The Alsatian Trial The trial of Monsieur Philippe Roos, the
President of the Alsatian LandesPartei and author of Policy and Force in Alsace-Lorraine,- published in Switzerland, for conspiring against the security of France; came to an end at Besancon this week. It had dragged on with many hours of what would not be relevant or admissible evidence in a British court. All the old speeches about regionalism, autonomy, separatism, and " France one and indivisible," which we read in the reports of the Colmar trial last year, seemed to be trotted out again. The whole history of the Heimatbund was traced again. Some of the witnesses for the prosecution did not refer to the prisoner, of whom they knew nothing. The judge allowed on the other side the witnesses for the defence to make scathing speeches _ against French policy and methods. On Saturday the jury unanimously acquitted M. Roos on all the charges, thus in effect reversing the verdict given at Colmar. The Cabinet has wisely decided to grant an amnesty for these political offences. M. Roos and the Alsatians who declare that, while preferring union with France to union with Germany, they are neither French nor German, will be pleased. France has gained nothing by a second advertisement to Germany and the world of Alsatian discontent.
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