SPERME
THE HONGKO
FRANCE'S STRONG
STRONG MAN THE
MAN THE SAAR-EUROPEAN
LEADER OF CROIX DE FEU
BY MORRIS GILBERT
An officer and a gentleman, 45 years old, spare-Jewed, smooth- shaven, his body nacked and nmrauded by every weapon of war from nosegal to German Laloger, looms over, Franco to-day Ikea Hitler with, monnere, dignity, and a conscience.
To is Colonel do in Rocque, president-general of the formid- able "Croix de Fou."
Colonel de la Rocque is no housn paintor-turned-corporal Iko Hit ler, rescued from oblivion by a war --and a peace. He is the son of a general,
a soldier of career, graduate of the cavalry school at St. Cyr, a veteran of French wars in Algeria and Morocco.
He is the man whom to-day un- told thousands of followers rovere with a quite un-French devotion and awe; whora they fellow and obey with a military ardour which in mystic In its force. He is the
man who "could have" captured
Colonel
de la Rocqua · "could have."
they say, is a clean France, France purged of the venom which the Staviaky scandal and all its offecla havo traced in the republic's veine.
wer is such that one does not
of the THE COMING PLEBISCITE
BY MILTON BRONNER.
The Ten Commandments of the Croix de Fou are all embraced in ono: absoluto subordination to the will of the leader. The origina of the Croix de Fou are equally in-When the Saur territory is re- teresting. The group was origin- turned to Germany, there is nothing ally composed of soldiers who had which could oppose Germany to been decorated for service under
France." fire. Now it has been increased by the "Briscards, the "Hash- marks"mon who though not decorated nevertheless served at the front during the campaigns of the World War.
7
Those are Adolf Hitler's words, and they make the Saar worth thinking about. For the next year It is going to be the most impor tant, the most fought over, the most troublesome ploce of land in all Europe.
The political programme of the Croix de Feu is hard to define. Suffice it that its creed is a Vigl. For long decades hofore the lant honesty in office. The Croix Napoleonic wars, it was part of de Feu is a "Rightist" movement, no doubt, being a national as op French territory. After Napoleon posed to an international scheme was whipped, it was ceded to Ger and hating Communism.
many A big German military Tho оно thing that stands out garrison was kept there. The In the mystery of Colonel de In French sympathizers moved out Rocque is that he was a good sol- and the Germans moved in. It dior. The fact that after the war became German to the core. The he was invited to join the staff of General Fock proves it. The col development of coal mines and onel's advance from the rim of the consequent industries which Africa to the generalissimo's staff sprang up made it the most dense- was brilliant: Invalided out of ly populated part of Europe. Its
the African aideshow he managed
FRANCE GIVEN MINES.
to wangle a job on the Western 738 square miles of territory have Front. There in 1918,, command a population of 800,000, or about But when anybody asks a Croixing a battalion, he captured an en-1,150 per square mile. de Fou what he means by a "clean" tire German battalion and was France he replies with equal made officer of the Legion of Hon- abruptness: "We are the ones our. Not long afterwards, though who will decide that."
the war had been won in between, de la Rocqua was ordered by Foch to Poland. There de la Rotque
When a Croix de Feu is asked what he would do if a Socialist.
It has generally been understood that the plebiscite would be man
treaty actually says is this: datory and final. But what the
The League of Nations shall décide on the sovereignty under which the territory is to be placed, taking into account the wishes of the inhabitants as expressed by the voting.".
LEAGUE MAY DIVIDE SAAR.
It will thus be seen that the result of the plebiscite is not inan- datory, but optional This is strengthened by the following para- graphs which tell what the League is to do if it decides that "tho whole or part" of the territory in to romain under the League, go to France or go to Germany. Under this, it is conceivable that the League might divide the territory between France and Germany.
A few months before the Nazis came into power there was little doubt how the plebiscite would have gone. Everybody agree that it would have registered 90 por cent, pro-German sentiment. The Nazi regime In Germany has made the issue doubtful, with the odds
Jows, remembering what happen still favouring Germany. But the
thing. All the coal mines in the
many; the Catholics, resentful of district were given to France Intitude of the Third Reich reparation for the damage German towards their fellows; the trades armies did to the coal mining
When the World War ended, the French wanted this territory. The other Allies refused to give it to
the Chamber of Dopatica-his fol-Communist combine overthrew the remnined two years, bolstering. UP them. But they did the next bested to their co-religionists in Ger
lowers declare-on, the tragic riot-government of France in some night of Feb. 6; who "could have" forthcoming general alection, 10 captured the Ministry of the Inte answers: "Wo would throw it rior on the night before; who to-out". day at any moment, if he wishes, could throw enough armed man, thoroughly trained, brilliantly led, into the streets of Paris to captura the government and the capital.
*Vhen it la argued that a die- tatorship of this kind is in fact political despite the lender's do nial of political alms, the Croix de Feu member smiles and says: That is the kind of government we will have." :
the Polish war machine. Then the Riff war claimed him, and again he saw active service in his familiar Morocco.
to devote himself to the service of the Croix de Feu and to the task which saw results on February 8,
·PARIS
SORE SPOT
BAAR BASIN
FRANCE
ALLE
BERLIN
ERMANY
The poultion of the troublesome Baar Bazin in relation to the two nations which sort it-France and Germany is fadicated on the map above. New enjoying free trade with France, the Sayre landers can and do exchange their coal for the iron gre and food of Freach Lorrafas. A return to German rule would mean that the Baar, coal, industry would be put in competition with the German Rahr, which produces a superior grade of cont Germany. It gets its iron ore and difficulty can be summed up In one food from Lorraine, which is now word-terrorism. Nazi leaders part of France. Lorraine, on the have proclaimed that they have a other hand, gets its coal for its list of all "traltors." In other steel mills from the Sacr. To go worde, those who won't vote for back to Germany would upset all Nazi Germany. Their broadcast- thie and would put the Saar in Ing machines in Germany send out competition with the Ruhr, which further threats. Some radical has much better coal and is al-Nazis have openly said that their bours in which to even up scores ready closely linked up with the leaders have promised them 24
German steel and iron industry.
