3. He complains that if the Saar parliament should decide on union with the Federal
Republic, the Ambassador could annul the decision. But this is right an indeed inevitable,
if as Dr. Adenauer claims, no final decision in regard to the future of the
Saar can properly be taken before the Peace Treaty.
4. He attacks the Mines Agreement on the ground that it confers an enormous
property on France. The fact is that the French intended to take a 50 years lease of
the mines, a proceeding to which Dr. Adenauer strongly objected. In deference to
British and American representations the French abandoned this plan in favour of
one which gives them the right to exploit the mines until the Peace Treaty and a 50
year lease only if the agreement is upheld by a Peace Treaty. This modification Dr.
Adenauer how brushes aside as being of no consequence.
5. Dr. Adenauer states that the British Government had declared that they had not
been kept informed of developments. No such declaration has been made and in
fact the British Government has been in close touch with the French Government
and has succeeded in securing modifications in the terms of the agreements to
Germany’s advantage.
6. Dr. Adenauer seeks to draw an analogy between the Saar and the provinces
beyond the Oder-Neisse line. There is of course no analogy. In the first place the
Saar is not being de-Germanised. From a humanitarian, social and political point of
view this is of prime importance. Secondly, whilst the Poles intend to annex the
Eastern provinces, the French have disclaimed any intention of annexing the Saar.
Consequently the situation of the Saar as a prospective member of the Council of
Europe is different and infinitely preferable.
There are moreover some general considerations which should govern the attitude
of His Majesty’s Government in this unfortunate dispute.
1. Whilst I regret that the French should have chosen this moment and this particular
method to put their position in the Saar on a contractual basis, it is undeniable
that the British and United States Government agreed in principle at Moscow to the
detachment of the Saar from Germany until the Peace Treaty. The present agreements
whilst they call attention to this situation do not materially alter it.
2. Dr. Adenauer’s statement to the press expresses the hope that he can mobilise
the British and United States Governments against the agreements. It is, however,
clear that even if we were so foolish as to allow the Germans to drive a wedge
between us, there is in fact no prospect that we should succeed in inducing the
French Government who have already met our representations to scrap the
agreements.
3. If Germany wishes the Saar eventually to return to the Reich, her best chance
lies in accepting the principle of Saar autonomy and by a policy of close cooperation
with the West securing for the Saar the right of self-determination.
4. From this point of view alone the refusal of Germany to enter the Council of
Europe is likely to be damaging to her prospects. It would be a mistake for the
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