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

free will. will do herself honor by
going so far. in her regard for the right
OF clf-determinatio ton. as to agree. after
Alsace Lorraine has resumed her place
In the II cnch community. to Il CONSUL
tation of the populations there. under
the control OF the League of Nations.
What is proposed here is not 4 plebis-
cite. which would decide whether AL
SAGE Lorraine would return to France
or not. but consultation after the
event. by which the inhabitants of
Alsacc- Lorraine will declare that they
wished to be French again.
! think I have made the distinction
clear. I may add that. while this view
is held by an overwhelming majority
of the French Socialist party. there are
members of the party tand ] ann bound
to say am one OF them. as well as
some Socialists OF Alsatiau and I.or
rainier oriGin) who are afraid that even
such a consultation may be Il danger
Gus concession. leading TO a dubious
Interpretation: they adopt the formula
Of the Republican League OF AlSace-
Lorraine. and declare that u consulta-
ti"n cannot be forced upon these Dopu-
lations: IL belongs to Alsacc Lorraine
herself TO assert in her own way. at
the moment and in the form she pre-
fcrs. her will to belong to France.
our views being thus clearly rrstatcd.
"-'vh 10 and r"w wo dis OF ,xplana-
ton for our British ri ads.
MY do French and Als:,tians in this
special cas-" OF AlSacc- Lorraine. think
that no plcbiScitc should take place in
spite OF their claim for the peoples OF
tho right TO dispose OF themselves?
The reason is simple one The Ques-
ton is not to give population the
right for the first time 10 decide it's own
fate. II was in 1871 that the right Of
peoples 10 dispose OF themselves was
violated. The most characteristics fca
ture OF the French nation is her COM
plctc unity. and ;hc fact that all the
populations of France have unUucstion-
ably expressed their desire to belong.
to tho French community. No people
in the world has attained To such alb
solute unity. such Il Homogeneous ma
tinnal structure. While Great Britain
shows to the world tn" finest realization
OF the imperial idea. France is tho very
example and prototype Of the nation.
In 1890. after the alternative changes
which had made AlsaCc and Lorraine
now French. now German territories.
the l."rraincrs and the Aisatiaus. on
the great day of tho federation.
soicmnly declared their resolution to
30 part of tho French nation At StraSs-
burg. Nulhous" and In other Alsatian
towns. I'll" people showed by stirring
demonstrations how enthusia tically
they proclaimed their French national
ity. During the nineteenth century.
no scparatist tendency ever found any
expression in AlSace or in Lorraine. In
1871. when tho two provinces were yio-
lently taken from France. the inhabi-
tants raised before tho EordeauX as
scmbly moving protest. in which they
declared that should even centuries
pass. their right TO be French would
remain indefcas!ble. In 1874. they pro-
tested in the ReichStt. against the an
ncxat!on made against their will and
by which they had been handed over
10 Germany Xix" mere cattle"
During fortT-Scvcn years the pro-
test of AlSace- Lorraine never ceased
TO make itself heard in various ways.
ON the eve Of the present war. when
the Saycrhc incidents took place n
Prussian officer could say tina: the Ger
man army in Alsacc was practically in
enemy country. Since the beginning
OF tho war hundreds OF sentences have
been passed by German Judges on
AiSaiians, whose guilt was N have ex-
pressed their French feelings.
To agree To plcbiscitc under such
circumstances would not only amount
10 cancel!ng thc repeated protcstations
OF 1871. 1874. and OF all times Il
would he equivalent to declaration
, that our right has become null and
void. 1t would amount to admitting
that the treaty OF Frankfort Is stnl
valid and il would vindicate Germany's
action when in ISL she violated the
/ right Of peoples 10 d;spose OF them
selves. I, is because OF this right tina,
the method OF the plebiscitc cannot be
accepted.