Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-04
GERMANY MUST SETTLE
WITH FRANCE, HE SAYS
Member of British Parliament
Discusses European
Conditions.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
BERLIN, July 25, 1918.
The Rt Hon. Sir Joseph Campton-
Rickett, a prominent member of the Brit
ish parliament, has sent letter to the
London Daily Mail, in which he conveys
the idea that Germany must settle with
France. He says that some writer's re-
gard the German annexation Of Asace
and Lorraine as irrevocable, but he thinks
that those provinces should be restored
to France. Sir Joseph says:
Some consider this suggestion as a
healing and benef1cent treatment of "a
running sore while others suggest an
autonomous state as the true solution.
placing the two provinces under the joint
guarantee Of France and Germany. But
no critic has attempted to deny the eff
feet of the annexation-the origin Of the
present condition Of European tension.
Once Loyal Subjects.
from France the mother country from
which they were separated had no more
loyal and enthusiastic subjects. AS Dor
der provinces, the possible scene Of fu-
ture wars. they may have lacked good
road and rail communications and falter-
ed in their commercial development. To-
day the standard Of civilized life is high
er throughout Europe, and therefore In
Alsace-LOrraine. But no rising wealth
and Importance have sufficed to Quench
the memories of the past or to make
this people willing to lose their identity
in the greater Germany.
But what would Germany herself gan
by the restoration of these provinces to
France? Her population has vastly in
creased. and she is much stronger in re-
lation to her neighbor than she was at
the time when the peace Of 1871 was con-
cluded. It must be remembered that this
is not a question simply of annexation.
The Lorraine territory is heavily fOrti-
fed for so-called defensive purposes, but
Germany withdrew from this territory.
and either neutralized or restored 1t. this
challenge. at least, would be withdrawn.
A new frontier would be substituted for
it. more defensible because closer to the
German military base, and relieved from
the risk Of an unfriendly population.
New Friendship Alternative.
Under the present grouping Of Europe
the complete overthrow of France Is I'm
possible therefore the only alternative
is new friendship. For Germany is
adding to her military and naval forces
at rate which is beginning to tax her
resources so severely that only the pros
pect of immediate war could justify her
action. She is preparing for what APP
pears to be the inevitable struggle be-
tween the German and the Slav by addi-
tons to her own army, and by calling
upon her allies to make sacrifices in pro-
portion to herself.
But the kaiser and his shrewd advisers
are under no illusion as to the position.
They know that the domestic differences
Of the Balkan powers will not last A
common interest will bring them together
again. and Teuton menace. IKE the TURK
ish tyranny, will only serve to CONSOLE
date their forces. Their quarrels are not
more serious than the border disputes of
England and Scotland. which would have
vanished before an invasion from the
continent