FRANCE AND ALSACE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 June 1928, Page 4

FRANCE AND ALSACE.

SEQUEL TO DECENT TKIAL. SEE 10US SITUATION CAUSED. LONDON, May -9. A very serious .situation inis arisen in Alsace, one of the lost Ercneii provinces reclaiined from (jerinan.v alter the war, as a Jesuit of the sentencing to a year’s imprisonment and live years' banishment from Alsace, lor party conspiracy against the State, of Messieurs lleeKiiu. Posse, Sehall and Fasschauer, lour leaders of the Alsu i ion Autonomist Party.' Britain is vitally concerned in the preservation oi peace in Alsace, because, in event of a In each of the Locarno Security Treaty, she would he obliged to stake British lives on the security of the l'Tonch-Alsatian frontier. The Alsatians, who largely arc Homan Catholics, are becoming increasingly suspicious at what they term trie Fiench -misinterpretation of their claims for further control over such matters as local revenues, publicworks anti utilities, which they had' wrung from Germany. The Provincial Diet—Dr. Kccklin, one of the sentenced men, was president—enjoyed a scheme of local pension and insurance, and a larger control of local expenditure than is exercised by any single department in France. Thus, it was accustomed to think in terms of. federation, and to onsider that France should think the same: but the question of separation fiom Uraiicc or a return to Germany dues not arise. The leader of lho Alsatian clergy, Abbe lfaegy, directed his flock to support any candidate at the general elections whose programme held out hopes of reforms, and that the votes at the second ballot should he transferred even to Communists. As a result, Alsace is represented by a number of men of integrity, but also by many self-seekers, fonicntcrs of disturbance and'exponents of dangerous subversive ideas. Actually, Alsace secured a worse representation, and the Government may find it more difficult to make comessions. l Visitors observe that French culture in Alsace is still superficial. Signs above the shops are in French, but German is spoken over the counters. Furthermore, the region escaped the wave of secularism that largely shaped tl'.e modern French outlook. The French Press treats the demand for autonomy as a. demand for separation and. therefore, as seditious, and the hand of revengeful Germany is discerned behind the whole movement. The French Premier. M. Poincare, however, recently clearly stated the case against autonomy. He said that France is determined never again to allow an inch of Alsace and Lorraine to be retaken or 1 to consent to the creation of an autonomous or neutral State, the existence of which would he precarious- and inventive of ficsh conflicts. He appealed to Alsatians to cultivate n closer intimacy with the rest of France, and to speak and teach the French language in the schools.