Ever since the Nazis came into whereas they had demanded : 48. power, they have waged an inten- Under such conditions, it may be sivo campaign in the Saar. It has very difficult to get an unblased. been charged that one of Hitler's ballot,
It was years ago that he began region of northern France. The unionists, Socialists and Commun- lieutenants carried on an Invisible The Nazi leaders of Germany
aldo the official one led by the now constitute an clement of Saar was severed from Germanyists, fearful of Nazi treatment, all and unofficial government along doubt. It has been estimated by League Commission; that most of and put under the control of a commission named by the Council some that the voters at present the 1,000 gendarmes and 250 munl of the League of "Nations,
are divided 35. per cent, for Gor-cipal policemen are Nazis; that no
are many of the elected offelala, many, 30 per cent, against, and 35 per cent. still on the fence,
Many men swear that Colonel de la Rocque could have done ex- The renson the redoubtable
The Versullles treaty further When one observes that there actly what ble followers boast on colonel did not do these things again it is his followers who la apparently in France a huge Feb. 6-have invaded the Champrovided that in 1935 there should speak, since Colonel de in Rocqua group of people. determined to ber of Deputies and chucked the be a plebiscite to determine the of the territory. Every future forco a socialist government on the cringing deputies into the Seino. at this writing has yet to be inter-country and that opposition by the Many men swear that, due to the viewed by Frenchman or foreigner Croix de Feu would mean civil war, organization, the military skill is because he has no political the speaker responds: "We would and dominance of the Croix de ambitions, for himself, or for the win because we are better trained Fou, the government could have Croix de Feu. The assertion is in military affairs.”
been overturned. The fact is that Colonel de la Rocque did none of bluntly made that the leader and
theso things. He decided, no power for his cohorts want no themselves. What they want,
doubt, to bide his time.
When the question is put: "In the Croix de Feu armed?" the an-
adult person living in the land since 1920 was
to have n vote. The poople ware to say whether they wanted to continue under League of Nations rule, be annexed to France or go back to Germany.
TERRITORY HAS PROSPERED,
Saar
But aside from the political and religious elements, there is another factor-the economic. The has prospered under the present regime. It enjoys free trade with France and liberal treatment in
1
ritory over to Germany without says France ought to turn the tot insisting upon a ballot. They say they want to do this to spare the feelings of the French, because the pro-German vote will be so enor The Nazis became so bold that mous as to constitute a slap for the the League Commission issued a French. On the other hand, whole set of decrees to curb them. Frenchmen say Hitler is anxious to avoid a plebiscite, because he fears: he will either lose it or just barely TERRORISM IMPEDES VOTING, '
A specific committee of the scrape through which would be a League of Nations In wrestling slap for him. Towards the end of with the question of when and how. May the League of Nations will the plebiscite shall be held. The have to decide what to do.
ON LEAVE
WITH A CAR
RHongkong Landed Prices
Home Delivery At
"LIGHT SIX” SALOONS
tio
ral
Standard
£210
of
De Luxe
£230
with
"BIG SIX”"" SALOON
Aby
ame
"BE SURE OF IT: GIVE ME THE OCULAR PROOF."
SHAKESPEARE (Othello)
WE HAVE SUPPLIED THE NEW
1934 VAUXHALL CARS
Capt. P. Villars
TO THE FOLLOWING HONGKONG RESIDENTS (DELIVERED IN ENGLAND)
W. O. Lambert, Esq.
D. H. Blake, Esq.
successor to the
Famous. Vauxhall Cadet
·£325:
To the motorist going on Home leave special at- rangements are extended
for delivery in- London for uso at Home whilst on fur lough and for. subsequent ship ment to Hong
U fond
сика
IX Unit
ques
b. Chảy
turna
anan
cons
take
polle
woul
tion.
tion,
Rev. G. E. S. Upsdell
ciple
ment
aln
men
Comdr. J. B. Newill
kong...at the
pres
above prices.
Rent
ple'r
Dr. D. J. Valentino.
obed
Deferred Terms-Repurchase
Dr. G. W. Pope
Licence & Insurance Arranged Full particulars on application,:
NO
J. P. Sherry, Esq.
H. G. Cooper, Esq.
HONGKONG HOTEL GARAGE
Insp. F. T. J. Portallion
C. E. Gahagan, Esq.
find
Show Room
P. Lauder, Esq.
H. H. Scott, Esq.
Phone 27778-9 Stubbs Road in
Dr. I. Newton
G. H. Sheriff, Esq.
A. K. Mackenzie, Esq. C. D. Perdue, Esq.- Prof. M. H. Roffey Prof. W. Faid W. B. Finnigan, Esq.
K. E. Greig, Esq.
S. H. Ross, Esq.
A. D. A. Stearns, Esq.
Hongkong Telegraph.
MONDAY, MAY 28, 193-1,
DEMONSTRATIONS
ARRANGED AT ANY TIME
LET THE OPINION OF DISCERNING MOTORISTS GUIDE YOU.
HONGKONG HOTEL GARAGE
STUBBS ROAD