DISCONTENT IN ALSACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1926, Page 8

DISCONTENT IN ALSACE.

According to a cable message published yesterday all is not well in France’s recovered provinces, where a claim for internal autonomy is being urged. Writing on this subject in the London Spectator, Sir Robert Donald says: “Madame Alsace is going through another crisis in her domestic affairs. She is not satisfied with things as they are; she wants to get more of her own way without going to the length of a political separation.” Describing the German occupation as “a forced marriage,” and the restoration to France as “the happy reunion,” Sir Robert Donald i says: “Madame looked forward to entering the paradise of her dreams —freedom aud domestic bliss. It was some time before the new household could settle down. The new head was having an uphill task. Order and system were rather lacking. Madame began to lose the grip which she held over her purely family affairs; her influence in the new partnership was discounted; her knowledge was not appreciated. The old master knew what he wanted and did it, sometimes harshly and even brutally, but he made things move—also there was always an abundance of material comforts. Tlio new head floundered about in an unorderly way. He was severe but not capable. He was irritating and not reasonable. Madame saw nothing incompatible in keeping the things which had always been her own and at same time serving her new master with loyalty and devotion in all the larger things appertaining to his country and the outside world. But he did not try even to meet her; he gave her feelings little consideration or sympathy. On the contrary, under his management, or mismanagement, some things became very much worse. Trade was not so good, administration was less efficient and taxes were higher. Alsace has been bandied about, bought and sold by kings, conquered and reconquered, but through all the changing centuries her characteristics have persisted. It is her determination to preserve them that has made her start a Heimatbund—an association the aim of which is the preservation of her national characteristics—to which members of her family regardless of their social station and their political colour are giving support.”