ALSACE-LORRAINE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 767, 16 March 1910, Page 7

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE TO BE EXTENDED. By Telojraph-Presa Associatlon-Oopjrlsht (Rec. March 15, 10 p.m.) Berlin, March 15. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, Imperial Chancellor; announced in tho Reichstag his intention-to introduce a Bill providing' ifor-tliS-'cieviiopmeht of the-Con-stitution of Alsace-Lorraine, and extending its political independence.. _ • THE CONSTITUTION.

The fundamental laws under 'which the Raiclisland; or Imperial Land, of AlsaceLorraine is governed were voted by the German Reichstag June 9, 1871, June 20, 1872, June 25, .1873, May 2, 1877, July 4, 1879.. By the law of June 9, 1871, it is enacted, "The provinoes of Alsace and Lorraine, ceded by France in the peace preliminaries of February 26, 1871, under limits definitely fixed in the Treaty of Peace of May 10, 1871, shall be for ever united with the German Empire." The Constitution of the German Empire was introduced in Alsace-Lorraine on January 1, 1874. In May, 1901, the provision for dictatorship ,iii' , matters of organisation and administration was abolished. _ The administration of AlsaoeLorraine is under a Governor-Genera), bearing the title of "Statthalter." The Emperor appoints'the .Statthalter, wHo represents the .Imperial Government. A Ministry composed of four departments, with a responsible Secretary of State at its head, acts, under the. Statthalter, ■who is also assisted bv a Council of State, comprising the Statthalter as President, the Secretary of State, the three UnderSecretaries- of State, the President of the Chief Provincial Court of Justice, the Attorney-General, and eight to twelve other members appointed by the Emperor, of whom three are presented by the Landesausschnss, or Provincial Committee. This Committee, which attends to local legislation, consists of. 58 members.