20 OCTOBER 1917, Page 2

M. Ribot, the French Foreign Minister, told the Chamber on

Friday week that, before Herr von Kilhlmarm's declaration that Alsace should " never " be given up, "Germany whispered to us that France would, through the intermediary of a politician, talk of the restitution of Alsace-Lorraine." This illustrates the real mature of the German -diplomatic manoeuvres. France is first told that she may perhaps ,get Alsace in return for a. separate peace. When she refuses the dubious bribe, her Allies are told that it is the-insistence of France on recovering her lost provinces which alone blocks the way „to a settlement. Germany seeks at all costa to divide the Allies, but She will lail in diplomacy as she has failed on the battlefield.