“11. Only the Alsatians and Lorrainers who agreed to consider themselves as being of German stock were permitted to return to their homes.
“12. The property of associations of a political character and of Jews was confiscated as well as property acquired after 11 November 1918 by French persons.
“Nothing illustrates better the spirit which animates these measures, in themselves arbitrary, than the words pronounced publicly 16 July at Strasbourg by M. Robert Wagner. Stressing the elimination of all elements of foreign stock or nationality which was taking place, this high official affirmed that the purpose of Germany was to settle once and for all the Alsatian question.
“Such a policy, which could not be the function of subordinate occupational authorities, was equivalent to disguised annexation and is strictly contrary to agreements subscribed to by Germany at Rethondes.”
Numerous protests were subsequently lodged by the French Delegation. We have attached to our file a list of these protests; there are 62 of them. This list is found in the book under the Document Number RF-702.
The development of the German policy may now be studied through three series of measures which were carried out. First, a body of measures destined to assure the elimination of what can be called the French complex, that is to say, of everything which can tie an inhabitant of an annexed country to his way of life and to his national tradition. Second, a body of measures destined to impose German standards in all domains of life of the population. Third, the measures of transportation and of colonization. We use here the German terminology.