New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-23
LV1hat 1t Would Mean to Germany
w to Keep These Provinces

The area covered by this deposit EN-
braces the Longwy and Briey districts in
France. now occupied by the German ar
mics. and portions of German Lorraine, Of
Luxembourg and of Belgium, also for the
moment in German possession. II Germany
could secure a peace based on her present
military position. the whole OF this wealth
of iron ore. estimated at some five billion
tons would pass under her control As il Is,
rather more than half the deposit is sup
posed to lie on the French side of the bor-
der. and rather less than half in German
Lorraine and Luxembourg. That being so,
il may be asked why Germany, when she
had the chance in 1870, did not annex the
entire ore yielding area. instead Of allow
ing il to be divided between France and her
self The answer is that she would undOubt-
eddy have done so had she realized the value
of her treasure trove. But forty-seven
years ago metalurgists generally regarded
phosphoric ores, which formed the greater
part of the Lorraine strata, as worthless
and unworkable. The Germans seized every
thing that in the then state of science was
known to be profitable and relinquished the
rest to the French. But less than five years
later the mining industry was revolutionized
phorizing ores. Instantly the value Of the
ferruginous districts annexed by the Ger
mans was indefinitely multiplied. But at
the same time the portions of the basin
they had contemptuously allowed to remain
in the possession of the French were re-
deemed at a stroke from comparative
worthlessness TO a rich productivity.
THE general outline of the issue that the
war is shaping and will determine thus be
comes clear Suppose Germany were to win
and were 20 annex the greater half of the
ferruginous basin that lies on French soil.
Territorially it would be a very small acqul-
sition. Economically its value would be in
estimabe II would mean that after the war
Germany would be able TO raise some 49,
100000 tons Of iron ore a year, while the
French output would be reduced 20 bare
100000 tons. Suppose, on the other hand,
that the Allied victory is as complete az We
all intend it shall Do and that Alsace -Lor-
raine is restored 20 France. The situation
in that case would be almost precisely re-
versed. France would be in position 10
extract about a., 000. 900 tons OF ore a year,
and Germany would have TO remain salts
fed with maximum yield OF some 5000, 900
tons No blow could more effeetually Grip
pie German industriaism, and with IL Ger
manys capacity to organize another war.
than the loss Of the Lorraine ore BEDS and
nothing could so certainly and so speedily
rcestablish the economic equilibrium Of
France as 20 regain possession Of them. In
the fate % Alsace-Lorraiue there is involved
nothing less than the Industrial primacy OF
Europe
Even. however. when France has resumed
her rightful ownership Of the lost provinces
and in doing so has become the supreme
,torehouse of iron ore on the Continent, the
coal problem will still remain. Not only will
il remain; it will be sggrsysted-and in a
form that will ask for its right solution
from both the French and the British gov
ernments a high degree OF commercial di-
plomacy.