New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-12

or Lorraine VIII depend HuCh vi N''''"'
possible future power
A nlobiscite OF tho people Of Alsace and
Lorraine has often been suggested TO deter
mine whether the territory shall be French
or German II such a vote were taken. Wost
authorities seem certain that French-speak-
ing Lorraine would vote ror Incorporation
with France (See Toynbee, Nationality ana
the WARP But a vote OF all Lorraine as
unit or combined with Alsacc might result in
favor Of Germany, particularly "a the man
mower of the provinces is in the German
army and those favoring France might not
be allowed to return to vote 4 plcbscite
were in view.
independence Wrong
The suggestion Of an Independent unit OF
the two provinces presents itself AZ taclle
solution which may seem attractive TO the
uniformed, and has been recommended by
writer's in this country. Politically the prov
inces might conceivably be made unl:,
though their economic interests, their popu-
lation and their language would make for
differentiation and the band-lke form Of the
territory and its situation between two pow
erful neighbors for vulnerablity and mprob-
ability Of permanence But from the point OF
view of the iron deposits such unit would
from the Saar field and the market for iron
of the steel works Of Westphalia. The result
would be economic domination by Germany.
Furthermore, the Lorraine iron region and
the French Briey and Nancy iron region are
geographically and geologically one. Artih-
cial restrictions to its complete development
by boundaries and tariffs may be temporarily
successful, but this will only put off the final
settlement With the growth of Germany's
steel industry and the exhaustion Of the iron
in Lorraine, the German demand of to-day
for control of the iron of Lorraine will in the
future present itself for control Of the French
iron beyond IL is probable that the Ger
mans foresaw this and that one of their OBJ
jects in the present war was TO settle this
matter to their satisfaction at an early date
This view is held by Cheradam ("The Pan
German Plot Unmasked'O and by Yves Guyot
("Les Causes et Consequences de la
Guerre")
The natural unit formed by this iron region
should be under one government And the
nation which governs it should be strong
enough to control it's financial and industrial
independence. Any settlement Of the ques-
ton which dsregards these facts is an nvi-
taton to future war
France cannot be expected to surrender her
only great resources OIL iron 10 10TH "a poII0I-
cally Independent unit which would drift into
economic bondage to Germany, If nothing
worse. The people of the whole iron region
speak French. And France is therefore the
nation which should control that territory,
whatever may be done with the rest Of AL
SAGE and Lorraine.
If Asace and Lorraine be restored to
France, or even if only the French-speaking
part of Lorraine be restored, France will con-
troll politically the greatest iron reserves in
Europe Economically, however, she will
still be dependent upon German coal, and in
return for German concessions with regard
to coal supply French iron ore can be secured
BIZ Germany The interests of the two ma
tons will become mutually interdependent,
rs are those of most Of our states. The
French steel industry will be allowed
chance TO develop on an economic footing
equal TO that Of Germany's and Germany will
remain in a position with regard to supply
of iron ore which will make further sudden
attack against a peaceful world difficult and
therefore unlikely. HUNTINGTON ADAMS.
New York, Oct. 10, 1917