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- page two ly at least, was bitterly eritical of the French stand on the Ssar, pointing out its lack of democracy and its nationelism. Added to this, the possible postponement of the elections was a definite sign of desperate weakness on the part of the Saar regime. Such a postponement, the Saar people argue, is the first and infallible sign of coming capitulation. And in this appreciation, not only the friends of G .rmany concur. In fact it shows best among those willing to shsport the present regime. These people are now afraif for their lives. And it is certainly not a coinsidence ig a high official of the Saar regime complained to this observer, that it was increasingly difficult for the Governenent to find qualified officials for its administration. Promising young men refuse to go into publie life, since they are afraid of a future fate as collaborationists. They will not admit this, but these are the facts. For obvious reasons the men of the Saar regime and their main sponsor, Ambassador Gilbert Grandval, are unwilling to tho ow in the sponge. They are able and cunning persons. And fundamentally they have a certain, though hidden support in the population, which has rarely enjoyed a better governement and greater prosperity than now. the Steel Mills and the Mines have an incredible prosperity. The wages are very good, prices are not to hich, U loyment is practically non-existing. Despite this, over 504 of the Saar Budget is devoted to gotial services, Somewhat over 9% of the budget is devoted to the building of new housings, which, together with the hou= ses built by private enterprise, puts the Saar today at the head of all the Europeah countries in the building of new dwellings for its population. People are really enjoying the highest standards of living since the present status has been established 3; they live better than the French or the GrManse Pe The Saar regime itself is honest and clean. Friends of G rmany will say, that the men of the regime have been bougfit by the French. This is not true. This observer, who first was inclined to believe these charges is now convinced that they are untrue. The People in the governement really believe in what they are doing. This is certainly true of the 62 years old "Father" Johannes Hoffmann, a former newspaperman and political organizer. The very able Minister of Economies, Franz Ruland, is holding the same views as his superior, The strong man, Minister of Interior Dr. Edgar Hector is a true fanatic of his ideas : he is for the ties with F,ance because he loves France passionately, and because, as a Jew, he harbours in his heart bitterness towards Germany. The other
