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LEAGUE OB1 A W W T O
CommTUii051* 0 0 t o t h e C 012:00 i lan<l th e Members c f th e League. 0 , 3 9 5 , 1 , 1 6 5 . 1 9 2 3 . I ,
3/ 29072/2 Geneva. „ June 26, 19 33 ,
RAi.lt BASIN,
memorandum from re p r e s e n t a t i v e s of certain p o l i t i c a l
PARTIES OF THE SAAR TERRITORY, ENTITLED
"THE SPIRIT OF THE SAAR STATUTE AND THE MANNER IF WHICH ITS PROVISIONS ARE APPLIED BY THE GOVERNING COMMISSION.”
Note "by t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l ,
The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l haa t h e honour t n fo rw ard f o r t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l and t h e Members o f the League c o p i e s
of th e f o l l o w i n g d o c u m e n t s :
I c L e t t e r d a t e d June 1 9 th 1923 from the Chairman of th e Govern ing Commiss ion> f o r w a r d i n g :
I I „ A Memorandum d a te d June 2nd 1923 from c e r t a i n p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s r e p r e s e n t e d on t h e A dv i so ry Council*
SAAR3RU0K, June 19 th 19 23»
1 . LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOYEREI ING COMMISSION TO
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL.
a n s l a t i o a .
S i r ,
I have t h e honour to f o rw a rd to you some c o p i e s of a Memoranv
dum which c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e Saar T e r r i t o r y have r e q u e s t e d ,
th e G ove rn ing Commission to t r a n s m i t t o t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e League
o f N a t i o n s » I t h e a r s t h e t i t l e "'The s p i r i t of t h e Saar S t a t u t e
and t h e manner i n which i t s p r o v i s i o n s a rc a p p l i e d by the G o v e rn in g
Commission '7»
As t h e v a r i o u s q u e s t i o n s r e f e r r e d t o i n t h i s Memorandum have
b e e n t h e s u b j e c t on v a r i o u s o c c a s i o n s e i t h e r of d e t a i l e d s t a t e
ments by t h e Govern ing Commission, or c f d e c i s i o n s by the C o u n c i l
o f t h e League o f N a t i o n s , th e Govern ing Commission does n o t t h i n k
i t n e c e s s a r y to o f f e r any rem arks i n r e g a r d to i t ,
( S igned) V. RAVIT,
IH3 S P IR IT OP TH3 SA, R ST:' TU TP AND TIG MAPI! IP IP T7HIGH IT ;
provisions ABB 0.'-.RBI AD OUT BY TPP OOvPPPIPG COMûil'TSIOP.
M'ÆiOR/KQUP
$13 T r e a t y of V e r s a i l l e s opens T' i t h t h e fo21c*"ing s e n t e n c e :
i «The High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s i n o r d e r so e s to a c h i e v e i n t e r n a t ione. l jperos anr1 s e c u r i t y . . . . by t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n of open, j u s t end h o n o u ra b le r e l a t i o n s b e tw een n e t i o n s * «. . and by the m a in te n a n c e o f ' j u s t i c e , . » » a g r e e t o t h i s Covenant o f t h e Lergue of ITations."
I r t 1 o f the T r e a t y o f V e r s a i l l e s ) , Mere t h a n f i f t y n a t i o n s have
I subscr ibed t o t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s and have u n i t e d t o form t h e League
of n a t i o n s .Til C ‘o v e r n i n g Commission o f t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y c o n s t i t u t e s so to
spark, t h e i n c a r n a t i o n o f t i e l o f t y p r i n c i p l e s t h a t i n s p i r e d t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e League o f N a t i o n s and a r e t o g u i d e i t s vcrk of p a c i f i c a t i o n and l a t e r o f o r g a n i s a t i o n and a d j u s t m e n t , , , » I t - i l l t h e r e f o r e be t h e o b j e c t o f s p e c i a l c a r e on t h e p a r t o f t h e C o u n c i l
1 of the League t o f u r n i s h , . , , p o s i t i v e p r o o f o f t h e p r a c t i c a l a p p l i o e t i o n o f t h e r i g h t s ^ i t h P h i e h t h e League h-°s been i n v e s t e d by th 7cr i o u s T r e a t i e s * ”
( R e s o l u t i o n o f t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e League o f N a t i o n s , P o b r u a r y I 3 t h ,192^) .
The P r o v i s i o n s o f t h e S a a r S t a t u t e " e r a f r am e d " i n o r d e r t o h s s u re t h é r i g h t s and w e l f a r e o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n and to g u a r a n t e e to |Fie.noe c o m p le te f reedom i n w o rk in g t h e m i n a s . " ( A r t i c l e 46 o f t h e i i e e t y o f V e r s a i l l e s . )
These t "’0 o b j e c t s v-ere t o be s e c u r e d by t h e c r e a t i o n o f a 1 overning Commission c o n s i s t i n g o f a n a t i v e i n h a b i t a n t o f t h e S a a r Basin, a c i t i z e n o f F r a n c e end " t h r e e members b e l o n g i n g to t h r e e
I c o u n t r i e s o t h e r t h a n F r a n c e or Germany,
§ 17 o f t h e S a a r R e g u l a t i o n s ) , One o f t h e p r i n c i p a l d u t i e s o f t h e F'ïench member i s t o p r o t e c t i n t h e Commission t h e I n t e r e s t s o f t h e
t r e n c h Mines A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , On t h e o t h e r hand i t s h o u l d be t h e
a f i n endeavour o f t h e S a a r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e to b r i n g t h e r i o h o s and ne ed s
of t h e p o p u l a t i o n t o t h e knowledge o f t h e o t h e r members o f t h e
Governing C o m n i s s i o n - r h o , b e in g f o r e i g n e r s , mus t n e c e s s a r i l y be
i m p e r f e c t l y a c q u a i n t e d v i t h th e c o n d i t i o n s o f l i f e i n t h e Sa r - and
to o b t a i n r e c o g n i t i o n f o r t h e s e n e e d s .
