New-York tribune., 1918-01-07
Unwilling Germans
Why Plebiscite Should Not Be Take
in Alsace-Lorraine
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Should Alsace-Lorraine be res'em
to France? If the decision Of this queszl
rested with the American people they VI
doubtless be anxious TO have it settleis
accordance with the wishes Of the PER-
of Alsace-Lorraine But it does not fcHH E
that they would accept the result of a pie t
iscite held under present conditions as
isfactorv evidence of The wishes Of the p T
pie of Alsace Lorraine.
A pebiscite in Northern France. with SEE F
of the population deported and Others il [
ported, and still more likely to he mpo'
ed to participate in the plebiscite, and VII
the vote counted with German efhcisne
might show an overwhelming majority 4
favor of the retention Of that region by GEL
many. A plebiscite in Belgium might relsI
date King Albert in favor Of the Kaiser 7
the Crown<prince, or declare for repHss
under the Presidency Of Admiral Won Tirps|
The French are quite convinced that "
people Of Alsace-Lorraine did not want to \
annexed 10 Germany in 1871, and there i
good German authority to support that opSl
ION Says Treitschke, in what We pemsi|
From France" (lS70):
'In view of our obligation TO secure ~
peace of the world, who viii object that y
people of Elsass and Lothringen DO not WI
to belong to US? The doctrine of the rig
of all branches OF the German race to defl6
on their own destinies, the plausible sou
ton of demagogucs without fatherlsi'
shvers to pieces in presence of this sas'A
necessity. Against their will "
shall restore them to their true selves
They are a genuinely German people, "H
Tretschke, only it appears that in his 'h'
and for many generations previously 'a''
didn't know it, They fought iercely 10
France in the wars OF the Revolution az
the Empire, he tells u. Toasted OF tne1
"patriotism.' hated the Germans, sometime
raging like wild beasts against thelr O''
flesh and blood" All of which seems j
show that one can be unconsciously Germs
and this raises the dsqaietng aues''
whether any of US can be sure OF ourse'''
And it was no use N 1870 30 try 10 '''
vince these people that they were German
But. alas," SAWS Tgeitschke, when :
praise the indestructibe German nature I.
the man of Elsass, the subject Of our p'ss
declines to receive it. Il adheres 70 -, :,
conviction that he is no Suabian ana -
all Suabians are yellow footed
Such, it seems, is the fascina'ioh
France Germany has had 30 such luck W.
the Poles :.
But Treitschke thought these pcople ms.
he Germanized, or perhaps we should 50! :.
Gernanized And maybe they have ,'s oss
and nlebiscite might show it-esneeia''
plebiscite held under German auspices :.
But # they hated Germany ir lS'c' w. w..
has happened since then to change
views? The Zabern incident, perhaps -,
the invasion of Belgium. or the schs'
ments Of Zeppelin and Won Tirpitz =.
At any rate. France viii not be conSlA..
and will not spend much time discusS'hs = ;,
matter. If she can get back Alsaes :.
Lorraine she viii take them. Ana ID
Americans will feel that they would o0 '
same thing in her place. =,
If Mexico, when opportunity knoeAss
her door in the person of Herr Zlnihs''s.
had defeated the United States and am
Texas-which was once Mexican tefs'.Os w.,
and if, generation or two later, ths "s,a s.,,
can people found themselves with nsar1 !,
chance of getting Texas back, they woa'u =, +.
hail with enthusiasm a proposition W -
the fate of Texas settled by piepise''s
any rate, not until they knew Just nv" .,,o .su
Mexico would have to DO with the e'ssu, n.
And that is how Francs feels now. -,
Americans hope that she Will go. !
Alsace Lorraine, and quite few WA
, hard to see that she does. ,>,l
WILLIAM 4. M'AEassN
New York. Dec. %, 1917. -