64 THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE ch.

of the property involved and the closer interconnection,resulting from the great development of the mineralwealth of these provinces since 1871, of German economic interests there with those in Germany itself.Alsace-Lorraine has been part of the German Empire for nearly fifty years—a considerable majority of itspopulation is German -speaking—and it has been thescene of some of Germany 's most important economicenterprises. Nevertheless, the property of thoseGermans who reside there, or who have investedin its industries, is now entirely at the disposal ofthe French Government without compensation, exceptin so far as the German Government itself may chooseto afford it. The French Government is entitledto expropriate without compensation the personalproperty of private German citizens and German companies resident or situated within Alsace-Lorraine,the proceeds being credited in part satisfaction ofvarious French claims. The severity of this provisionis only mitigated to the extent that the French Government may expressly permit German nationalsto continue to reside, in which case the aboveprovision is not applicable. Government, State, andMunicipal property, on the other hand, is to be cededto France without any credit being given for it.This includes the railway system of the two provinces,together with its rolling - stock. 1 But while the

1 In 1871 Germany granted France credit for the railways of Alsace-Lorraine but not for State property. At that time, however, the railwayswere private property. As they afterwards became the property of the