Wl S >'<
I t may "be a sk ed w h y ? i n a d d i t i o n to t h e 1 renc l i and
S a a r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , t h r e e members b e l o n g i n g t o c o u n t r i e s
wh ich a r e n o t d i r e c t l y c o n c e rn e d i n t h e f o r t u n e s o f the
S a a r T e r r i t o r y s h o u l d have b e e n i n c l u d e d i n t h e Govern ing
Commission» T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t was c e r t a i n l y n o t r e q u i r e d
f o r the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f s u c h a s m a l l t e r r i t o r y = The
p r e s e n c e of t h e s e t h r e e members was i n t e n d e d to s e r v e as
a g u a r a n t e e f o r t h e i m p a r t i a l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and
to e n a b le a s many S t a t e s a s p o s s i b l e t o s h a r e i n th e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,
"The i n h a b i t a n t s o f the T e r r i to ly s h a l l n o t s u f f e r
any m a t e r i a l o r m o r a l l o s s o r i n j u r y and t h e i r l e g a l
s t a t u s s h a l l be irnproved51,
’'The Govern ing Commiss ion w i l l have no o c c u p e t i o n
a n d no i n t e r e s t e x c e p t th e w e l f a r e o f the p e o p l e o f
the T e r r i t o r y o f t h e S a a r B a s i n . ,T
( L e t t e r o f June 1 6 t h , 1918 , from t h e A l l i e d and A s s o c i a t e d
Powers to t h e German D e l e g a t i o n a t V e r s a i l l e s and No„ I I I
o f t h e I n s t r u c t i o n s , d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 3 t h , 1920 , g i v e n by
th e C o u n c i l of the League o f N a t i o n s to t h e Governing
Commission) .
The a u t h o r s o f th e S a a r S t a t u t e were f u l l y aware o f
t h e t r u t h t h a t a p e o p l e c a n o n l y a c h i e v e g r e a t economic
r e s u l t s i f i t i s f r e e and c o n tà n t e d , . On t h i s c o n d i t i o n
a lone w i l l T r a n c e d e r i v e the f u l l b e n e f i t f rom h e r r i g h t
to e x p l o i t t h e c o a l m ines =
The a u t h o r i t y o f a Government i n s p i r e d by t h e s e h i g h
i d e a l s i s " u n a s s a i l a b l e ; i t r e s t s on t h e f i r m f o u n d a t i o n o f
t h e c o n t e n t m e n t and s u p p o r t o f t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n . Such
a Government n e e d s no p r o t e c t i o n from a f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y
Power, The f r a m e r s o f t h e T r e a t y r e c o g n i s e d t h i s f a c t a id
t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t h r t -
-4-
vOnly a l o c a l g e n d a r m e r i e f o r t h e m e in to n e n c e o f
o r d e r me-y be e s t a b l i s h e d ” . (§ 30 o f the Baar R e g u l a t i o n s ) »
I t i s h a r d l y n e c e s s a r y t o s t a t e t h a t c o - o p e r a t i o n
b e tw e e n t h e Government and the g o v e rn e d i n a s p i r i t of
m u tu a l c o n f i d e n c e i s an o b v ious and e s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n
f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l w o rk in g of t h i s sy s te m . I t was
a c c o r d i n g l y l a i d down t h a t no laws and r e g u l a t i o n s shou ld
be m o d i f i e d by t h e Govern ing Commission end no new t a x e s
imposed by i t , w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a
t i v e s o f the i n h a b i t a n t s (§ 23, s u b - p a r a 2 , and § 26,
s u b - p a r a . 3 o f t h e S a a r S t a t u t e ) » I f t h e s p i r i t o f t h e
T r e a t y i s o b s e r v e d , t h e w i s h e s o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s s h o u l d
be met i n so f a r cs t h e y a r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h the i d e a l s
o f t h e League of N a t i o n s . The r i g h t o f I r a n e e to comple te
f reedom i n w o rk in g t h e m ines i s n o t a f i e c t e d t h c r
I n o r d e r t o remove from t h e minds o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s
any* p o s s i b l e g r o u n d f o r a n x i e t y r e g a r d i n g t h e m a in te n a n c e
of t h e i r i n h e r i t e d i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d c u l t u r e , t h e Saa r
p o p u l a t i o n was g u a r a n t e e d t h e i n v i o l a b i l i t y o f i t s
n a t i o n a l i t y , i t s r i g h t o f s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e l o c a l
a s s e m b l i e s , i t s r e l i g i o u s l i b e r t i e s , s c h o o l s and l a n g u a g e ,
f r eedom t o l e a v e t h e T e r r i t o r y a t w i l l , i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n. cf „
and s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , ( b l 2 , s u b - p a r a . 2 , e2 2 3 s u b - p a r a 3
§23, I 24 , Ô 25 s u b - p a r a 1 , § 28 s u b - p a r a 1 , § 29 and § 30,
s u b - p a r a 2 o f t h e S a a r R é g u l a t i o n s ) .
