When the Saarland voted, by an
majority of 80 per cent
for reaffiliation with the fatherland, it
did not approve National Socialism.
The voters had no acceptable alterna-
tive. They believed they were declar-
ing for or against Germany. The fact
was, and still is, that the vast majority
of the residents Of the Saar are fun
damentally opposed to Nazi doctrines
religiously, politically and economi-
cally. Their patriotism, however, was
stronger than their political convic-
tons Hitlerism. they felt, would pass.
while Germany would live forever. The
Germany they voted to rejoin was the
Germany before the war.
Many Promises Given.
Before the Saar was evacuated Ber-
lin made many Official promises to
the League and France. There would
be no reprisals against Saarlanders
who had campaigned for the status
quo; there would be no anti-Semitic-
ism; the population would be given
three months in which to remove
themselves and their possessions, I'M
molested. to France or other countries.
Minority rights were to be respected
and an international tribunal would
function for year to hear complaints
against over Jealous NaZis.
But, from indications, Berlin'S guar
antees are worth absolutely nothing
Even before the international troops
were withdrawn the Deutschefont took
things in their own hands. In reality
the camouf1aged Nazi storm troopers
managed the plebiscite, which per-
haps accounts for the fact that the
Deutschefont polled IS per cent more
votes than their most optimistic leaders
had predicted. The emotionalism and
nationalistic hysteria of the popula-
ton was accumulated by a subtle ter
rorism. Since the plebiscite, the
Nazis have openly conducted the
municipal and territorial administra-
tons. The Leagues Commission has
been mere window dressing.
Already enough has happened to in
dictate what Is in store for the hapless
Saarlander who cannot accommodate
himself to the new regime. The erst-
while NaZi local leaders have been
showed into the background and "out-
siders' are teaching the people just
what National Socialism is all about.
Jakob Pirro, well-meaning but mod
crate Saarbrucken leader of the
Deutschefont, first replaced Herr
Spaniel. Hitler's fiery mouthpiece:
then Herr Nietmann, tried and trusted
subordinate of S. A. Fuhrer Hess, was
put In command. Joseph Burckel,
Nazi chieftain in the Palatinate, re-
placed Vice Chancellor Fritz Won
Papen as Nazi Saar commissioner,
and now has become governor.
Superindustrialist Hermann Rochling,
who financed the Deutschfont cam
paign through the latter years of the
Leagues occupation, is still on good
terms with Berlin and may become
Nazi representative in the rump
Reichstag for a time.
Many More to Leave.
To date, around 5000 refugees"
have left the territory. Most of these
are Jews. Socialists and Communists,
who, during the past 10 months, have
fed from Germany. Before the three
month period of grace expires. how
ever, it Is estimated that perhaps
twice that number of Saarlanders will
have emigrated into AlSace and Lor-
raine. The Nazis promised that any
inhabitant of the Saar who wished to
do so would be permitted to remove all
his personal property from the terri
tory and would be allowed to dispose
of his real estate. Some have tried to
do so, but they have invariably
found their possessions attached"
and trumped-up charges brought
against them.
The reprisals which were to have
been forbidden have been frequent.
Many common front" leaders have
barely escaped with their lives. A
few have been shot dead while al
legedly resisting arrest. Despite the
demands of the Governing Board and
Special League Tribunal there have
been no arrests of trigger fingered
policemen or Nazi gangsters who have
beaten up Communists and known
anti-Nad leaders. Anyway. the court
has no way of enforcing its penalties
or sentences.
The ''panicky" feeling which began
after the plebiscite has
not passed. in fact it has grown worse.
One way in which it has been mani
tested is through boarding. Fats,
canned foodstuffs, textiles, soaps, ETC.,
are at a premium. Prices, which be-
fore January IS were from 10 to 100
per cent lower in the Saar than in
Ludwigshafen, a few miles across the
Pfals frontier, are soaring. An official
made before the plebiscite
showed everyday necessities priced as
follows:
Saar- Ludwig Diff
brucken shafen ference
Un pfennigs)
Black bread. 2 lbs. .25 .35 plus 40G
Rice lbs. ~ .43 80 plus 400
IL lbs. As IS plus 379
Pork lbs. 1.57 l.50 plus Sg
Bacon. lbs. 1.64 go plus 34%
Milk quart -. 81 20 plus 24e
5sss eseh lbs. a:s $40 Pius i 19$
The closing of the Saar- French
border. which has now become the
we shall recognize parole. as well as