BACK TO FRANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1922, Page 3

BACK TO FRANCE.

ALSAOEi AND MOSELLE. ( GERMAN PROPAGANDA TO SOW DISSENSION. ALSATIAN TOURIST? SPEAKS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. The difficulties facing the French Government, in the gradual change of administration of political municipal and other public activities in Alsace-Lor-raine, from German to French control, was discussed yesterday by a. visitor from the recaptured territory, who is spending a holiday in New Zealand. He indicated that not. the least of these difficulties was the propaganda, that is still being conducted by German official interests, with the hope of embarrassing the French. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

“Alsace-Lorraine, as a name, has ceased to exist,” lie said. , After being an Imperial State of the German Empire for nearly half a century, it reverts to France as three departments. Lower Rhine Alsace, Upper Rhine Alsace, and Moselle, the last-named being the title given to J>orraine. The total area thus added to France is about 300 square miles, with a population equal to that of New South Wales, Provisionally, the territories were placed under the administration of a (Com-missioner-General until the legislation was adopted which incorporated them in France. In regard to the rich coal deposits of the vSarr Btisii), these will be governed for fifteen years by a Commission of live, chosen by the League of Nations, after which the population will decide by vote one of three alternatives, namely, the maintenance of the rule set up by the Treaty of Versailles, union with France or union with Germany.” THE INDUSTRIAL CRISIS.

Speaking of the economic progress of the new French territories, the Alsatian visitor said that industry was itl much the same plight as elsewhere in France, owing to the exchange difficulty. The' sterling rate had fallen from 25 francs before the war t(j 52, when he left Mulhouse, the centre of the textile industry in Alsace. Since the war there has been great difficulty in securing raw materials for the textile factories, and this has held up progress. Quoting one item of manufacture, cotton thread, which had an international reputation for working embroklor.tesv he said that the output had not yet reached half its pre-war 'density. The change-over, with its alteration of markets from Germany To France, the introduction of new artisans from French territory, and the exchange difficulty combined with industrial strikes, to restrict industry until it reached a crisis recently. FINDING NEW MARKETS.

Both provinces were rich in wheat, cereals, and wine-growing. Alsace produced one-third of the whole of the wines of the German Empire, and they achieved a wide reputation as Rhine wines, finding :i ready market ill Germany, although not so well known abroad. The vintage was particularly good along tue eastern side of the Vosges mountains. The lower portion of Alsace was the centre of the hops industry. The trade depression affected Alsace and Moselle severely. The balance of trade had gone towards imports to the extent of twenty million francs, owing to the necessity of getting industries again on a working basis. The trade lias now resumed its former status of nil excess of exports, and is showing signs of reviving; SECRET GERMAN INFLUENCES “Germany is trying to spoil our industries,” said the visitor. There is au active propaganda going on, but under cloak of secrecy, and the French Surete and gendarmerie have not yet been able to secure evidence that would apprehon'd the leaders. But it is there, nevertheless. Take our railways, for instance. They were manned by Germans, and these are gradually being replaced by French. But strife and dissension are being freely sown among the personnel of the railways, and it is quite an accepted fact that German influence was behind the strikes that last year almost paralysed all industry in the Saar Basin.

GRADUAL BUT ABIDING- CHANGE “Alsatians do not- want any advice from Germany or from German industrial leaders,” he added “It is no use trying to compare the economic posotioii of Alsace-Lorraine Before the war with the position of Alsace-Moselle now. As J have said, the change is being made very gradually, as there are a lot of difficulties in the way. But I would assure you that the change is going to be a permanent one, and there is no prospect of the Alsatians deciding hv the plebiscite to be held in thirteen years from now that they will go back to German rule.” FRANCE’S HONOUR PROVEN. "France lost millions of francs through the weakening of the exchange when Alsace and Moselle were ceded to her. The French Government guaranteed to redeem every German mark in the hands of the population by paying 1 franc 25 centimes for it. They carried out tlieir contract, although the mark at the time had shrunk to 45 centimes. Tt is not, therefore, likely that any amount of German propaganda will induce the Alsatians, in the face of such an expression of France’s honour, tio have any illusions/ that they would ever again 'be better under the German rule.” GERMANY AND REPARATION. The visitor entertains no doubt what over that Germany is in a, position to meet her reparation bills. The Allies could have made the position secure, he said, if they had insisted on the German Government preventing the transfer abroad of German securities, and 1 axed the people to meet the payments clue to France and the other Allies.