But t h e s e a r e n o t t h e o n l y g u a r a n t e e s . I n o r d e r to
p r o v i d e ;
" a d e q u a t e s a f e g u a r d s a g a i n s t any abuse o f
t h e i r powers by t h e G ove rn in g Commission" made
t h e l a t t e r h a s b e e n / r e s p o n s i b l e to t h e League o f R a t i o n s ,
( C f • R e p ly o f t h e A l l i e d and A s s o c i a t e d Powers o f June 1 6 t h ,
1919 , and A r t i c l e 1 ox th e Annex t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f the
-fi.
C o u n c i l o f t h e League ox N a t i o n s , d a t e d f e u r u a r y i ;5 th ,
1920) .
How lias t h e Govern ing Commission c u r r i e d out t h e s e
p r o v i s i o n s d r a f t e d on s u c h b r o a d end g e n e ro u s l i n e s ?
I t h a s n o t a c t e d I n t h e s p i r i t o f t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s . . I'
c o n d u c t , i n d e e d , l ias been w h o l l y a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e i r
s p i r i t „
o 1» Even a t t h e p r e s e n t t im e t h e r e i s a l a r g e
F re n c h f o r c e i n t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y . Only a f t e r
r e p e a t e d i n s t r u c t i o n s from t h e C o u n c i l o f the League
oi H â t i o n s was t h e Govern ing Commission compel led to
d e v e lo p t h e l o c a l g e n d a r m e r i e . The worb i s b e i n g
pursued, w i t h e x t r e m e d i l a t o r i n e s s , The Governing
Commission d e c l a r e d t h a t a f o r c e o f 4 , 0 0 0 g e n d a rm e r ie
was r e q u i r e d , w h e rea s a q u a r t e r o f t h e number
would he* amply s u f f i c i e n t f o r so sm a l l a
t e r r i t o r y . Only q u i t e r e c e n t l y , t h e Governing'
Commiss ion, c o n t r a r y to t h e o r d e r s i s s u e d by
t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e League of H â t i o n s to r ed u c e
the s t r e n g t h o f t h e F r e n c h f o r c e s , r a i s e d t h e
number f o r a t im e t o t w i c e t h e o r i g i n a l
s t r e n g t h .
c+
~6~
2 . The wages di s p u t e "between t h o French. H ines AO m in i a t n a
t i o n and t h e n a t i v e w o r k e r s a f f o r d e d tho Govern ing Commission
an e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y o f p r o m o t in g t h e c a u s e of j u s t i c e
and i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e c o n c i l i a t i o n . But i n s t e a d of o o - o p o r a t in g
in a f r i e n d l y s p i r i t w i t h t h e i n h a b i t a n t s v;ho p l e a d e d i n
v a i n f o r a s e t t l e m e n t of t h e hundred d a y s 1 s t r u g g l e , i t
i d e n t i f i e d i t s e l f w i t h one of t h e p a r t i e s and a c t u a l l y e n d e a
voured , th ough w i th ou t s u c c e s s , t o s u p p r e s s t h e s t r i k e by
f o r c e . The m in e r s were t o be i n t i m i d a t e d by F re nch t r o o p s .
The Govern ing Commission w i t h d r e w t h e r o c o g n i s o d r i g h t of
p i c k e t i n g and i s s u e d t h e p r o v i s i o n a l d e c ro e - n o t o r i o u s
t h r o u g h o u t t h e whole w or ld - which d e p r i v e d t h e i n h a b i t a n t s
of t h e ' 3 a a r o f t h e l a s t v e s t i g e s o f t h e i r l i b e r t i e s (See à
Annex). The Govern ing Commission ou gh t t o have known t h a t
the c a l l i n g o u t o f F re nch t r o o p s was a p r o v o c a t i o n t o
the whole p o p u l a t i o n and t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n , su c h a s t e p
was a b s o l u t e l y u n n e c e s s a r y t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e t y o f th e
mines . In t h e i r own i n t e r e s t s th e m in e r s t h e m s e l v e s have
p r o t e c t e d t h e p i t s - on which t h e y depend f o r t h e i r d a i l y
t r e a d - f rom t h e d a n g e r o f f l o o d i n g .
3 . As r e g a r d s s o c i a l j u s t i c e , t h e Govern ing Qomniss ion
is bound by t h e t e rm s o f t h e T r e a t y of V e r s a i l l e s ■ ( § 2 3 , s u b
pa ra 4 o f t h e S a a r R e g u l a t i o n s ) t o r e s p e c t s c r u p u l o u s l y
" t h e r i g h t o f a s s o c i a t i o n f o r a l l l a w f u l p u r p o s e s by
the employed a s w e l l as by t h e e m p l o y e r s . " ( T r e a t y of V e r
s a i l l e s , A r t i c l e 427, S u b - p a r a 3 i ïo*2) .
In s p i t e of the t e r m s of t h e T r e a t y , t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e
Governing Commission d id n o t h e s i t a t e t o t h r e a t e n t h e w o rk e r s
‘'Qith t h e d i s s o l u t i o n of t h e i r Unions and t h e s e i z u r e of t h e i r f u n d s .
r o t é t r /~ th e :S e c r e t a r y - Gc n e r a l .F o r ' t h e P r o v i s i o n a l Becreo o f March 7 ,1 9 2 3 s e e C ou n c i l
Document 200 M.118,1922*C& f o r the P r o v i s i o n a l Decree o f May 2, 1923, s e e Annex.
