SAAR NEGOTIATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1929, Page 5

SAAR NEGOTIATIONS

A START MADE

(United Press Associai/ion —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, November 22

Franco-German delegations began negotiations, says the Quai d’Orsav concerning the Saar. After a speech of welcome sub-committees were appointed to deal with mines, tariffs, and legal questions. Negotiations are expected to be the lengthiest recalled under the Versailles Treaty.

The exploitation of Saar mines was handed over to France as compensation for German destruction of nnnes in Northern France. Germans say France has already received twenty-six thousand tons of coal more than they lost through the destruction ol her mines in wartime and has had the economic advantage of including Saar district, in her customs system for a decennium, the profits therefrom not figuring in any reparations account. It is also recalled that the future of Saw must be settled by a plebiscite in 1933. It is agreed that this will almost certainly, favour Germany, hence the French anxiety for an earlier agreement, which Germany is using as a lever for the earlier restoration.

According to the “ Morning Post’s ” correspondent, France is willing to cede the mines on reasonable terms, but wants an equitable tariff between Sanr and France which will not hinder the export of coal from Saar needed by French industries, nnd on the other hand not hinder the import of French goods into Snar. France’s idea is that the mines should be vested in a Franco-German company virtually representative of the two States.