ABSTRACT
In 1913 Germany trod Alsace beneath it feet, while France looked on, mute and indignant. Yet France stood the test, Germany Press was admirably cool, and the President of the Republic went to dine with the German Ambassador while the Forstner affair was at its height. The history of Franco-German relations during the past few years makes it evident to one's mind that France could not have refused to fight unless Germany had resigned itself to the lowest place among civilized nations. The idea that the French wished to avenge the war of 1870 is one of the indirect causes of the present conflict, because of the fear which it has always inspired in Germany. French politicians had almost entirely relinquished the revanche idea, but still the problem of Alsace-Lorraine caused a great deal of coolness in the relations between the two countries.