-7-
The t iova rn in^ Commission gave f u r t h e r p r o o f o f i t s
n a r ro w m in d e d n es s when, in s p i t e of r e p e a t e d r e q u e s t s , i t
d e c i d e d n o t to make p r o v i s i o n f o r a r b i t r a t i o n p r o c e d u r e on
a p p ro v e d l i n e s in t h e c a s e o f i n d u s t r i a l d i s p u t e s , F u r t h e r ,
i t f a i l e d t o b r i n g in t h e Chamber o f Labour Law which i t had
p ro m is e d on Becember 1 2 t h , 1921= In g e n e r a l , i t h a s done
n o t h i n g to e x te n d s o c i a l r i g h t s and t h e r i g h t s o f l a b o u r ,
4 , The Govern ing Commission h a s c o n f i d e d to T rance t h e
d u t y o f p r o t e c t i n g t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e
Saar T e r r i t o r y in f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s (D ecree of J u l y 7 th , 1 9 2 0 ) .
I t w i l l r e a d i l y be u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e p u r e l y German i n h a b i t a n t s
o f t h e Saa r cou ld p l a c e no f a i t h i n I r a n e e as t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a
t i v e , and u n f o r t u n a t e l y e x p e r i e n c e h a s c o n f i rm e d t h e i r f e a r s .
I t i s d o u b t l e s s t r u e t h a t t h e Govern ing Commission was c l e a r l y
o f o p i n i o n t h a t I r a n e e would d i s p l a y s p e c i a l s o l i c i t u d e i n p r o
t e c t i n g , to t h e b e s t o f h e r a b i l i t y , t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e d a a r
i n h a b i t a n t s . I t was p r o b a b l y o f o p i n i o n a l s o t h a t t h e e a s i e s t
way to make i t s own i n f l u e n c e f e l t was to s e c u r e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
by I r a n e e . The v e r y o p p o s i t e has p r o v e d to be t h e c a s e , fori,
h i t h e r t o , such d i s p u t e s a s c a l l e d f o r t h e e n e r g e t i c d e f e n c e o f
Saa r i n t e r e s t s have a r i s e n a lm o s t e x c l u s i v e l y with I r a n e e . In
mos t o f t h e s e c a s e s t h e a r r a n g e m e n t made by t h e Governing
Commission f o r the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f ' ao r i n t e r e s t s ab road
h a s c o m p l e t e l y f a i l e d ,
The most n o t o r i o u s examples o f the a lm o s t t o t a l l a c k
o f i n f l u e n c e o f t h e G ove rn ing Commission i n i t s d e a l i n g s wi th
t h e Power which r e p r e s e n t s i t a b ro ad a r e shown i n t h e p r o
t e s t s - f o r a lo ng t im e u n a v a i l i n g - made a g a i n s t t h e d r a s t i c
s e n t e n c e s o f th e t r e n c h C o u r t s m a r t i a l i n t h e B urge r and
y a k r a s c h i n s k y c a s e s and a lsn i n t h e r e f u s a l o f t h e I r e n c h
m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s to g r a n t any c o m p e n sa t io n w h a t s o e v e r a f t e r
c e r t a i n daa r c i t i z e n s had been k i l l e d t h ro u g h t h e f a u l t o f
F re nch s o l d i e r s ( t h e - . a l t e r and Jennew ein c a s e s ) .
*1
M o re o v e r , t h e method o f r e p r e s e n t e t i r n abrosG o rc k s n
down i n t h e numerous c a s e s where a c o n f l i c t of i n t e r e s t s h a s
a r i s e n b e tw een t h e Saa r T e r r i t o r y on t h e one h a rd and th e French
Customs A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and t h e I n t e r - A l l i e d R h in e l a n d High
Commission on t h e o t h e r , and e s p e c i a l l y i n t h o s e c a s e s which
have o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e s e l a s t months as a r e s u l t o f the
encroachm ent o f F r a n c e on t h e German Customs A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
and t h e e n t i r e t r a f f i c sy s tem o f t h e o c c u p ie d R h i n e l a n d s .
To u se t h e words o f t h e Mote f rom t h e A l l i e d A s s o c i a t e d
poweiS; d a t e d May 2 4 t h , 1919:
"The T r e a t y g u a r a n t e e s t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e Saar T e r r i t o r y t h e m a in t e n a n c e o f a l l t h e i r e x i s t i n g l i b e r t i e s "
I t i s beyond d i s p u t e t h a t t h o s e l i b e r t i e s a l s o in:.?.ude
t h e r i g h t o f f r e e p a s s a g e eve ryw here i n Germany b o t h f o r p e r
sons and f o r goods n f ev e ry k i n d b e l o n g i n g t o t h e i n h a b i t a n t s
of t h e Saar T e s r i t o r y 0 This r i g h t i s once a g a i n e x p r e s s l y
l a i d down i n § 22, s u b - p a r a 3 o f t h e Saar S t a t u t e which l a y s
down t h a t p e r s o n s , goods , m a i l s e t c . , -
"coming f rom o r g o in g to t h e Saa r B a s in s h a l l e n joy a l l t h e r i g h t s and p r i v i l eges , . > which a r e s p e c i f i e d i n t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f P a r t Z I I o f ùhe p r e s e n t T r e a t y " ;
i , e e f r e e t r a n s i t from and t h r o u g h t h e Saa r T e r r i t o r y on a l l
t r a f f i c , r o u t e s in o c c u p ie d and u n o c c u p ie d Germany and f r e e
t r a n s i t t h ro u g h t h e T e r r i t o r y to and f rom u n o c c u p ie d Germany.
