New-York tribune., 1871-05-15
TIE TREATY BATWEBN GERMANY IND
Fb.4NCE.

rivals, on more lasting basis than rs predecessors
time alone can reveal. But it is alresd, safe say
that the consequences Of this Treaty. both immediate
aud ulterior, upon the destines and the mutsaI re
tlons OF tho two contracting powers will be of the
most momentou3 nature.
Foremost among the immediate results will be the
Germanization Of the annexed provinces. During
the negotiations for peace tho German Governments
careful TO base their demand for the annexation
of Asace and Lorraine military not on nationality
considerations. They could not well act otherwise.
for appeal to the nationality principle would have
been direct recognition Of the claims of Denmark
to Northern Scbleswg. and of the aspirations of the
Poles for a reconstruction of the empire. But IL tho
chief reason was Of military nature hardly less
important argument for annexation undoubtedly
found In the hope Of reyving in the Alsacians and
LorTainers the consciousness of their German ma
tonaity, and to make them again an integral part
not only Of the German empire, but Of the German
people This hope is now shared by the fyhoe Ger
man people, who. since the occupation q tho prov
inces by German troops, have spared no efforts
to dispose the inhabitants Of the two Provinces favor
ably toward the idea of reunion. Preparations ON
the grandest scale have been made for thoroughly
Germanizing the Provinces and will now at once bs
carried out with that marvellous energy by which
| the German statesmen have astonished the world
They aware that in carrying out their designs
they will have to overcome considerable opposition
on the part of the population; but they expect 10
conquer it, as summarily they conquered the war
power of France. The recent events in Paris have
| greatly facilitated their task the impressions re-
ceved by the people in Asace from France are all Of
acentrfugal nature; while at the same time the uster
of the new German Empire dazzes .hem no less
than the remainder Of Europe. Eyeraweek brings
new indications that the people begin to look
| upon their reunion with Germany an
accomplished and unalterable fact. deputationo
| the most prominent inhabitants has been in Berlin
to acquaint Prince Bismarck with the wishes Of their
fellow citizens and on their return they expressed
their delight with the cordial reception they had
found In Berlin. In Strasbourg, meeting Of about
ninety maires has been held and a series of resou-
tions were adopted asking for the establishment u
complete university in Strasbourg and the i'm
mediate representation of their people in the German
| Reichstag As the German language prevails
throughout the provinces with the exception of the
district of Metz, the Government of Germany has
not the least difficulty in enforcing tie immediate
introduction Of the German language in the schools
Of all grades in the churches in the courts in the
official press, and in all other official relations; and
according to present indications the elevation Of the
peoples language to therank of the official language
| will produce all the effects expected from 1t.
what Lombardy and Veneta have been for Austria.
and what Roumania and Seryia are for Turkey, the
annexation of these provinces to Germany could
hardly be said to increase the power of Germany at
the expense of France. But even the most enthus-
astc Frenchman is to-day no longer certain that the
Asacians and LOrrainers will resist the German rule
as successfully as Lombardy and Venetia, Rouma-
MIA and Seryia resisted their foreign Governments.
If the new provinces is likely to be the case, VIII
soon be completely Germanized, tho transfer OF
about 5000 square miles and over oneslnd half MIL
lion of inhabitants somewhat affects the relative po-
stion of France and Germany among the Great Pow
ers of Europe. France which before the war had
3sOOO,OOO of inhabitants will be reduced to about
36OOOOOO; Germany, which had likewise 3s0OO0D0,
will be raised to about 40OO0OO0. This disparity, it
will be seen is after all not very great; and, as far
as it depends population alone France is very far.
as some of her distressed sons feared from being
reduced to a second rank power. Even now
when her foreign colonies counted in, she has
population considerably exceeding that OF Prussia.
The Importance of the territorial change which has
now been finally ratified by the Treaty Of Frankfort.
can only be appreciated if we consider that Ger
many while the equal of France in population, dis
played strength infinitely SUPERIOR and that there
FORE the transfer of two of the most tOurishng
Provinces of France must increase this superiority
a.
on the part of France for a long time nearly mpossl
ble unless it be in alliance with another great Power.
While during the past 30 years Germany has observed
with regard to France attitude essentially defen
sye, and on many occasions has made reluctant con-
cessiOns to purchase the preservation of amicablo
relations in future France will be cOntented If she
is let alone by Germany.
A disability of France to 90 to war with Germany
involves the mpossibility to continue for the time
being efficient opposition to the further progress
of the national unity Of Germany. This may very
soon prove to be the most important of all the conse
auences of the Treaty of Frankfort. In the opinion
of the German people, the ediice of National Unity
is still incomplete. OF the countries which until
1866 were represented in the Federal Diet, two arc
still outside of the new Empire, the German prov
inces of Austria and Luxemburg. The latter is re-
ported to be on the eve Of reconnecting itself with
| Germany At all events the Luxemburg question
has ow dwnded down TO utter nsgnificance IN COM
parison with the question as to thesfate OF German
Austria. Leaving out of account the Germans In Hun
gary there is in Austria compact German popula-
ton of about sOOOOO0 who take the deepest interest
in the greatness and the glory of the German Nation.
! and who now cannot help regarding the Emperor
and the Reichstag of Berlin as the great bannerbear-
ers of the German interests 1t is natural that many
Germans in Austria will begin 10 think that re-
| union with the Germans of Germany would put
them in much desirable position than their
present connection with the Poles, the Czechs and
other foreign races. A party holding these views
does even now exist in Austria and is rapidly in
creasng in strength. 1t already has been on more
than one occasion q serious embarrassment to the
Austrian Government; it is even now looked upon
I as source of the most serious danger. war be-
tween Germany and Austria would at once starr IN
| Germany a national clamor for the union OF tue
| German Austrians with Germany, and there Is no
dnnht that this clamor would be Joined by many