Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-14

1871, establishes the fact OF AIsacc-Lor-
raine's UNMARRIED desire to belong 10
France. France feels certain that.
should a plcbiscite be taken. tho result
would he in her favor. But we must
not forget that there are in N!slcc-
Lorraine 100000 "immigrants." that Is
TO say. German settlers. many OF whom
have been sent there as officials of the
German empire: they no doubt. would
declare for the endurance OF German
rule.
Let us suppose that. instead Of 400
600 Germany had sent to Alsacc- I.or-
rainc 100000 immigrants. Let us sup
pose that she had turned out Il part of
the population. or destroyed il by such
inassacreS as her Turk iSh disciples are
now pcrpetratinS in Armenia: what
would then happen if Il plcbiscitc wcr.
taken? Would the right Of peoples to
dispose Of themselves make il impcra-
i've to sanction by II vote. the result
OF which. in such circumstances. would
b" Il foicsonc conclusion. the crime
Germany committed in 1871?
PlT;HiSCITE IMPoSSInLE on
MORAL AND Legal. GROUNDS
1t is therefore impossible. from the
point OF view of morality as well aS
from that OF lcgality-if the right OF
peoples to dispose of themselves he ad :
h"rcd too make the restoration OF
Alsace- Lorraine TO France conditional
on tnc taxing oil a DicbI$citc.
But let us now for a moment admit
that, by concession which is really an
impossible one. France were to consent
/" Il plcbiscitc. We declare that il
could not work in practice. FIRST Of
all. there would he conditions OF time
10 settle. when should the plcbiscitc
take place" Would il be when tho.
country is still occupied by German
armies or how long after occupation by.
thc French? Or would ii be under the
guarantee of ncutraiS? Ia each case
the consequence would bo to lay the
wv" provinces open to every Kind or
electoral contest. which would be the
more serious. because tho question this
time would not be Of a choic. between
individuals. but between conditions
which would decide the fate OF TN.
whole community.
German propaganda would be ram
nat Tn" threats which often weigh =
90 as heavily on those populations and
ihTAlyzcd their political life would un-
aNo!dably react upon the people. Would
not both French and German govern
in"ntS be led TO tn" MAX ing OF promises.
the giving OF more or less Official
pledges TO iniiucuc" tho vote? And
would the question Of right. under such
conditions. remain in fun light before
the peoples concerned?
IhtH-dnd inns Is more Important
who would be entitled To vUtcH The
register unfortunately. could not in
clud" those who. having enlisted Ia the
French army, gave their lives Tor tn.
cause Of Alsacc-l.orrai iut only
the cenuin" AlSatians and Lorraiu"rs
OF ISL and their offspring. including
the hundreds OF thousands who have
left tho country since. ana because it
Was annexed to Germany. should take
part in the pl"bisultc. Under no cir
cunstances could the Immigrants be
admitted TO vote.
Would such a pi"bisoite-a l,houg n
the only one that would be morally ad-
MISSILE. finally sct'l. tho dispute be-
tween France and Gcimnny?
Therefore it must hc concluded that
IL" pl"hisrite is not only Unacceptable.
in principle, bu, also Impossible in prac-
tIcc.
Thcs" who might persist in object
inc that the right OF peoples 10 dis
pose OF themselves canuo, be ylnGi-
Gated ~ any other method. must be
reminded THAI the inhabitants Of Alsacc
and Lorraine have increasingly express
cd their feelings. Since ls7l there has
been. 60 10 sneak am uninterrupted
plchiscitc The population Of Alsacc-
Lorraine has consistently refused TO aC-
c.pt the treaty OF Frankfort We only
state actual facts when We say that
.he case OF .AlsaC"- IS the same
as that OF our invaded provinces Jus,
rs thc German armies shall cvacuatc