F u r t h e r m o r e p e rsons , , goods e t c , s h a l l no t be s u b j e c t e d t o any
t r a n s i t d u t i e s o r to any undue d e l a y o r r e s t r i c t i o n s ( A r t , 321
o f t h e T r e a t y o f V e r s a i l l e s ) . The o b s e r v a n c e o f t h e s e p r e v i s i o n s
would g u a r a n t e e a f r e e m ark e t f o r i t s p r o d u c t s to t h e h i g h l y
d e v e lo p ed i n d u s t r i a l a r e a o f t h e S a a r ,
I n v ie w of t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s the p e t t y o b s t a c l e s p u t
in t h e way of t h e S a a r t r a n s i t t r a f f i c by t h e F rench Customs
o f f i c i a l s and t h e F re n c h t r o o p s i n the occup ied t e r r i t o r i e s -
impeding a n t f r e q u e n t l y c o m p l e t e l y i n t e r r u p t i n g i t - o o n s t i t u t e
a f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n of t h e r i g h t s c o n f e r r e d on the i n h a b i t a n t s
of the S a a r and on t h e i r t r a d e . I n s p i t e of th e c o n s t a n t com
p l a i n t s o f th e p o p u l a t i o n t h e Governing Commission has n o t y e t
succeeded i n s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e fu n d a m e n ta l r i g h t s of the S a a r
T e r r i t o r y a g a i n s t t h e s e r e p e a t e d e n c r o a c h m e n t s .
The S a a r S t a t u t e was drawn up w i t h t h e e v i d e n t
i n t e n t i o n of g r a n t i n g to t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e T e r r i t o r y f u l l
f reedom t o d e v e lo p t h e i r economic l i f e . The b e s t o w a l of such a
r i g h t i s n o t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h th e i n c o r p o r a t i o n cf t h e S a a r
T e r r i t o r y i n the F re n c h Customs a r e a . The French im p o r t and
e x p o r t p r o h i b i t i o n s f r e q u e n t l y i n t e r f e r e i n t h e most -
s e n s e l e s s manner w i t h th e d i s p a t c h of g a a ï p r o d u c t s - and
e s p e c i a l l y manures - t o n e i g h b o u r i n g m a r k e t s . In t o o many
oa se s t h e Govern ing Commission has p roved i t s e l f i n c a p a b l e o f
doing a n y t h i n g t o r e l i e v o th e S a a r i n d u s t r i e s f rom t h e p a r a l y s
ing r e s t r i c t i o n s t h u s im p o s e d .
5. The Govern ing Commission has even i n t e r f e r e d w i th the
e d u c a t i o n a l and r e l i g i ous l i b e r t i e s o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s .
The S a a r T e r r i t o r y i s a p l e b i s c i t e a r e a , and t h e
a u t h o r s o f t h e S a a r S t a t u t e t h e r e f o r e t o o k g r e a t c a r e t o avoid
i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h e x i s t i n g e d u c a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s .
For c e n t u r i e s p a s t t h e C a t h o l i c s of t h e S a a r T e r r i
t o r y have b e e n u n d e r t h o a u t h o r i t y o f t h e b i s h o p s o f Trcvos and
S p i r e s , and t h e y a re d e e p l y d e v o te d t o t h e i r s p i r i t u a l g u i d e s ,
n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e Governing Commission a p p ro a c h ed t h e V a t i c a n
i n Rome - th o u g h w i t h o u t s u c c e s s - to o b t a i n i t s c o n s e n t to
10-
th e s e v e r a n c e o f t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y from i t s p a r e n t s e e s .
M oreover , t h e e f f o r t s made to b r i n g t h e P r o t e s t a n t p a r i s h e s
o f t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y and t h e m i n i s t e r s o f t h e s e p a r i s h e s
u n d e r the a u t h o r i t y n f the G ove rn ing Go;.mission have so f a r
been f r u s t r a t e d by t h e s t u b b o r n r e s i s t a n c e o f a l l t h e p a r
t i e s c o n c e r n e d ,
The m a in t e n a n c e o f our German s c h o o l s i s g u a r
a n t e e d by § 28 o f the S a a r S t a t u t e . The F re n c h s c h o o l s
a r e e x p r e s s l y p e r m i t t e d on ly " as i n c i d e n t a l to the mines " and
a r e I n t ended er.c l u s iv e 1 y
” f o r i t s employees and t h e i r c h i l d r e n " (& 14 o f
t h e S a a r S t a t u t e }„ These words can a p p ly on ly to th e
F r e n c h e m p lo y e es , f o r n a t u r a l l y t h e y and t h e i r c h i l d r e n
must be p r o v i d e d w i t h an e d u c a t i o n on F r e n c h l i n e s . They c a n
n o t be u s e d as a p r e t e x t f o r a d m i t t i n g t h e c h i l d r e n o f the
n a t i v e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e S a a r to t h e s e s c h o o l s . Such an
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n would be i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e r e t e n t i o n o f
t h e German s c h o o l , a s p r o v i d e d f o r i n S 2 _ o f th e S a a r S t a t u t e .
