The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
POLITICS.
viii Germany Give A~l.ace-Lorraino Back to
Francel

PARIS, Juno 1.-THE dim light that shines from
time to time upon the socalled European con-
cert reveals a fro" ming and sulky France. Ger
tainly 1t may be merely a shadow, but, like sun
spots. shadows always mean something. Accord
ing to the NoureUes OF ST. Petersburg. a high
authority in diplomatic matters, the musicians
of the grand concert have not yet succeeded in
tuning their instruments. Germany and Rus
STA. we are told, are endeavoring to bring France
into an alliance against England. and TO shelve
the Eastern question for the present, patching
1t up as best they may. France refuses to Join
any combination that includes Germany. Aus
tria appears to be more or less Indifferent, and
Italy is a Quantift ntgii0eabic.
Now, II all this be true, we are brought face to
face once more with the ever fluttering 6pou-
pdntaI OF Alsace-Lorraine Strange events
have happened during the past few years. II.
thirty summers ago. II man had dared TO say that
France would DO compelled to code two prov
inces to Germany he would have been set down
as a fool or n madman But sages, fools, or mad
men as they may be to-day, there are some who
believe, or profess TO believe. that Emperor
william is contemplating tho restitution OF the
captured provinces 10 France.
Pointing TO this possibility tho Figaro was the
first to startle the Parisians with n trumpet
blast in honor of the German Emperor. and to
hint at q possible triple alliance between France,
Russia, and Germany. 1t may DO the widest OF
dreams. but in these queer times no man need
DG buTIlTlSeu u tHlIR.
Straws show us the way the wind blows. Let
us take a look at the straWs. One Is the well,
despatch OF William III. tn President
KRUGER, which created the storm OF indignation
In England which has not yet passed over. An.
other is the reported desire OF the Kaiser to visit
Paris and to prove to tho Frenchmen that, after
all, he is yrdncoph'Le to the tips OF his fingers.
There is one way Tor him 10 prove that, and, un-
fortunately, only one. William knows it well,
md he alone can look into the future and choose
between 2 gigantic war and a glorious peace.
The sudden change OF front on the part OF the
English press and English statesmen toward
France may also be taken as an indication. The
Britishers are all French now. They have rung
down the c irtain on their Examinations In honor
Of the German victories in 1870, and openly ex'
press their contempt for the German Kaiser
The entente cordidte with France Is now TO rage
In England. and on the 18th OF this month a
mass meeting is to be held in London, at which
English Statement are expected to express theiI
all that they possibly could to smash the Franco
Russian alliance. In the namc of the Society OF
the Entente COrdiale, Sir Philip Stanhope re
Gently interviewed himself in the Mdtin. anG
presented a paper which might be taken for d
masterpiece In diplomatic d~upliCity II 1t had not
been for its gushing transparency. In a word, HI
told how dearly England loved France, and how
delighted she would be II her old Crimean ALI
would be good enough TO lend a hand In the worl
ofpullinE the chestnuts out Of the future fire.
Well, Frenchmen are not all fools. and few o.
them just now are inclined to take taffy from
John Bull. In the European concert he sing
out OF tune, and there is an evident disposition
TO strike his name from the programme; but ap
parently France frowns upon the Russo-Ger
man entente. even though England alone b.
aimed at