As it was expected, the Council of the League of Nations at its session yesterday unanimously approved in principle the Franco – German agreement which guarantees the rights of the Saar Jews for one year only.
This unanimous decision of the Council will provoke much doubt as to the actual strength of the League of Nations. After all, one of the major functions of the League is to protect national minority rights. The circumstance that not even a single member of the Council raised objections to the fact that the Saar minorities will be protected for one year only will definitely be interpreted to mean that the Council of the League of Nations has not lived up to the principles for which it stands.
The Jews of the Saar may just as well now begin to pack to leave their homes. The auction which the Council of the League of Nations has given to the Franco-German agreement leaves nothing for them but “voluntary” exile.
It is highly regrettable that in the negotiations with Germany with regard to the Saar plebiscite, the League of Nations has proven itself so weak as far as the interests of the national minorities are concerned. This may certainly be utilized by those European governments which are so anxious to get rid of their national minority obligations.
It is the second time that the League of Nations is helpless when it comes to protecting minority rights. The first time was a few months ago when Colonel Beck, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, openly renounced the national minority treaties which are guaranteed by the League of Nations. The announcement which Colonel Beck made was never withdrawn by the Polish government despite the fact that it constituted a slap in the face to the League of Nations.
With Poland’s repudiation of its national minority obligations and now, with the League permitting Germany to obtain the Saar without guaranteeing permanent equality for the Jews there, why should Austria hesitate to discriminate against the Jews? Why should she not consider the St. Germain treaty a scrap of paper? Everybody does it and the League of Nations keeps quiet Why not Austria.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
