France, Germany, and the Saar.

This article focuses on the issue between France and Germany regarding Saar River Valley territory. 1947 France gave the Saar, already detached from. The rest of Germany, a degree of self-government which was set out in the Saar Statute. When the Saarlanders held their elections they were well aware of the near starvation in Germany and of an Allied dismantling program which was just swinging into full action. The Christian Party, in the predominantly Catholic state was expected to obtain a safe majority. He had, moreover, an understanding with the next largest party, the Socialists, who were still strong in this overwhelmingly Industrialized area. The elections gave the Christians twenty-eight seats and the Socialists seventeen. Three went to independents and two to the Communists. Only the Communists were pledged to oppose French plans.