ALSACE-LORRAINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14203, 4 February 1915, Page 4

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

Mr A. F. Whyte, M.P., WTitcs from first-hand knowledge of Alsace-Lor-raine in the "Nineteenth Century." With the French lighting in Southern Alsace at the present moment, the article has a-special interest. Before the war broke out, says Mr Whyte, the two provinces had clearly shown that their extreme reluctance, to enter the Ger man Empire could only be overcome by the grant .of autonomy; without that measure of political emancipation they might remain in Germany, but never of it. And this, despite lhe fact, that a large pait of both provinces is, by origin and language, German, closely t'J.iii to the nei'^iboi!" ■•■:•; peoples in 1 fai-'. and the Grai'., l.'in-hy of Bidec Association with the French has taught this people to prefer them to the Germaus- —they have acquired deep-rooted French traditions, have assimilated the civilisation of the French, and in the course of live generations have learned to love France passionately. Whoa it is remembered that the victory of Germany in IS7U imposed on them not that type of government which South Germany enjoyed, but the harshest kind of Prussian military occupation, it is easy to understand their present feel ings towards the French.