C o m p le te ly d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s l a i d
down i n th e S t a t u t e , t h e Govern ing Com m iss ion , h o w e v e r , i s
d o in g e v e r y t h i n g i n i t s power to d e v e l o p th e F re n c h s c h o o l s .
A l l German c h i l d r e n a re p e r m i t t e d to a t t e n t t h e s e s h c o o l s , and
such a t t e n d a n c e i s r e g a r d e d bj t h e G ov e rn ing Commission as
s a t i s f y i n g a-., t l : . . éga l e d u c a t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the
T e r r i t o r y , The Commmiss io n w e t c h e s w i t h a f r i e n d l y i n t e r e s t
the e f f o r t s o f t h e F r e n c h L in e s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n to e x p l o i t
t h e economic dependence o f i t s w o rk e r s and employees f o r
the p u r p o s e o f i n d u c i n g t h e l a t t e r to send t h e i r c h i l d r e n to
-11
F r e n c h s c h o o l s . F r e n c h m i l i t a r y gendarmes have even s u p e r
v i s e d t h e a t t e n d a n c e o f the c h i l d r e n o f German workmen a t
F re nch s c h o o l s .
I f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f the S a a r a r e t o c o n t i n u e to
s h a r e i n t h e common h e r i t a g e o f German c u l t u r e , they must be
g r a n t e d f a c i l i t i e s f o r c l o s e and c o n s t a n t i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h
the German i n t e l l e c t u a l w o r l d . Such r e l a t i o n s a re an im
p e r a t i v e need f o r t h e p o p u l a t i o n , D i s r e g a r d i n g t h i s con
s i d e r a t i o n and a c t i n g c o n t r a r y to the s p i r i t o f th e S a a r S t a
t u t e , t h e G ove rn ing Commission h a s made use o f t h e p e t t i e s t
m easu re s o f p o l i c e c o n t r o l i n o r d e r t o p r e v e n t such r e l a t i o n s
w i t h t h e e v i d e n t i n t e n t i o n o f s e v e r i n g t h e t i e s which Lind
the S a a r i n h a b i t a n t s to t h e i r German b r o t h e r s and o f d e s t r o y
i n g t h e i r i n t e l l e c t u a l l i f e , One d i f f i c u l t y a f t e r a n o t h e r
ha s b e en p l a c e d i n t h e way o f s c h o l a r s , a r l i s t s and l i t e r a r y
men. l e c t u r e s and even c o n c e r t programmes a r e b r o u g h t
und e r p o l i c e censorsh ip .» F r e q u e n t l y l e c t u r e r s a r e a c t u a l l y
f o r b i d d e n t o e n t e r t h e T e r r i t o r y . T h is h a s happened i n the case
o f r e c o g n i s e d l e a d e r s c f th e l a b o u r movement. The s a l e o f Ger
man n e w sp a p e r s and p e r i o d i c a l s has b e e n f o r b i d d e n . E v e r y c o n c e iv
a b le obs t a c l e i s p u t i n t h e way n f a p p o i n t i n g new spaper e d i t o r s
and c o r r e s p o n d e n t s . Lany j o u r n a l i s t s have been e x p e l l e d . Mer
c h a n t s , e n g i n e e r s and o t h e r p e r s o n s b e l o n g i n g to th e l i b e r a l
p r o f e s s i o n s - even n u r s e s - a r e f o r b i d d e n to s e t t l e i n th e
S a a r T e r r i t o r y . But a l l such m ea su re s p ro d u ce no change
w h a te v e r i n t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s y m p a th i e s o f the p o p u l a t i o n . On
the c o n t r a r y they a r e f o s t e r i n g a g e n e r a l s p i r i t o f d i s c o n t e n t
and e x a s p e r a t i o n .
1
6, The most g l a r i n g example ox t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e tw een t h e s p i r i t
of t h e p r o v i s i o n s ox t h e t iaa r S t a t u t e and t h e Governing' C o m m iss ion ' s
method o f a p p l y i n g them may be seen i n t h e l a t t e r ' s t r e a t m e n t o f
th e e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s ,
The h igh i d e a l s of t h e League ox H â t io n s can o n ly be
t r a n s l a t e d i n t o f a c t s by means ox f r i e n d l y c o - o p e r a t i o n be tween
Government r.ncl p e o p l e , T h i s has c o n s i s t e n t l y been t h e unanimous
d e s i r e ox t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n j The G ove rn ing Commission h a s ,
h o r e v e r , from tho o u t s e t , p a i d no a t t e n t i o n w h a t s o e v e r t o t h e
o p i n i o n o f t h o e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s » T h e i r
d i s r e g a r d f o r t h e l a t t e r became so p a t e n t t h a t t h e e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n
t a t i v e s we re f i n a l l y com pe l led t o f o r e g o , a s m e a n i n g l e s s , t h e i r
r i g h t t o comment upon t h e G ove rn ing C o m m is s io n ' s p r o p o s a l s »
The c r e a t i o n of a homogeneous r e p r e s e n t a t i v e body , t h e
A dv iso ry C o u n c i l , was i n t e n d e d by t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e L e a g u e , to
p u t an end t o t h i s i n t o l e r a b l e s i t u a t i o n . The p o p u l a t i o n p l a c e d
g r e a t hopes i n t h e A d v i s o ry C o u n c i l , f o r by t h i s m eans . th e
Govern ing Commission was o f f e r e d an o p p o r t u n i t y a t l a s t t o work
on t h e d e s i r e d t e rm s o f m u tu a l c o n f i d e n c e and f r i e n d l y c o - o p e r a
t i o n w i t h t h e i n h a b i t a n t s ; f rom a p o l i c y b a s e d on t h e f o u n d a t i o n s
o f i n t e r n a l t r a n o u i l l i t y f r u i t f u l r e s u l t s m ig h t have been e x p e c t e d .
