The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918. FRANCE GETS BACK HER OWN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 48, 21 November 1918, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918. FRANCE GETS BACK HER OWN

One of the first fruits of the victory of the Allies is the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France. The German tyranny has conic to an end. For forty-seven years these two French provinces have borne the cruel yoke of the oppressor. Freedom has come at last, and the whole civilised world' will rejoice with them in this their day of deliverance. A great wrong has been righted. The German robber has been compelled to hand back to its rightful owner the stolen territory. The deputies elected for Alsace-Lor-raine in February, 1871, declared that' their countrymen would never be reconciled to German rule. They made a solemn protest against separation from France. "We proclaim for ever inviolable," they declared, "the right of the Alsatians and Lorrainers to remain members of the French nation, and wp swear for ourselves and bur constituents, our children and their children, for ever and by all means to claim it against all usurpers." But the German usurper was strong and reand he held his victim with a grip of iron. Nothing but superior force could make him relinquish his hold. During the war numerous references to the fate of France's lost provinces were made by statesmen of the belligerent nations, and when the German peace propaganda began the enemy endeavoured to sow seeds of dissension between Britain and France by suggesting to Britain that, except for the demand for the restoration of .Alsace-Lorraine, there was no question which could not be settled by negotiation and by whispering to France that' Britain was not in-' clined to continue the fight merely for the purpose of .gratifying an obstinate French sentiment. Von Kuhlmann declared that Germany would make no concession with regard to Alsace-Lorraine. He declared that so long 1 as one German hand could hold a gun the integrityof the territory handed down to the Germans by their forefathers could never be the object of negotiations or concessions. Mr. Lloyd Geop.ue's reply to this was plain and emphatic. • "However long the war lasts," he said, "England intends to stand by her gallant Ally, France, until she redeems her oppressed children from the degradation of a foreign yoke." France wanted no concessions. Her claim was based on right and .justice. Compromise was impossible. She was determined to get back her own. Her attitude is explained in the memorable words of 'M. Paul Cajibon, in a speech delivered in London on "France's Day." "Much has been 1 said about oui' war aims," he remarked. "As far as France is concerned, what is foremost is the restoration of the provinces which were torn away from her in 1871. For forty-seven years the men of my generation have been awaiting reparation for this great injustice. In their eyes, if the restitution of Alsace-Lorraine is not obtained, France will remain a mutilated statue, of great beauty, '-but with the harmony of its lines lost." And now the reparation has been made. The sword of justice has done its work. The de'spoilcr has been despoiled. France has got back her lost territory, but she has had to pay a great gricc for its redemption.' Her sons have fallen by millions and her daughters 'have endured indescribable agonies. But she has the satisfaction of knowing that her sacrifices have not been in vain, and France is a'greater nation to-day than she was five years ago. She has a splendid past, and victory has given her a wonderful opportunity of creating for herself a still more splendid future. It is the hope of civjlised mankind that through her .sufferings France will find her greater self.