ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1266, 4 March 1918, Page 5

ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

INTERESTING DISCLOSURES. (A. & N.Z.) > PARIS, March ‘l. At the national Alsace-Lorraine 1 celebrations at the Sorhonne, there '; was an imposing ceremony. I M. Pichon (Foreign Minister),] • speaking on behalf of the Govern-1 jment, said that Count von Herding * i was pretending that the annexation ■ lof Alsace-Lorraine was carried out: in order to rc-occupy German tend-j I Jory which France had usurped. ;|The ex-Empress Eugenie, however,) had just given die national archives! ja letter from William L. dated Goto-j j her 2(i, 1870, saying that Germany in-1 sisted on territorial concessions fori I no other reason except to make sure I | that the next war would find her; •| better prepared to meet the aggres-1 ; sion which was certain to come I directly France regained her) : strength and secured allies. M. Pichon also read a telegram,; I dated July 31, 191-1, from Dr von j j Hethmann-llolhveg (then Imperial I Chancellor) to Herr von Choen. the! i German Ambassador at Paris. This j stated:— | If the French Government | will remain neutral, you must | inform as a guarantee | | of such neutrality we insist on j France handing over the fort- j i resses of Tout and Verdun, i I which we will occupy and reI store after the war. Germany ! must have a reply before four | o’clock on Saturday afternoon.