Once a g a i n , however , t h e G o v e rn in g Commission has suc ce e ded i n
t h w a r t i n g one oi the g r e a t c o n c e p t i o n s o f t h e League f o r t h e
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e s and t h u s f o r c e d a second b i t t o r
d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t upon t h e S a a r i n h a b i t a n t s . In s e t t i n g up t h e
T e c h n ic a l Com m it tee , with i t s s e c r e t p r o c e d u r e and members a p p o i n t e d
by t h e C om m iss ion , i t has en d ea v o u red t o c r e a t e f o r i t s e l f a
p l i a n t o r g a n i s a t i o n as a c o u n t e r w e i g h t t o t h e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l .
I t has f u r t h e r sough t to exc lude u s e f u l b r a i n s f o r the P r o v i n c i a l
Counci l , by l i m i t i n g e l i g i b i l i t y to p e r s o n s bo rn in th e Saar
T e r r i t o r y , has compelled i t t o a c c e p t h u m i l i a t i n g r u l e s o f p r o c e d u r e ,
-13-
app o in t eel i t s c h a i r m a n , r e f u s e d i t t h e r i g h t s o f p e t i t i o n and of
i n t e r p e x l a t i o n and p a r i lame n t a r y i en u n i t y i c r i t s members. In
s h o r t , any means a r e t o be used t o reduce t h e .advisory C o u n c i l t o
i n s i g n i f i c a n c e . But t h e G o ve rn ing Commission has d i s r e g a r d e d
oven t h e fevj r i g h t s l e i t t o 1 h a t body , v.-b i c h v.as n e v e r g i v e n a
h e a r i n g in r e g a r d t o t h e more i m p o r t a n t d e c r e e s (among t h e s e th e
n o t o r i o u s emergency Decree and t h e S t r i k e P i c k e t i n g D e c r e e ). On
t h e o c c a s i o n s when t h e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l was g iv e n a h e a r i n g , t h e
Govern ing Commission o n ly p a id a t t e n t i o n t o i t s p r o p o s a l on m ino r
m a t t e r s , b u t did n o t l e t i t s e l f be i n f l u e n c e d by th o C o u n c i l ’ s
v o t i n g on Q u e s t i o n s of f u n d a m e n ta l i m p o r t a n c e „ The r e s u l t i s
t h a t t h e words c o n t a i n e d in t h e o p e n in g o f each d e c r e e " a f t e r
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the p o p u l a t i o n " ,
have come t o be r e g a r d e d by t h e i n h a b i t a n t s a s a mockery of t h e i r
r i g h t s and a r e o b v i o u s l y on ly i n t e n d e d t o m i s l e a d ,
Tho i n h a b i t a n t s r e g a r d t h e G o v e rn in g Com m iss ion ' s a u t o c r a t i c
f i n a n c i a l p o l i c y a s e s p e c i a l l y con tem p tuo us o f t h e Adviso ry
C o u n c i l ’ s r i g h t s . In m a n i f e s t c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t h e s p i r i t of
P a r a g r a p h 26 o f t h e S e a r S t a t u t e , the Commission r en t i e r s n u g a to r y
any s e r i o u s c o l l a b o r a t i o n on tho part- o f t h e Advisor, / C o u n c i l i n
t h e f r a m i n g of t h o S ta te ' s e x p e n d i t u r e , by c a r e f u l l y r e f r a i n i n g
f rom g i v i n g tho l a t t e r body a c l e a r p i c t u r e of tho p u r p o s e s r o r
which t h e p u b l i c money i s u s e d . Even i n t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y ,
however , t h e t a x p a y e r has a r i g h t t o know what id done Til th h i s
money. I h e r e i s no e x cu se t o - d a y , when t h e economic d i f f i c u l t i e s
of t h e t r a n s i t i o n p e r i o d have b e e n o v e rc o m e , l o r d i s r e g a r d in;- t h i s
u n i v e r s a l l y a c c e p t e d r u l e o f e v e ry modern d e m o c r a t i c gov e rn m en t .
