New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15


how would it be possible to exclude the nun
dreds of thousands of Germans who nave anu
would immigrate. and whose vote leaves no
doubt? PIebiscite under these conditions
would be absolutely incomplete and false.
Ard after all. is il not a fact that Alsace
and Lorraine have already expressed their
wish in the three times which | have cited,
and under the most solemn conditions
Twice in the National Assembly at Bordeaux
and then in the Reichstag. | have read TO
YOU these declarations. The country then
pronounced itself in all liberty through the
voice of its deputies. Is il possible 10 pre-
tend that the sentiment of the population
has changed? What is necessary is that right
should be reinstated Right, which has been
violated by the violence done Alsace and Lor-
raine in 1870! IL is impossible 70 establish
right by a plebiscite. 1t is only possloIe 10
restore it by the reestabishment OF the con-
ditions which existed before the violation.
And so the only solution which is lett Is
that of autonomy, which would consist OF the
making of Alsace and Lorraine ouner
state" Never would this term of buffer
state" have been applied more properly Coh-
slider the problem solved in this way and try
for Yourselves TO imagine the conflicts, not
N saw combats. which would result, and what
Alsatian on both his frontiers. II would
simnlv amount TO creating new source OF
envy and of conflict, which would prolong IN
Europe the warlike atmosphere. No! Au-
tonomv at a certain moment appeared posi-
HE as | have shown you, because II was the
cnly solution which presented itself TO those
who were still protesting against their an
nexatiou and whose voices were smotnered'
To-day the true patriots of Alsace and Lor-
raine rebel against any such idea; the Aooe
Watterle. when he was questioned on the
subject, said with a certain sense OF humor;
"If ever such a thing we're to happen Aisace
and Lorraine would have nothing to do but
TO declare war against France. and IN TINS
way annexation would be unavoidable.
Neither Plebiscite Nor Autonomy
No. neither pebscite nor autonomy can
nossihlv solve the problem. We must waive
all solutions which are not absolutely frank!
Rv the declaration OF war Germany has torn
nm the treaty of Frankfort. Alsace and Lor-
raine were tied to Germany only by TINS
treaty. | do not say by this scrap OF paper
From now on nothing in their traditions or
their interests or their sympathles holds
them any longer to the imperialistic and
tvrannic nation under whose yoke they have
suffered for almost half century. Every
thing. on the contrary, draws them nvincioly
toward democratic France. Returned TO the
breast of their mother country, they VIII ma
the normal life to which they have aspired
so long This is the only solution. the only
one which gives satisfaction, logically and IN
all justice, and which in the future Will guar
antee the peace of the world.
But let us go further even than this ques-
ton of Alsace and Lorraine, and let us re-
IL. g ri
and of America itself will not be assured If
the war ends otherwise than BY the return to
their cradles of all the peoples who have
been robbed from their mother countries, and
the integral restitution of all the thefts COM
mitted by Germany and Austria in the last
century of Poland of Schleswig- Hostein, of
Trent and Triest, of Alssce and Lorraine, of
Herzegovina and of Bosnia!
The other day, at twilight from the
trenches of the Hartmannsweilerkopf while
gazing in the distance toward Colmar, beyond
the enemys lines, the officer with whom
was an Alsatian of that very town, said to
me in very excellent English-"Ah, the JOY of
being here, the privilege for which ! have
always prayed God. To fight for the liberia
ton of all that is most sacred to man, for
ones soil, ones family, ones ideals. To
liberate Sometimes it seems long, but we
have the faith that never fails" And, point
ing to a wonderfully bright star in the direc-
ton Of Comar. he added very simply, AT
night, here in the trenches when | feel
little discouraged with the waiting, do you
know the prayer ! most often offer:
Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling
gloom,
Lead Thou me on
The night is dark and am far from home
Lead Thou me on
The verses are by Newman you know. | am
very fond of them."