ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2642, 27 June 1877, Page 3

ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

.The idea has recently occurred to some French gentlemen of starting a national subscription for the repurchase from Germany; of that part of Lorraine which was ceded by the treaty of 1871; and it has already become necessary to warn the public against certain persons, who have constituted themselves collectors, but do not deem it necessary to account for the funds entrusted to them. Meanwhile it has been suggested that before definitely organising the grand Patriotic Association for the Recovery of Lorraine, it may be as well to ascertain if Germany is willing to sell the territory in question. Of course there is no lack of precedents. France herself sold Louisiana to the United States in 1803 for the modest sum of- 15,000,000 dols., while Eussia sold Alaska in 1367 to the same Power for 7,000,000 dols. But European soil is not,so readily sold, the latest transaction-. of this nature having; been a very,small one indeed. It will be remembered that the Prince of Monaco gave «; the communes of RoqUebriine and Mefftone to France in consideration of the sum of 4,0C0,C00f. It is also within living memory, though the period geems far distant, that by the treaty of June 11, 1857, the late King of Prussia renounced his claims to the sovereignty of Neufchatel, stipulating only for the title, ,r and ' a pecuniary corncompensation, which was not paid, and the claim to which wasultimately waited. But the Prussia of to-day is not in the t habit of concluding bargains unsatis-" factory to itself; and, even if the German Emperor's Government felt disposed to sell Lorraine, one may be sure that the price asked would be a far higher one than could be raised by voluntary contributions. The attempt to pay a portion of the French war indemnity in a similar manner, it will be remmembered, proved a dismal failure;