THE LOST PROVINCES OF FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3175, 28 August 1917, Page 9

THE LOST PROVINCES OF FRANCE

M. RIBOT ON THE WRONG OF 1871

GERMANY TO MAKE AMENDS

In Hid French Somite recently ono of tlio Senators, M. Ke&iem onset, recalled the uneasiness felt in I'nmco throughout the different phases of the Bussian revolution. I'horo was great uneasiness, he-continued, whon seven Frenchmen pro-posed-to go to Stockholm.and confer with Hermans. Addressing JI. llibot, the Premiei) SI. Regismanset added: - 'lt. is not an 'interpellation which we -address to you. It is an invitation to deiino clearly your common' opinion on tho general policy of Prance. We wish to share all your responsibilities. We cannot admit that at a moment when thp country is still invaded Frenchmen should show the leasl;,i?ign of halting." . "It is necessary," the Premier said in. reply, "to share' the' heavy responsibilities imposed upon -us. ■ We neou the sss.istanco • and the confidence' of . both Houscii. ' The Senate, liko the country, whs indignant at tho thought that ii party in France should contemplate' the possibility of .resuming-, international relations. Some people had lived lender the' delusion that international ■understandings would prevent warn. Tho German Socialists, with tare exceptions, were from the first moment conscious accomplices of tho crimes committed against the whole of hiimanitv and against civilisation. Even now 'they approve, at least . by their culpablo eilence •of the atrocities that have been committed and and' civilisation. Tho public conscience, tlie : defiance of all the-laws of humanity ylucli 'must not be overlooked js convinced, of tlio .moral impossibility of French citizens, in the .middle of a war and.at a time when French fw.itory.is occupied,. taking part .in conversations with ."such enemies. ■• We-rthe Government—see the danger-of these meetings, which, cannot" bring about peace. That can. only bo brought about by victory. Such confabulations in foreign towns can only create the illusion of peace. Tluit is uangorons. Never at any moment, especially irhen the struggle is hardest because the end is approaching, can we leave such an illusion in the public mind and in the Arniy. France has need of all her strength, especially of. all her moral strength, which is a pledge Of victory and a treasure over which we must jealously watch. The Nation's Will. . "On the other hand, we must not let it bo thought that the Governments representing the nation allow tho direction of the country's wax policy to escape thorn. Only ,the Government, as representing the Sovereignty of tho nation, can exercise its .right. Thoso are the reasons which dotermino oiir present attitude. Our sentiments are absolutely unanimous. I gave the Chamber tho reasons for the attitude of the Government and found that what I said corresponded not only with tho almost 'unanimous, opinion of tho Chamber, but also wit?i the general, public opinion. J. have nothing to add. The resolution adopted by the Chamber was (ho conclusion of a. still greater debate, for the Chamber faced a great quesTion, and wished to know with what purpose we are continuing tho war. It was necessary to spoa'c clearly. As boflts Frenchmen, wo do not seek capitious and equivocal formulas. Wo rejected what' , was a trap laid lo seductivo formulas, which did not have their origin, in Potrograd, but wore imported from elsewhere, and tho birthplace of which is only too obvious.

"'l'ho words 'no annexation' ciumot menu that wo Imvo not tho right lo dcuiand tiiat which belongs to us. namely, Aleaeo-Lorraine, which biifi novor teased l(i bo French, at heart since Ihoaboniinablo act which violated justice ;ind right in 1871. There is not a single i'renohman who would bn eo cowardly as to accent tho idea, tout wo should not cemtinuo the war until wo. have- regained that which is our bloud, and until tlio prosTneos return to tho besom oi' their SJ other-country. But what is meant by 'no indemnities'? If it were, a question o[ humbling tho conquered, wo should not wish, to havo anything lo do with it. But no French Government could renounoo tho reparation ot daimigPs and atrocities after the -unheard-of devastations suffered by our territory. Think of tho protest which would nriso from tho devastated departments! It is not a urbitrary act, but ono irf justico ivhich m our aim. Tho Order of tho Day which closed tho debate in the Chamber Tejlocted these ideas, i nm sure t":>at we shall again find them reflected in, tho Note vrbieh. Prcsiduat \Vilson is about to address to Petrograd- wo-a.ro in agreement witb. tho high and clonr conscience of I)r. Wilson, who liiraself said that iu the eyes of tho'United States tho restoration of Alsace-Lorraino would not bo a conquest or an annexation, and that tho reparation of tho damago doiic in (ho war ivonkl riot bq an indemnity but a simple act of'justice "We are thus in complete agveement with the conscience of the civilised \vc-r\;\, and it. is an immense forco whose full value wo ought to know and appreciate. By the sido of material forces there aro moral forces fighting for us. Let us gufiVd thorn jealously. Tho Order of tho Uay "adopted by tho Chamber added that wo must demand guarantees to safeguard our cKTldron Trom a rehirn of such herrors. Shall wo find them in territorial acquisitions, or temporary occupations oE lemtor}-, or in the neutralisation of territory? ATI , these questions will be con6idere3 whon the timo comes. Our best juaranteo will bo in the formntion of a Iluropo in which all nations belong to themselves, and in which tho will of a singlo man can no longor let loose such evils. It is not sufficient that wo should ftp in agreement.' It is necessary that'the Germans should consent, for I boliovo in the power of ideas of justice. I beliovo in the healthy spread of just and r.oblo ideas. All Those who have togetuor carried on this struggle to the end will find the ncefl of not separating after f he victory. It is to-morrow they should form a LeSgtie ■of Peace in the na'rho of the democratic • spirit which "Franco had tho- honour of introducing into the world. 1 '

"Wo nations in arms will form a' society of nations. , - That is whoro tho future of lumianity lies. 'Otherwise we must despair of the future."