New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-01
French Business Men Cool,
but Cabinet Is Friendly

but Cabinet Is Friendly
BY Gable 70 The Tribune
Paris. Jan. 31.-President Wilson's re-
cent conference with the Foreign Re
lations Committee and American press
opinions concerning the gravity of the
international problems confronting the
Washington administration, and the
revelations Of The New-York Tribune :
/ Washington correspondent regarding
the deplorable situation into which
foreign affairs have been allowed 10
drift by President Wilson and his Sec
rotary Of State, are prominently set
, forth by the French press. which. how
lever. abstalns from editorial COM
ments
Nevertheless evidence is cropping up
on all sides, and especially in financial,
commercial and industrial circles, to
indicate the existence Of a certain es-
arrangement between France and the
United States since President Wilson
came into office. French industry, pro-
ducing mostly as it does articles of lux
ury. feels that the new United States
tariff unduly discriminates against
France, forgetting that it is the general
fiscal policy Of the United States 10 i'm
pose a maximum tax on luxuries and
that such discrimination is merely in
cidental and without any premeditated
malice toward French products.
Moreover French manufacturers bit
teriy resent the American proposals fcr
the control Of alleged customs frauds by
giving the agents Of the United States
Treasury access 10 the books of French
firms.
United States Policy Deplored.
Bankers and financiers here depiore
also the drifting policy Of the United
States in Mexico, where French clti-
zens have enormous financial interests
al stake. The French steamship COM
panies, too, are bitter about the ex-
emption Of United States coastwise
shipping from payment Of Panama
Canal tolls, and, as might have been
expected. the friction between the
United States and Frances ally, Rus
STA, because of the abrogation Of tile
commercial treaty and also Americas
differences with Frances partner in the
entente cordiale. Great Britain, have
elected in the wealthy and the pros
porous bourgeois classes bitter express
sions OF feelings toward the United
States and created a readiness 10 par
ticipate in any organized attempts on
the part Of any other nation to isolate
the United States in the event of seri-
Gus trouble supervening.
II is impossible to deny that the in
fuential bourgeois class and also the
French aristocracy, now closely allied
10 the bourgeois element, are to-day
less friendly toward the United States
than at any time since the Spanish
American War. on the other hand,
Partisan shopkecpers, small tradesmen
and hotel and restaurant proprietors
still look upon the United States citi-
zen as lucrative customer, and well
come him as such. but here again they
are beginning TO prefer the rich spend
thrift Argentine and other South
American residents and visitors for
whom the tradesmen especially cater.
Masses Remain Friendly to v. S.
The popular feeling OF the masses Of
the French people remains true TO its
past traditions Of friendship toward the
United States on sentimental grounds.
This idealism of the bulk OF the voters
throughout the country Of course eX-
erts a dominating influence on mem
bers Of the French parliament and con-
sequently on the French government.
1t is an open secret that groups OF
English. German and French capital
lists since the beginning of the tension
between the United States with Euro
pean powers. with Japan and with Mex
leo have brought powerful interests TO
bear on the French government TO
bring about a GOODNESS toward the
Washington administration. but so far
largely owing TO the stanch friendship
Tor the United states, based upon the
lofty and far-sighted policy Of Presi-
Gent Poncar6. shown by eX-Premier
Louis Barthou and Of his successor,
castor Doumergue. seconded by the
efforts Of Ambassador Herrick. all
these attempts to drive a wedge into
the traditional good relations Of France
and the United States have utterly
failed.
The Tribune correspondent is author
lied on the highest authority TO assure
The Tribune that President Poincare
feels convinced that France and the
United States stand together before the
world as the two great sponsors Of re-
publican principles and that their COM
mon inherent idcalism viii dominate all
technical differences on matters Of
tariffs or with diplomatic frictions with
other nations in Europe Asia and Cen
tral or South America.
II is an act Of Justice due TO Presi-
dent Poincare and TO Louis Barthou. 10