Evening star., 1928-02-02
ALSAcE BECOMING
FRANCES IRELAND
Long Opposition to Germans
Leaves Natives Stubborn.
May lmperiI Peace.
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.


Special Dispatch TO The Star,
PARIS. February 2.--Of all the "af-
fairs" which are at the moment
troubling the tranquility of Europe ana
awakening apprehension in the various
state departments. none is more an
moving than the AlSatian. 1t Is trouble
some because it threatens to bring INTO
question again all the elaborate Franco
German settlement made at Locarno
and at later time 10 destroy that
Franco-Cserinan reconciliation which 1t
is even today patiently making more
difficult
Having for all the time from the
Franco-PruSSian war TO the end OF the
World War disturbed European peace.
the fate of AlSacc-Lorraine seemed set
tlej when the allied victory returned
the lost provinces TO France. For 40
wears AlSace had been unreconciled TO
German rule When IN November. 1914.
the French troops crossed the FoSeeS
and entered S.raSbourg. Colmar and
Mulhouse they were welcomed With
frantic enthusiasm.
Even the Germans were impressed bv
this demonstration OF Alsatian loyalty
10 France. and Locarro seven wears
later marked the formal resignation by
the Reich Of all claim TO reconquer the
provinces which Bismarck had taken.
BY the Locarro pactS Germany volun-
tari!y accepted the new frontier. and
there was a sigh Of relief heard all
over Europe.
Natives Obstinate.
Unhappily. this apparent settlement
did not last. Both countries had reck-
oned without Alsace itself Having for
almost half century resisted the Ger
man Thus today the press OF France
almost Irish habit Of being "agin the
government" whether French or Ger
man Thus today the preSse of France
is flied with the discussion of the 'au-
tononlist" movement and with the ar
rests and sentencing Of AlSatians who
are seeking to gain for their province
a greater or larger degree of inde-
pen6ence.
In al the se,ter of charge and
countercharge which attends this affair
certain things are clear. Thus there
who are stilr unoualifedly loyal to
France who favor the rapid assimilation
OF Alsace 10 France. Over against them
stands group. probably less numerous.
Y no are Germans from Germany.
In addition there is the considerable
Socialist and Communist element
equally hostile 10 French and German
governments. interested not in the for
tunes Of either national state. but seek
ing 10 provoke and promote that class
war which is the basis of socialistic
policy Its obvious tactics are founded
on the notion Of exploiting and develop
ing every sort of parochial discomfort
60 the greater glory Of Moscow.
German Training Tells.
Far more serious is the activity OF
the group made up o. native Alsatians.
teachers. preachers and employees of
state railways. little functionaries. who
were trained in Germany. who know
only German. who look with utter ter
Tor upon the influx OF French from
across the Rhine who have already in
part replaced them at their jobs and
are likely TO continue 10 do this AS for
IN clergy. il sees itself threatened alike
because i is German trained and be-
cause IN France church and state have
been separated. the Catholic clergy dis
established and government support
Withdrawn
Beyond the special groups there is
the mass of AlSatians who are mere
concerned with their own interests than