FRENCH PROBLEM OF ALSACE

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 6

FRENCH PROBLEM OF ALSACE

EFFECT OF SECULARIST LAWS PARIS, March 26. Efforts arc .being made to persuade the Radicals vote in support of the Government policy in Alsace, now being discussed in the Chamber, and so to obtain an imposing majority which will impress foreign opinion, ft is even suggested that such n, truce between the Radicals and the Government is likely to be extended over fhe whole period of the international negotiations of the reparations’ experts ami dm ratification by the Chamber of the agreement reached. The ‘ Volnnte,’ however, advises ihc Radical Party 1o abstain in a body, and so to keep their hands free to deal with the Alsatian question when opportunity arises. The religious question which is at the bottom of the Alsatian trouble complicates the whole consideration of it by French parties. Church ami State are not separated in Alsace, and the French Catholics,, so Nationalist, in other matters, cannot be acquitted of having encouraged the movement which has now led to autonomibin.

Indeed, the ‘Victoirc’ only this morning says autonomism would not exist but for Alsatian hatred of the French secularist laws. The Radicals and the Socialists, on the other hand, who would like to sec these laws applied to Alsace, are there in the position of being tho most pro-Frcnch of the parties.