New-York tribune., 1917-07-10

mans living in Alsace. and with the .,,.,..
and the repressive measures Of the C,r.."i
we'll known to them, how could they. 49,
these conditions, cast a free and n,IS~
pered vote? If in 1871 the will of the ,ss usor,s
of Alsace-L Lorraine would have been CO..
ed. the outcome of such plebscite cou,S -.
have been doubted in the least. Tn. r.
nimity of the country would have bks y.
France. This is why at the National A,,.,'
bly, of Bordeaux the representatives Of n.
people Of Asace- Lorraine issued the hj..,-..
protest against the cession OF their eopr,.
to Germany against their will, as follow.
"The representatives OF Alsace and L..
raine presented before any negotiation q,
peace took place 70 the National Assenblv.
declaration affirming in the most po,It;,.
terms, in the name of these provinces ,h.,'
will and their right to remain French.
abandoned in spite of all justice sss ~
an odious abuse Of force 10 the dorir,,..
of the foreigner, we have last du,v !.
fulfil
ave declare null and void a pact VIII.
disposes of US without our consent.
"The revindication of our rights will >.
main always open to each and every On, -
us in the form and in the measure which o,,.
conscience shall dictate TO US.
"At the moment Of leaving this Ass.nb,
where our dignity no longer permits U, /,
remain. and in spite of the bitterness Of an,
sorrow. the supreme thought which fill. Ou,
hearts is one of gratitude to those who "a,
six months have not ceased TO defend Us All
10 express our undying attachment to as
country from which We are torn by vio.re,,
"Our vows and our hopes will follow r,u
and we will wait with supreme confidence
the future when France, regenerated, vii
once again follow the glorious trend Of hr
destiny.
"Your brothers Of Alsace- Lorraine ton 1,
this moment from the common family viii
keen for France, absent. a filial affection un.E
the day when she will again retsks hsa
place"
Take a Plebiscite Here
Why ask in American papers for a plshs.
cite in Alsacc-Lorrane when we have thos.
sands upon thousands of Alsatans and Lsr,
rainers right in this country among vhet
vote could easily be taken, which, no iout..
would be overwhelmingly for Franee' L q,
talk knowingly of this, because our society
Les Amis de rAlsace Lorraine, duly en-
powered to that effect by the French eT-
ernment. has received the applications sf
thousands Of Alsatians and LorrainerS VIC
came to US in order to claim, no, to dsnSss.
their right 20 be considered as Frenehnc,
and not as Germans.
If Alsace-Lorraine was as German a. ts
Germans state how is il that only shst
L. -. Tho incident Af csveys
was possible? How is il that every yss, N |
July Il, which is the Fourth Of JGy .
France. the Alsatians pilgrimated ny hv"
dreds of thousands to Nancy, 20 Beltor a.. |
other nearby French towns, in order % y |
able to feast their eyes once year ei "
sacred tricolor, to hear and sing the "yr- |
seillaise." to shout "Vive la France" AZ |
this in spite of the hardships they ka1 /
awaited them upon their return 70 Al'a'. |
the hands of their oppressors? How sH1sl
since the beginning Of this war over 'F15
thousand Alsatians, enrolled by force es
German army, in spite Of almost unsur-'Tt
able difficulties succeeded in deserting % te |
French. and are now with JOY. serng u
der the French color5 and giving their Ives |
for France? Why, Germany herself has "
knowledged many time that the Alstrs
are French by calling them depreeanlsI |
"Franzosenkoepfe" or "Franzoslnge," and D
stating publicly that in Alsace the GsFrri |
were in "Fendesland' Gin the enemys e'si' |
try?
New Yorks Alsatians
No. the Alsatians and Lorrainers ere !"
Germans. On the contrary, their spirit hs
intensely pro-French that it absorbs in n'l
cases the children born in Alsace OF Frr
sian officials | know of many cases liAep~
We had of late right here in New lon
pathetic proof in the appearance at hs
fec of our society, asking, begging y
supply him with a French Identification @H
Of a man native Of Mulhouse, Alsace' o'VI
man parents, and proclaiming 70 the
" world. and proving it, that he was fren1
sentiments. French at heart. And wne- =.
account OF his German parentage, we ."
make some difficulties, the man becan'
most insane with grief, and stated "a
we refused 70 give him his card as IH~
man he would commit suicide rather H'
see himself taken as a German.
The conclusion is: Alsace-Lorraine' !.
tice to itself, in justice TO France -.
tice to the right of people 70 govern u..
selves, must be returned to its mo'hG w.
try, to the country which 1t SO dear9 ~.
and to which it is attached b. so many I'll
for which it has given and is giving i' wv"
and its treasures, to France!