New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-21
TALK WITH M. JUSSERAND.
NEW FRENCH AMBASSADOR KNOWS
MUCH OF AMERICAN MEN AND
AFFAIRS.

Paris Nov. 2O-AmbassadOr Jusserand ar
rived here yesterday evening from Copenhagen
on his first visit to Paris since his appointment
to the Washington post. He comes nowto con-
fer with Foreign Minister Decasse i'm order 70
receive instructions and to arrange for the de-
parture of himself and family for Washington
where he expects TO arrive early in the new
year.
At his apartments in the Avenue Marceau ne
received the representative OF The Assocla'eu
Press and talked interestingly on American men
and American affairs. Although | have never
lived in the United States said the Ambassa-
dor. II feel fairly we'll acquainted with that
country as my diplomatic life has brought me
into contact with many Americans. and nave
formed many lasting American friendships.
He recalled that while Secretary to the French
Embassy in London he formed the acquaint-
ance of the former American ministers to Lon
don-Lowell. Phelps and r. t, Lincoln He
shared the admiration for Mr.. Lowelrs literary
genius and related incident showing Mr.
Lowelrs hold on foreign affections. When
word was received in London. he said, that
Lowell was dying. Sir Leslie Stephen, the cele-
brated author. who himself in feeble
condition Immediately sailed for America to
see his former friend for the last time, and the
same sentiment prevailed throughout the 1T
erary world. NJ. Jusserand also spoke OF the
brilliant oratory Of Mr.. Phelps, and said that
he had kept UP his interest in American affairs
more recently by reading American books.
studying the American system and by con-
slant correspondence with number OF well
known Americans. two of whom belong to the
faculty of Columbia University,
AMERICAS POWER RECOGNIZED.
He referred to the growing Importance of
America in the worlds affairs, and it was no.
ticeable that throughout Europe the position Of
the United States new world power
was everywhere recognized. The ambas sador
thought that this imposed serious trials and re-
sponsibilitIes on the country and pointed out
that, while the commercial development of the
United States was marvellous. yet its intel
lectua1 progress was keeping pace with Its ma
terial advance. He cited the growth OF Ameri-
can universities. and related personal incident
He had recently received. he said. from an un-
known college I'm the interior OF the United
States, a most scholarly criticism on his theory
regarding the origin OF the manuscripts or
THE Vision of Piers Plowman."
The correspondent asked NJ Jusserand' VINO
was at Copenhagen during the discussion Of the
proposed sale Of the Danish West indies to the
United States, the cause Of the failure to erect
the sale He said that the sentiment against
any further reduction Of the Danish DOMINION
operated strongly against the project although
It was al first supposed that UNIVERSAL uesie
existed.
compensa lions as the discussion disclosed clear
Is, mat the Danish West Indies would not go TO
any other power than the United States. which.
with the island of Porto Rico. now possesseu
harbors superior 10 those in the Brttsh lsidlu
or ST. vincent and In the islands OF the Danish
West Indies The failure was also, TO some
extent an evidence OF personal devotion TO the
king who shared in the sentiment against part
ing with the countrys ancient possessions The
f,fuh
oualtie. Of the King, and said that although
no was an old man. he rode out on horseback
daIIv unattended and could leap hurdles with
President Roosevelt.
Asked regarding the pending Franco-Americah
questions. NJ. Jusserand said there were, happily,
no serious issues between the two countries at
the present time. owing TO the cordlahty De
tween them He intended 20 devote his careful
attention 20 the reciprocity treaty which was
am nandInr and said he saw no reason why
the two countries should not develop their hlu-
tual trade by a more liberal exchange OF the
products which each produced exclusively. he
cited American machinery, raw cotton and pc
troleum as articles having no trench coihpeu-
ton. which could form a basis OF exchange
against those French articles which had no COM
petition in the United states
WILL ADVOCATE PANAMA CANAL
Concerning the Panama Canal the Ambassa
dor said the question had official status but
that he would continue the friendly efforts OF
NJ Cambon on behalf of the company. He add
ed that the most powerful advocate for the
Panama route was the volcanoes Of Guatemala
and Nicaragua. which kept speaking in tones Of
thunder in favor OF Panama.
AS NJ Jusserand has written several books In
English the correspondent asked his opinion on
American literature He said he had been
brought up with American authors. as his faith
er's library contained the works of Cooper and
Hawthorne along with the French classics, and
his later meeting with American authors gave
him a personal interest in the subject. He said
that on one occasion, when dining with Bret
Harte at the Rabeais Club, I'm London, Bret
Harte expressed regret that he was unrecog-
nized in France NJ. Jusserand assured him that
F'renchmen were familiar with the peculiar
cadence of Western stories, and proved by re
citing the closing lines of THE Luck of Roaring
Camp" his personal acquaintance with the
American authors work. Bret Harte repaid the
compliment by saying that when he was a strug
CLING clerk in California, he was impressed by
the dramatic descriptive power of the elder
Dumas and thereafter modelled his style after
that of the great French author.
The Ambassador spoke of the pleasure with
which he had read President Roosevelt's strenu-
Gus philosophy and his ranch tales These
works were first brought to his attention during
a sojourn the royal palace near Copenhagen,
where Princess Marie found perusing Roose
velt's books and declared them to be most de-
lightfu
NJ Jusserand desires to the new French
Embassy erected in Washington by the time of
the St. Louis exposition. and he has already
conferred with the officials in charge of the con-
structiou of the buildings. 1t was at first be
lieVed that appropriation would be made,
owing to the complications regarding the new
French Embassy in Vienna, but the Chamber
Is now SO cordial in its feelings toward America
that there is little doubt that the appropriation
,ta6 iS a. o. hat