The morning call., 1892-03-06
ALSACE and LORRAINE.
A Proposition to Buy Them Back From
Germany.
Or France Might Cede Tonquin in Exchange.
a Question Being Agitated Both Sides
Of the Rhine.
Special to THE SUNDAY CALL.


Germany. a wound painful even now, after
twenty years Of possession. From time to
time we hear of arrangements by which
peace between France and Germany may be
defnitive, and the last idea is to buy back
the lost provinces-not with their weight
in gold, but by abandoning Tonquin to Ger
many. Naturally this new idea has not the
least chance of realization. but it is CON-
mented upon and criticized on both sides Of
the Rhine, and that alone is sufficient
to make the subject seem a reality.
For months past French journalist, Alsa-
clan by birth, III. Waldteufei. has written
In the Paris National in favor of a Franco
Prussian understanding about Alsace-
Lorraine. NJ. Waldteufel's project is to
create in France and Germany parallel
movements, that is, in France he would like
to- organize a committee of patronage to
which would belong the most eminent
philosophers. In Germany individuals
would act so that German minds would have
time to become accustomed to the idea of
abandoning Reichsand. The French
committee would give its inspira-
ton to provincial subcommit tees, which
would propagate the idea outside
OF all political prescriptions. Mr..
Waldteufel has made this idea of Fran CO.
German reconciliation the work of his life,
and now he feels that it has made some
progress. He has noticed in the Berlin Post
long, well-studied article treating the
question from The foundation, and Tar from
categorically rejecting the solution pro-
posed 1t discussed it and brings arguments
III opposition to the plan proposed-"So we
are discussed! exclaimed NJ. Waldte ufel.
and for him that means the beginning Of a
succeSS-in the distant future.
OPPOSED TO ANNEXATION.
However, NJ Waldteufel was wrong to
address himself to Herr Bebej. leader of
the German Socialistic party, and to ask
| him to second his efforts. Herr Bebel re-
| fused, although the party OF which he is
| chief is disposed to accept any arrangement
| France and Germany. Herr Bebel himself
| has never lost an occasion for publicly de-
n0uncing instrumentation OF Alsace- Lorraine
| to the German Empire. But Herr Bebel
| has deemed 1T " Use to refuse any assistance
| to Nj. a!dteuie, who, In his turn, is much
| surprised at this temporary at. At the
| same time that NJ. Waldte ufeI is trying to
| Insure the success of his plan, NJ. Tallichet
publishes in the Revive Suisse a long
study OH the Alsaee- Lorraine question.
| He. also, has his little project for
| general pacifcation--a project that is
| quite UIopian. NJ. Tallichet's idea,
| the same as that preSen ted some years ago
| by Sir Charles Dixie, consists in exchanging
1 inter-
| ests and national dignity of the two coun-
| tries" says tie Revue Suisse, would thus
| be conciliated." But the ideas expressed IN
| these articles have met with appreciation
neither In Germany nor in France. While
the Germans have answered NJ. Tallichet
| that the abandonment of Reich stand seemed
to them a great danger for Germany, the
French have protested because they would
lose too much by the exchange. They feel
that If the Germans become masters Of
Ionanln they Will form there an immense
Oriental empire, SO much the more power
| full because Germany will no longer be
obliged to sustain formidable army that
| ruins her to-day.
JULES sIMoN's DECLARATION
jules Simon declares that Alsace cannot
be compared with Tonauin. IF our credit"
| says he, permitted Us TO do in Tonauin
what should be done there, L have the firm
| conviction that this Country would become
| for France what India is for England" Be-
| sides, jules Simon has always believed in
neutralizng Alsace-Lorraine, and his idea
in proper position for submitting
this delicate question to the other
| powers. The great philosopher hopes that
| this will some day be the solution and,
| when in Berlin two years ago, he spoke
| freely concerning it in political circles. And
it seems that Germans always answered NJ.
| jules Simon with: If AlSace were taken
| from US, we, like you. should wish it back
| at any price. In the circle of Prince Won
| Bismarck, NJ. Simon heard this: "a Isace
! neuter is Alsace French, in less than half a
| century,!
| 1t is evident that such is the general opin.
ion In Germany. AS for the opinion of the
majority OF Frenchmen. it is not that of
naturalization. as proposed by M. Jules
| Simon. nor that Of exchange invented by
the Revue Suisse. The great majority of
| Frenchmen do not wish to hear of neutrali-
cation, of purchase, of exchange. They
| prefer to sharpen their swords and wait the
| hour of justice.
| deputy. said yesterday: France must
| never believe that she can efface the bloody
| spot OF 1901 with the ink of protocols.
| that she can ever sew with the threads of
! diplomacy the rags OF torn country"
IDEAS THAT ARE UToPIAN.
| nj. Millevoye considers jules Simon aud
| Waldteufei very Utopian In their ideas.
| The articles in the Revue Suisse are, ac-
| cording to him, "a grave insult" fer
| TonQuin exchanged for Alsace-Lorraine
would be more than Instantaneous
s bargain III Mould be ss disgrace for
| speak TO France Of possible compromises
| with her duty and her honor outrage her,"
Besides. he thinks that Germany would
| never enter into negotiations with France
| for the retrocession of Reichsland. "Tne
German Emperor who would dare enter
| into negotiations concerning question of
| that kind" says NJ Milievoye, would risk
| the loss of his crown" The Cologne Gazette
| has well arranged the question by these
\ words: "Since 1871 similar propositions
! have been made many times and they have
been ridculed; it is all that such projects
merit"
| NJ. Lucien Millevoye, of whom [ have
| spoken, has acquired certain authority
| since he has eonseerated himself to the
study of foreign policy. He is warm par
! tsan of the Franco Russian alliance and
naturally belongs to the party that cries re-
| yenge. In consequence he wages war against
| all who show bis country any other route
| than that OF victory. for taking possession
| of the land not promised but lost. An ex-
magistrate, Nj. Lucien Millevoye is the son
| Of a celebrated magistrate and grandson of
| the poet-author of the 'Chute des FeuilIes"
| a friend of the Russian patriot Katkoff,
! M. Miilevoye some years ago wrote in the
| French press article after article advocating
| love for Russia. He received directly from
| that gave value to his articles that con-
| tributed to throw into relief the devoted
| personal friend of General Boulanger
| To-day Nj. Lucien Millevoye continues to
/ group numerous documents on interna-
| tional questions, and To speak in the Cham
| Der OF Deputies each time that external
| political questions are themes of discussion
| BE is an orator of talent, and a student
| famed Tor his learning. AS M. Milleyoye
| is only 40 years old his future lies before
| him. BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR
| Paris, Feb. Is. 1892
!
ABOUT LEMONS.