Saar Sarre Territory

SAAR (SARRE) TERRITORY, an industrial and mining region on the Franco-German frontier, north of Lorraine, near the iron-ore deposits of Briey. Area, 726 sq. miles. Pop. 770,030. Chief town, Saarbriicken (pop. 125,020). Basic industry : coal, good for industrial purposes and gas production and moderate for coke, with 31 mines employing 67,000 men. Average yearly pro duction for 1924-27, in round figures, 13,361,000 tons (slightly less than 1913). Average monthly production for 1927, 1,115,140 tons; stocks on hand, 590,00o tons. Coal reserves (lowest esti mate), 9,00o million tons. Metallurgy employs 33,00o men, with a production in 1927 of tons of pig iron and 1,863,000 tons of steel. Next come ceramic, glass and chemical products in dustries. The Saar is largely dependent on imports for certain commodities (including food supplies).

Treaty of Versailles and Administrations.

The treaty gave France absolute possession of the mines as compensation for destruction of her northern mines during the World War, and as part-payment towards German reparations. Districts containing these were detached from Germany and formed into the Saar Territory. To assure the welfare of the inhabitants and enable France to exploit the mines, an international governing commis sion, responsible to the League of Nations as trustee, and exer cising all powers of government formerly held by the German empire, Prussia and Bavaria, was instituted for 15 years. (Resi dence, Saarbriicken.) It had five members, one French, one native inhabitant of Saar (non-French), one British, one Czechoslovak and one Finnish. The president was the British member (in 1928 Sir Ernest Wilton, K.C.M.G.), who acted as its executive. Deci sions were taken by majority. Local German officials pledged fidelity to the commission. The eventual fate (return to Germany, union with France or continuation of League administration) of the whole territory (or part) was decided in 1935 by the League of Nations, according to plebiscite of the inhabitants. If the whole (or part) were united to Germany, the latter might repur chase ownership of the mines situated in such a part at a price, payable in gold, to be fixed by three experts. Both countries might, however, agree between themselves, before the time fixed for such repayment, to modify Paras. 36-38 of Annexe Saar of the Treaty. The powers of the governing commission were very considerable, but the elected representatives of the people (consultative coun cil) had to be consulted before modification of laws or imposition of new taxes (except customs duties). This council had no power

of initiative. The mines and customs were administered separately and independently of the commission by two local directors (the mines being the property of the French State, and the Saar having been incorporated within the French customs regime in Jan. 1925). The French franc became the only legal currency in June 1923. In many other respects, the status quo under Ger man rule was maintained ; the inhabitants retained their local assemblies, religious liberties, schools, language and nationality. A court of appeal of mainly neutral composition was instituted in 1920. A local gendarmerie (Landjiigerkorps) of i,000 men, recruited by the commission, and 700 local police, maintained or der, French garrison troops having withdrawn in May 1927. A Saar railways defence force of Boo men (British, Belgian and French) was stationed in the territory to protect the railways.

The naturally somewhat unsympathetic attitude towards the imposed governing body did not prevent the latter caring for the inhabitants' welfare, or from coping successfully with periodi cal unrest, wages grievances and occasional strikes. The world coal situation did not leave the Saar unaffected. The most im portant strike occurred in Spring 1923 (during Franco-German tension consequent upon Ruhr occupation), when 75,00o miners downed tools for loo days. Unemployment amounts to 2.7% of total working population. The Treaty of Locarno and widening influence of the League of Nations created a more conciliatory at mosphere, both politically and industrially. The Saar had no for eign debt, and was exempt from participation in reparation pay ments; taxation was comparatively low. France's interest in Saar industries was reflected at an economic congress held at Saar briicken in Oct. 1927. The Franco-German Trade Treaty of 1927 and Customs Convention of March 1928 was expected to improve industrial and commercial conditions yet further. (N. P. C. M.) In the plebiscite, which was duly held on January 13, 1935, nearly 98% of all qualified voters appeared at the polls—an unprecedented showing—and of these 90.3% declared for reunion with Germany, 8.8% for continued autonomy under the League, and only 0.4% for French annexation. This nearly unanimous decision was carried into effect on March 1.