News of the Week
THE Council of the League of Nations acted wisely in postponing its discussion on the Saar, to give Germany an opportunity of being represented if she chose, though there was never much chance of her accepting. The situa- tion is delicate and difficult in the last degree. National Socialisni has spread to the Saar, and the Governing Commission is having its work cut out to prevent excesses. Backed up by the Council it can probably maintain order between now and the plebiscite a year hence. The real trouble lies further ahead than that. About half the population of the Saar, though patriotic- ally German, is openly or secretly anti-Nazi. If the plebiscite goes, as it- probably will, in favour of Germany every Socialist in the Saar will be exposed to the kind of treatment Socialists in Germany have been receiving in the pasi year. So at least the Socialists believe, and they have reason enough to believe it. Their claim that the plebiscite should be postponed till some guarantees of safety 'ca'n be secured is entirely reasonable, but the Treaty provisions appear to admit of no postponement at all. The date is fixed as January, 1935. That leaves time fortunately both for discussion and negotiation and for -sonic possible drop in the political temperature. Herr Hitler, of course, is anxious to settle the Saar question directly with the French. That is inadmisSible, but a possible basis of settlement might be disclosed 'in the course of Franco-German conversations.
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