ALSACE-LORRAINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12061, 17 July 1917, Page 3

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

STORY OF A FAMOUS REGION. The history of the German Imperial Province of Alsace-Lorraine dates, of course, from tho Treaty of Frankfort, which was concluded between France and Prussia after the Franco-Prussian war, in tho .May of 1871. By that treaty tho whole of Alsace, and that part of the Province of Lorraine known as German Lorraine, were ceded to Germany, and incorporated in one territory known to the Germans as Elsass-Lotfiringen, or simply as the Reichsland. The separate histories of Alsace and Lorraine stretch far back into the beginnings of things in Europe. The whole region, especially Alsace, was always disputed territory, and in ancient times often formed the battle ground in the contentions of rival races. To trace, therefore, the history of the two provinces through all the mazes of medieval European history would call for much more space than is now available. Suffice it to say that they both belonged to that loose confederation of states known as the Empire, and from the tenth century onwards were governed by various sovereigns, dukes, or princes, under Germanic suzerainty, chiefly that of tho House of Hapsburg. The modern history of Alsace-Lor-raine ma.y be said to date from_ the famous Peace of Westphalia, which concluded tho Thirty Years' "War. By that treaty a large part of Alsace was ceded to France; but Louis XIV. had set his heart on securing much more of it. In those days, when territory changed hands rapidly, it was never difficult for a country to set up plausible claims to adjoining lands, and Louis XIV.. shortly after the Peace of Westphalia, turned his attention to Alsace to see what could be done in this respect. It did not take him long, as might be supposed, to discover, much to his "righteous indignation,'' that large tracts of surrouuding territory had been, in years gone by. " torn from Alsace," or to decide that they should most certainly be restored to that country by the various German princes who were in possession. With much show of judicial fairness, the Monarquo laid the case for France before two .-.-'chambers of inquiry, which he established at Brisach and Motz, but tho result was a foregone conclusion. In vain the princes appealed to the Emperor. The Emperor could afford them-noaid.nnd in 1081 French troops seized Strassburg. A further war broke out, but, by the Treaty of Ratishon, in. 1684, Strassburg was secured to France, and, although the war was renewed in 1688, and dragged on until 1697, the Peace of Ryswick, which was concluded in that year, definitely confirmed the annexation of Strassburg to France. Thence onwards Alsace and Lorraine seem to have settled, down to make themselves thoroughly French. Although originally Celtic, the populalation was greatly modified, during tho Roman period and aftorwards, by the steady inflow of Germanic peoples, and at the time of the* Signing of the Peace of Ryswick there could. bo no doubt as'to the German character of the inhabitants. They seem, however, to have determined (o come to rest on French soil. Gradually tho French language came to be the predominating tongue" whilst, in sentiment, outlook and attachments the people, <as time passed, became essentially l'rench. It was for this reason that they offered such a stubborn resistance to tho German invasion in the autumn oi IbrU, and it was fortius reason that, aitor the countrv had been formally handed over to Germanv. some lfiO.ooo inhabitants of Alsace-Lorraine elected to remain French, in spite of all that the decision involved : whilst o\ these at least 60,000 actually carried out their intention, and emigrated to France.