The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-23
GERMANY SCHEMES TO
HOLD ALSACE-L0RRA|AE
BY ABBE WETTERIIE.
Former Member OF German Reichs-
tag from Alsace-L Lorraine.

| tag from Alsace-Lorraine.
| Paris, Oct. 81 (by mail to New
York Germany latest vancouver
with regard to Alsace-L orra inc is pain
fully apparent. The imperial gov
eminent can no longer elude the prob
lem presented by the lost provinces
of France to the entire world. How
can the question be most easily solved
/ and what solution will enable Ger
many to save her face and at the
same time keep as firm hold as
possible on the provinces?
| SO far German diplomacy has con-
sidered five hypothesis, only three of
which have been announced to the
world Needless to say. the solution
of q complete surrender of the pro-
vinces 10 not embra ced in the five.
which may be outlined as follows:
F'irst-The creation of a separate
state of Aisace- Lorraine under Ger
, man sovereign.
second--The creation OF a federai
| federation.
Third-The creation OF complete
~ independent, neutral state, but I'M
der the German zollverein.
| Fourth-The restoration OF Asace
to France, leaving Lorraine under
German domination.
! Fffth-The cession of the provinces
to France, but only under condition
| that German mining rights shah be
respected and guaranteed.
! In regard TO the first proposition
here Is why no one has or should
waste moments time In considering
IT, The Alsatians and Lorrainers
have nothing IN common with any
| dynasty What right. then, has Ger
many TO impose a foreign sovereign
upon them?
! Secondly when we demanded au-
! tonomy from Germany 1t was because
II was the best we could have hoped
/ for at the time, and we also insisted
that the people be given the right
i to choose their own form OF govern
ment and select their dirigents. In
any case autonomy which left US part
I of the German confederation would
| only be snare and delusion because
| in the forty-four years since our an
| nexation the Germans have come to
consider all the public offices as fam
! lily fefs. the native Alsatians could
never succeed in holding offices re-
served exclusively TO a certain HER
archy constituted. by birth alone.
4 Thirdly. even II our provinces were
made into federal state such as
name only. we could continue As in
the past to be governed and have
our affairs administered by strangers,
J.! hostile TO cur habits and customs.
! who would render life insupportable
to the pure Alss tians. Among the
many reasons we desire to be re-
stored to France. the first is TO be
! rid Of the functionaries who have been
/ loaded upon US and under whose cruel
heels we have been ground down for
{ many years.
past that would Justify the creation
of a new state While, by force. we
were ohiltyed to constitute a part of
the Germsnic empire, we were right
in insisting that we be given n. ma
tional standing different from the
other German states for our mental
I fty In irrenconc ilGb la with that OF
the German people. Mere than two
centuries Of q common life with other
j French provinces had fnstiiied in our
population French tastes. French
habits and French aspirations.
Under German rule we demanded
the right to be considered as a peo-
! pie separate and distinct because we
did not care to be COMPOUNDED with
the German people. but when the
chance is given to Alsattsns and Lor-
y raarsets to freely express their pre-
ference thsy are the first to throw
off The nationality forced upon them
and demand in a single voice that
J they be restored TO their French
: origin.
\ The campaign has already been
, opened. as the world has seen. to
regulate the Alsace- Lorraine Ques-
ton With their faulty psychology.
the Germans have prepared a line of
retreat from an untenable diplomatic
position as they prepared on the bat
} tie fronts. Their fourth and hfth
!. hypothesis. which we shall shortly
see Ia red to the world. provide that
: they shall still retain possession of
) the rich mineral deposits of Lsor-
rama.
: In the new autonomous state or by
returning both provinces 10 France
with a string on them, the Germans
would still retain the largest part OF
the provinces inherent riches. Under
these conditions autonomy would be
} nothing but an abomfnable trick and
an empty shell for the provinces
, themselves.
There is but one solution 20 the
question. The full and complete
restoration of the lost provinces to
their mother country without reserve