The G ove rn ing C om m iss ion ' s p r o c e e d i n g s have c r e a t e d i n t o l e r
ab le c o n d i t i o n s . The b r e a c h botv.eon Government and governed i s
vj ido. A l l t h e b e s t e l e m e n t s among t h e p o p u l a t i o n a r e r e p e l l e d by
t h e Govern ing Co m m iss ion ' s m ethods , Thanks to I t s n a r ro w m in d e d n es s
/and
-14.
a.,ü e on t amp t o i g u a r a n t e e d r i v h t s , t o l a c k o f comprehons ion of
our needs and a b u s e o f t h e po’- o r c o m e r ret. upon i t , t h e Govern ing
C o m i s s i o n h s s even in t h i s b r o i f space of t im e c o n t r i v e d u t t e r l y
to l o s e t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h a i n h a b i t a n t s . I t s t a n d s s o l i t a r y and
i s o l a t e d among t h e p e o p l e who ce w e l f a r e has been y l a c e d in i t s
hands. Tho f u l f i l m e n t ox i t s clut,, in an i d e a l i s t i c s p i r i t would
have v;on f o r i t t h e r e s p e c t o f t h e e n t i r e w o r ld . I t v a s t o be
the outward m a n i f e s t a t i o n of t h o h i g h p r i n c i p l e s of tho l e a g u e of
î i a t i o n s , j u s t i c e , f r e e d o m and s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and in t h i s was
t o b r i d g e o v e r t h e v. ido ab y ss wh ich sa pu r a t es tx.o g r e a t n a t i o n s .
' .h is t h e Govern in?? Commission has been u n a b le t o e f f e c t . I t has
i a i l o d t o g i v e p r a c t i c a l o f f a c t t o t h e h i g h i d e a l s which r a v e b i r t h
to th e League of M a t i o n s . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , though th e i d e a i t s e l f
may s u r v i v e , t h e work o f t h o s e who were c a l l e d upon t o t r a n s l a t e t h e
idea i n t o a c t i o n , was bound to s u f f e r s h i p w r e c k .
And y e t t h e S a a r T e r r i t o r y i s i n h a b i t e d by a p o p u l a t i o n which
h o n e s t ly d e s i r e s t h a t t h e n o b le c o n c e p t i o n s and g r e a t i d e a l s of t h e
Loague of N a t i o n s sh o u ld be p u t i n t o e f f e c t by a Commission which
w i l l p u r s u e t h i s aim h o n o u r a b l y . The whole w or ld would pay a
t r i b u t e o f r e s p e c t t o such a Government , E v id e n c e would t h o n ba
a f f o r d e d t o t h e e n t i r e u n i v e r s e t h a t a s o l u t i o n can be found f o r one
of t h e most d i f f i c u l t p rob lem s in h i s t o r y t h r o u g h tho m e d i a t i o n of
the Loague o f I i a t i o n s in a s p i r i t o f j u s t i c e and i n t e r n a t i o n a l
rec one i l i a t i o n .
HRBHUC1C, Ju n e 2 n d , 1923ï he P o l i t i c a l P a r t i e s in t h e J a a r
Adv i s o ry C o u n c i l ,C e n t r a P a r t y . U n i t e d S o c i a l D e m o c ra t i c P a r t y ,
Dr . J o r d a n Dr» 'JKHDÜBKIEFER. V. SCHAEFER.
N a t i o n a l L i b e r a l P a r t y , German D em ocra t ic P a r t y .
SCExIEL^R. DR. bClL’HEE.
im œ x
De e r e 3 amending % 152 o f the Decree r e g a r d i n g
L a b o u r .
Iranslation from
The Governi n ç Commission, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h p a r a g r a p h s
16, 19 and 23 o f C h a p te r I I o f t h e Xnnex to S e c t i o n IV o f th e
Treaty o f P e a c e , more p a r t i c u l a r l y i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h p a r a g r a p h 30,
Isut>-paragraph 3 o f t h e a f o r e s a i d C h a p te r i n th e a f o r e s a i d Annex and
m accordance w i t h i t s D e c i s i o n o f A p r i l 3 0 t h , 1923 , d e c r e e s as
followsA r t 1
To § 152 o f the Decree r e g a r d i n g l a b o u r s h a l l "be added the
I following supp] emer.ytiary c l a u s e :
1, P i c k e t i n g by s t r i k e r s i s f o r b i d d e n i n e v e r y form.
O f fe n c e s a g a i n s t t h i s r e g u l a t i o n s h a l l be p u n i s h a b l e w i t h
im p r i so n m e n t f o r one y e a r and a f i n e up to Franc? 500.
Any p e r s o n a t t e m p t i n g b ̂ p h y s i c a l f o r c e , t h r e a t s , s l a n d e r
i n g o r b o y c o t t i n g
1 , to in d u c e w o r k e r s o r em p loye rs t o a g r e e to c o n d i t i o n s
t h e k i n d m en t in i n § 152 o r t o p r e v e n t them from s u b
s e q u e n t l y r e j e c t i n g su c h c o n d i t i o n s ,
2 , t o in d u c e w o rk e r s t o p work, o r to p r e v e n t them from
p r o c e e d i n g w i t h o r a c c e p t i n g work ,
3. t o in d u ce em p loye rs to d i s m i s s w o r k e r s o r to p r e v e n t them
from e n g a g in g w o r k e r s .
s h a l l bo p u n i s h e d w i t h im p r i so n m e n t o f n e t l e s s t h a n one
month .
Cases o f r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e s e o f f e n c e s s h a l l be p u n i s h
a b l e w i t h im p r i so n m e n t o f n o t l e s s t h a n one y e u r .
A r t i c l e 2.
This D ecree s h a l l cono I n t o f o r c e f o r t h w i t h .
irbrtlck, May 2nd , 1923.î 'n r t h e Govern ing Commission o f t h e
S a a r T e r r i t o r y .
( Signed ) V.AAUIT.C o u n c i l l o r o f S t a t e . C h a i rm a n .