Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23
Frances Alsatian Problem
History Separated Peoples Years. Expected

gave Alsace her own autocratic admin
istration, hard, and without grace, but
materially eficient.
As compared to the kreis director
the Alsatian depute remained a little
boy. Therefore. the governed felt that
the real power was not in those whom
they had elected, but in the uniformed
functionaries before whom Germans in
stinctively bow.
OF liberty there was no question, but
there existed tncontestably the regular
production Of well creased machinery.
In contrast to government by per-
sons. as in France. Alsace was ruled
by things. It u altogether o different
conception OF life, for the basis and
raison d'etre of French rule is always
to prefer the free development Of the
individual to the working out Of efii-
cient social machinery.
Want Greater Efficiency.
Today Alsace Is asking us for q gov
eminent to encourage material, every
day efficiency that we are not 80 well
able to give her, for she fears that the
intrusion of liberty and individual ca
price viii tend to enervate the vigor OF
her former system.
while to make certain sacrifices in
order to secure political liberty and
always to defend the individual, who
TO US Is sacred. But all the world does
not think as we do, and this Is notably
true with number Of our good Asa
tian friends. They are unable to I'M
derstand the rather fantastical rela-
tionship which has developed between
our appointed public administration
and our elected deputies.
Which country has really progressed
from 1871 to 1914? Is 1t Germany or
Is 1t France? II one judges from the
point Of view Of the country's efficiency,
then. without doubt, 1t Is Germany.
But II one regards the position Of the
individual in the nation, II one does
not emphasize material progress but
rather the political advancement, 1t Is
very probable that the answer would
be different.
The question. therefore, Is one Of a
basic difference of opinion as to the
function Of government.
History has separated Alsace and
Lorraine from France for ~ years, and
during that time We have each adj
vanced on different and divergent
roads. The same difficulties Of read
jistment are to be found In all parts
Of Europe wherever the Versailles
treaty has brought about . change. Of
sovereignty.
These embarrassments are inevitable
and should not surprise Us. As they
concern France and Alsace, they are
neither fatal nor very serious because
the Alsatians are incontestably not ir-
redentist. There may be discomfort,
but. with the exception of a few nat
uralized Germans, they do not wish TO
become Germans again.
The very delicate point OF discussion
Is that the whole idea of the unity of
the nation Is put on trial.
A federated country made up OF
many units, composed of many races.
as, for example, Switzerland can sub
sist with its several languages and cul-
lures. But that Is difncult for q coun-
try so basicaliy unified as France.
Many Americans believe, for instance.
that even in their country, which Is
made up Of many federated units, 1t
would be impossible 70 accept a differ
ence OF language in the separate States,
It Is the element of time "a half
century Of German occupation) which
has exaggerated certain Emergencies.
and 1t Is time that will alternate these
differences perhaps without entirely
suppresSing them As for me. believe
living together will solve the problem.