New-York tribune., 1896-01-24
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
IF FRANCE AND GERMANY MADE UP"
RESTORATION OF TERRITORY SUGGESTED AS
MEANS OF ENDING MILITARIsM. AND THE
CONSEQUENT NEGLECT OF ARMENIA.

1T rhANCE AMI 'n"DH 49,
RESTORATION OF TERRITORY SUGGESTED AS
MEANS OF ENDING MILITARIsM AND THE
CONSEQUENT NEGLECT OF ARMENIA.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: On a previous occasion l expressed the view
that miltarism Is the OF the apathetic atti-
tude of the great Powers toward Armenia Let me
be more precise and say that the unhappy enmity
between France and Germany ls at the bottom OF
everything That Is what German paper meant
recently by saying that "a war leading 10 the
slaughter of the European armies would be worse
evil than anything that has happened In Armenia
England is evidently determined that Russia shan
not have another foot of Turkish territory ana
in this she Is tacity supported by every Power
In Europe. Russia replies that II her troops e""''
not enter Turkey, no others shall. France thirs'-
ing for revenge on Germany. and anxious to gam
the goodwill of her powerful ally mas 10 suppo''
Russia. Germany. the other hand is not aiNous
to strengthen the Franco Russian alihce ny '""di'
ing her eastern neighbor, and her atutuoe ue'ei
mines that OF Austria and Italy Thus the deau'ocn
is compete.
How different would all be II France and Ger
many were reconci.ed. Neither France nor Ger
many would then have any reason ior cohcc"i"s
her objection to a Russian advance In turkey hoi
would Italy welcome a competitor in the Meui'er
ranean who has already embarrassed her III >o!S-
snia Austria Hungary. above all. could theh de-
the Increase OF Russia at the expense OF turkey
Thus Russia would have to acqulesce In the de-
clsion OF united Europe on the Turkish question:
and none of the Powers are In position 10 seen
selfish advantages in that direction, the question
would almost certainly be decided In the interest Vi
the inhabitants OF Turkey themselves Inc "hoe
Empire might be- united 10 the Kingdom OF Greece.
or It might be placed under "A joint commission OF
the Powers acting nomnally as the sultan al
vIsers In all probability the sultan (or, rather' t"e
coere OF fanatics around hm), perce'vins the
changed situation would. by real reform. forestai
Interference Thus 1t Is altogether prooapie tha'
before Armenia could be redeemed france ana rei-
many must be recOnciled.
An article in The Review of Reviews Tor De-
cember 1884, signed "Pan-Aryan." suggested that
for this purpose Germany restore 10 france 'he
French speaking districts annexed In lS1l The prop
osltion is illustrated by a map which shows tnat
Germany took from France In 1871 not only some
is7i square mics with $4,000 German-speaking In
habtans. but also s2o square miles. with -oo-
900 French speaking inhabitants The proposition Is
that these Frenchspeaking people be restored 10
France while the German-speaking Alsace-Lor-
raners the ''regained brothers,. are 10 remain an
nexeI to Germany.
The proposition seems entirely equitable and In
accordance with common-sense. The territory TO be
restored Is a good deal smaller than Rhode Island
AZ # adjons France. and is therefore constantly
exposed to French influence. it's people VIII doubt
Jess always remain French In language and senti-
meni. II certainly cannot be advantage TO Ger
many retain by force within her body polite 80
1o human beings who wish TO belong TO the neigh
boring State. The only advantage Is strategic
on". Metz. the largest city In that district Is one
OF the strongest foriress,s In the world In s every
one thought French war OF revenge Inevitable. ana
thus tho Germans had very good reason for keeping
that stronghold. which rendered their western IRON
tier almost unassailahe. But conditions since then
have changed. The population Of Germany has IN
creased tn II exceeds that OF France by l20oooo.
ana her Commerce too. has outstripp@d that OF
France. 20 that she now has the advantages on her
Side iar greater ihan the possession OF Metz trdnce
has acquired vast colonial possessions. which would
probably bee lost at once II she was Obliged by
great war 10 Withdraw her armies OF occupation.
Various courtesies have passed between the two
tons. and IN the case OF the Japan-Ch China treaty
they even appeared a. allies by the side OF Russia.
These influences. IN addition 10 that or the great
healer. Time. have certainly rendered French
that ia the Transyaal difficulty France Is found
sizing not with England. her former ally. but with
Germany. her recent enemy.
Under such circumstances the restitution OF Metz
and the Of the French speaking districts would
almost certainly complete the good work OF recon
citation The permanent loss or the Gernan-speak
Ing part VII. indeed, be- bitter pin FOR France TO
swallow. bat hardly 20 bitter "a IT'S permanent loss
would have been 10 united Germany As France be-
gan the on the most frivolous OF pretexts. with
mo bodfacci Intention, iTet to annex the Prussian
lands west of the Rhine. second. 20 prevent tho
realization OF the Germans fondest drcam-the unin-
cation of their taiherlani seems not unreasonabe
1, hope that France Will think the loss OF 1850 900
Gcrman-speAking inhabitants light penalty FOR her
rashness \; any rate. an impartial word VIII rec
ognlz~ the division along the language boundary rs
the most equitable. and viii applaud the voluntary
restitution by Germany an act OF unexampled
generosity. ana II France. instead OF responding
with equal generosity by accepting the restitution
final settlement. continued 10 growl and threat
en-. she would only e'ra r.. ridlculc =. ,. -.
Of the foremost nations the globe. thus giving In
ra.cuins ~ not only Armenia ba, all Turkey from the
yoke Of barbarism. he need only propose 10 the
Rcichs'as the evacuation OF Frcnch,spe9klng A.
Warrington Jan. o. 1896