136 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [434 



The territory may be allotted to its final sovereign either 

 in part or in sections, since the voting is to take place by 

 communes. 



The German comment concerning these provisions makes 

 in effect the following points: the entire Saar Basin ar- 

 rangement purports to be enforced " in compensation for 

 the destruction of the coal mines in northern France." 

 However, the territorial delimitations provided for go far 

 beyond the land containing coal, " including, in addition, 

 extensive forests, numerous lime works, glass factories, 

 and other very profitable and partially world-renowned in- 

 dustries." The German Government is prepared to grant 

 the coal demanded by France ** by contracts of supply and 

 by shares." Continuing the comment says : 



According to the opinion on the economic situation expressed by 

 the Allied and Associated Governments in their note of May 22, it 

 would likewise be a fundamental error to believe in the necessity of 

 exercising political sovereignty in a country in order to secure 

 thereby an adequate portion of its production. . . . 



The draft of the peace treaty formulates a demand which tears 

 from the German Empire a purely German territory, gives France 

 economic control over it, and attempts also to annex it politically 

 to France. . . . 



Among the 650,000 inhabitants there were in 1918 not even lOO 

 French. 



The one native member on the Governing Commission is 

 not elected by the population, but appointed by the Council 

 of the League of Nations, subject to recall. There is no 

 representation of the people '* with any legislative 

 competence." 



The use of the German language, the schools and religious prac- 

 tice are placed under control, and the French State is authorized to 

 establish public and technical schools with French as their official 

 language, taught by teachers of its own choice. The future position 

 of every official and employee is rendered quite uncertain. . . . The 

 chief right of the citizen of the Saar district is that of emigration, 

 but there is no law to protect him from expulsion. . . . 



From the days of their appearance the authorities of the French 

 Occupation Forces have taken recourse to every possible means in 

 order to prepare the people for annexation to France. Every at- 

 tempt is made to induce a population who have been exhausted by 

 the hunger blockade and the exertions of the war, to apply already 

 for French citizenship. Many who not only cling in their hearts to 

 the old Fatherland, but make public profession of their attachment, 

 are expelled from the country. 



