The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-18
AlSAC..E0l R liners
DtkY BEL. c GERMAN
Resent Being Classed as Enemy Aliens
by Department OF Justice Under
Ancient Law--Wnl Make Mex
Appeal.

Appear.
New York, Jan. 17.--L'Association
Generate des MISUNDERSTANDING a.
Amerique, of which President Wilson.
President Polncare, of France. and
Jules J. Jusserand, the French am
bassa dor to the United States are
honorary presidents, has issued a pro-
! test against the enemy alien regula-
! tlon. which makes the status of Alsa-
tians and Lorrainers. SO far al the en-
, rorcement of those regulations are
concerned, the same as that OF other
German subjects and other enemy
aliens. The active heads of the AL
sace-Lorrai inc association are Daniel
Blumenthai, former mayor of Coimar
who is president; Felix wildenstein,
/ secretary. and Theodore Settler, treas
urer.
, Following meeting of officials and
members of the association held in
this city the following statement re-
gardng the status of Alsatians AMI
Lorraluers in the United States was
made:
THE question of AIsace-Lorraine.
the vital question of this great war,
is wildly brought home to us in the
treatment of the citizens of that IN
fortunate country who come under
the new regulations of the enemy alien
law. which is to come into effect ON
j FebruaryS4.
! I'm anticipation of the present
events the society known as LAssoci-
alton Generate des Alsaciens- Lorrains
d 'Amerique had been founded with
the object of protecting Alsatians and
I.orrainers OF French origin who had
, not become naturalized Americans.
7 and who, before coming to this coun-
try. AGAINST their will had become the
victims of German arbitrary domino
ton. Thanks to the efforts OF the
French government and its d'stin-
guished representative at Washing
ton, an arrangement was brought
about with the department of state.
according to which Identification cards
were issued to such ~Alsatians and
7 orrairers whose French origin had
been carefully and satisfactorily estah
lshed by the investigation committee
nf the association. Hundreds OF men
and women were thus protected by
this measure, and enjoy the protec-
ton which the French government fs
glad TO give 10 it's lost children.
Now, suddenly. an old law was
un~arthed in Washington by the de-
partment of Justice, dating back to
the year 17a7, according to which
Alsatians and r.orrainers.' although
French by ancestry and In sentiment,
are recognized as enemy aliens. and,
therefore, subjected TO the same treat
ment as Germans, their greatest
enemies,
THE department OF justice inme-
d'atelv decides to apply this law. and
wants to force the natives OF Alsaee-
lorraine to declare themselves, Ger
mans. which Is the very thing they
have been contesting for forts-six
Years In the meantime this same
department OF justice allows German
women and male and female Austrians,
the very enemies of this country. to
go unmolested. The FRENCH govern
ment is naturally somewhat handf-
canned hv the delicate position in
which II Is thus placed on account Of
this new decision on the part of the
department of justice, and thew have
so far handled the whole situation
with much tact. but opinion cannot
but favor the cause of the Afsattans
: ana orrainers for--would the people
, condemn the inhabitants OF the north
OF france because they have been un-
der +he German heel?
THE inhabitants of Alsaee-Lor-
IA me are exactly in the position of
those in the invaded districts, except
for the difference that thew have suf-
fered for fortv-six years the intimida-
ton and cruelty of the German gov
ornment In that time. hundreds or
thousands OF Alsatians and Lorrain-
ers fed from their country. Many or
thenf came over here. Should these
men he called Germans and be treat
ed as such when the allies are bent
upon the restoration of their country
to France? VIII the department OF
. Justice be sustained in its ruling TO
let free the Austrian and German wo-
men. and to act against the very VIC
tins OF Prussian autocracy. those who
have suffered in silence for forty-six
wears, and who have furnished TO
France our ally, some OF its best
soldiers and citizens?
when Alsace-Lorrafne was forcfbly
torn from France in 1871 crime
against the peace of the world was
committed, a political blunder the
effects of which theworld bears today
wrhN would not PROFOUNDLY sympathize
with the inhabitants Of Alsace-lsor-
raine who have been subjected.
against their viii. to the ruling of
those arch enemies of liberty, and
why should those who escape that
rule be made to suffer for that crime?"
Plans for the registration of the
enemy alien population of New York
city. which begins on February 4. are
now being perfected, The registra-
ton as at present planned will be
made by police precincts and will be
supervised by the police department.
assisted by the various federal secret
service agencies.
United states Marshal Thomas u.
Mccarthy was called upon several
days ago to report the approximate
number of German subjects. above the
ake of fourteen years. In the southern
district of New York. Marshal Nc
Carthy said that there were about
/ 10000 in Manhattan and the Bronx,
IT In estimated that there are moro
than 1876 900 in the metropolitan dis
trict,