Littell's Living Age/Volume 133/Issue 1718/Miscellany

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 definitively organizing 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 fifteen million dollars, while Russia sold Alaska in 1867 to the same power for seven million dollars. 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 up the communes of Roquebrune and Mentone to France in consideration of the sum of four million francs. It is also within living memory, though the period seems far distant, that by the treaty of June 11, 1857, the late king of Prussia renounced his claims to the sovereignty of Neufchâtel, stipulating only for the title, and a pecuniary compensation, which was not paid, and the claim to which was ultimately waived. But the Prussia of to-day is not in the habit of concluding bargains unsatisfactory 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 remembered, proved a dismal failure. Pall Mall Budget.