Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-25
Changing Nationality.
ny Frederic J. Haskin

Wy Frederic j. itashth
Washington, MAY eb.-Surpose YOU
had heen born Frenchman, suuuehiy
ana Violently converted into German,
and then turned into trenchman
asain. How would you have felt about
~
THAT question could be answered py
many AN elderly person in the Province
of Alaace- Lorraine. which Germany
took away from France I'm 1871, anu
which France has regained. Inc
French Government is now engaged III
making the rcgaincd provinces oNei
into a part of France.
II the feeiing of nationalism were as
strong aa IL is supposed To pe, anu
uomotimea becomes under the innuehce
uf war propaganda. this change ought
60 cause much rejoicing ON the part Oh
some of the Inhabitants OF the famous
province and much weeping and gnash-
lng of teeth on the part of others.
According 20 American observers
,.c.ntlv returned from Europe. there
la little OF either. The typical inhabitant
of Alaace- Lorraine is a placid peasant
Who cares little whether his govern
mont ia French or German, who only
wants 20 hc left in peace to plow and
plant. This great emotion OF nauonal-
l.tn about which the diplomats ana the
n.vspapors make such a fuss does not
moan much TO him, He cares httle
whether at large he Is a German or
srenehman. But he Is distinctly tired
OF being a world problem and hopes no
more wars will he fought about him.
Tho impressions OF an American
journalist who has just completed
walking trip through Msace-Lorraine
throw an interesting impartial hsht
ON these provinces. lie says Alsatiahs
and lsorraincrs did not as rule con-
slider themselves oppressed uhuer
German rule nor are they now COM
plctoly satisfied with French govern
ment,
Changing Governments.
4 person speaking both French ana
German can soon discover Tor hlnlsen
thst good administration will In time
smooth cut the present irri'auoh
AGAINST French rule. To change the
,ntire machinery OF government for a
district of such size and population Is
in itself "A big task and one which was
NOT made easier by the constant com
harrison between the settled pre-war
administration of Germany, and the
partly experimental postwar admins
tratlon of France. Temporarily, SUI
prcmc power Of government Is vested
in "A commissioner and his executive
committee. known as the Commissariat
general, which have their headquarters
in Strasburg. The Commissioner IS
F'rcnchman, hut on the executive COM
mtttee are found both Alsatians and
lorrainors. German laws have now
been largely replaced by French, al
though ln some cases the old codes are
stin In force. In the courts some ali-
nculty was experienced on account o.
tho change OF languages, ana nnul
recently proceedings IN the courts anu
la local government were conducted ~
tho two languages. Slowly TINS uouDic
tanrt,are arrangement is being elimin-
atpd and now al the more important
functions are conducted in French
alone.
The Language question has not pre-
s.ntea as many difficulties as might
maze bcen expected. The changing OF
.tfret names caused a little confusion
l,ut both the French and German name
= generally 10 he foSnd on the corners
German language papers are permitted
and arc still more numerous than those
Ia French. Ia bookstores one sees every
kinA % German book ~ur sale Win the
naftraahle exception uf those on pollti-
deal or natiunalistic themes or ans
suhgect which might be considered
propaganda. For the most part the IN
habitants speak both languages. as
german has hoen used IN the schools
and Tor an civil functions for haI
century. ii il natural 20 hnd IL 50 com
mon. nut neither French nor German
h. the mother tongue 81 the NATIVE
4 uafois of their own. IL is Germani'
dialeet. but cannot be said 70 be pure
German any mere than can Dutch o.
Danish.
In the elementary schools French i
80, taught and used exclusively bu
la The highs grades German may o
afudled. The French feeling that i wa
advisable 10 change most Of the teaching
ata0 and scholastic system in order 4
aeeamplish this has been another caus
for discomfort. The French admit thai
the salarios paid 20 teachers are not a;
hleh as those paid by the Germans.
In one institution the French ar
making great efforts TO keep up tn
good name and reputation made by tn
Germans that Is In the University o
strasboure. n Is their ambition TO keel
thia university a focal .oint for foreigl
9tudenta Instead OF the famous univer
stiles LETT TO Germany. With this Il
view the authorities have done every
thing possible 90 continue the Germai
methods OF work, their specialized
ooursee of study and the research IA
cilltles-ail this Of course with Frencl
faculty 20 replace the Germans WIZ
have been expelled. Many of the pro
tessors who have gone TO Strasbourl
from other universities are of the mos
famous ia their departments.
Popular lntifiere- ?.
The natives Of Alsace- Lorraine ar
a distinctive people, and are not apt 4
he Galncizcd anymore than they wer'
f3egnanlzed. The isolated farmer wh'
tlls his land on the medieval strip sys
tom. his primitive plow always drawn
by oxen. has little interest in polite!