Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-04-02
WILSON D|SCLA|MS
!. FRENCH INTERVIEW
President Promptly Repudiates
Views Attributed. to Him in
Paris Newspaper

~ LEXINGTON, April 2.--Presldeni
Wilson last night authorized the
statement that he had given no inter.
view and had given no expression of
opinion about current affairs TO
Gabriel Alphaud, who oabied to the
Paris Temps what purported to be
an interview with the President on
European and Mexican affairs.
The President let 1t be known that
Mr.. Applaud. who was presented at
the White House Wednesday by the
French ambassador, came merely to
pay his respects, and that although
he was secretary general OF the
Paris Temps, 1t was distinctly under
stood in advance with the arnbassa-
dor ,present that there was to be
no interview.
The statement was also authorized
at the white House that President
Wilson had sent no letter to Presi-
dent Poincare, as suggested by Mr.
Applaud, but the letter to which
reference was made was sent several
months ago by Mr.. Wilson, as @
member Of the American Academy OF
Arts and Letters, III reply to one from
President Poincare, Of the French
Academy, brought to this country In
person by Emile Brieux, the French
playwright. The letter was made pub
Tic at the time, White House officials
recalled, and contained only felicita-
tions of~a general character.
PARIS, April 2 e p. m.)--Gabriel
Applaud, georetary-general of the
Temps. who was introduced to Presi-
dent Wilson at the White House We'd
nesday by the French ambassador In
Washington, has sent TO the Temps
an interview he says he had with the
President.
, II am glad to see on American
SOIL President Wilson Is quoted as
haylng said, "F'renchn1en who come
to satisfy themselves as to the state
of opinion In the United States You
will not receive an impression, I am
sure. that will give you cause rea-
soi1ably to complain Of that opinion.
Definite questions are at tiines
considered by France or others of
the, belligerent countries as proof that
the American government favofs
sometimes one and sometimes the
other of the cofnbatants The two
groups Of belligerent nations COM
plain of the attitude of the Aneri-
can government In equally vigorous
terms. Each time one Of these cases
arises is it not proof that the govern
Inent of the United States is con-
scientiously observing the rules Of
neutrality?
"The Germans or the allies may at
times find that we are exacting-that
the American government sticks too
closely to these rules. The war will
not last forever. When 1t Is finished
suon or such q nation will perhaps
be glad that we have maintained the
rules against which she protests to-
day. y
France will avoid the error of be-
lievfng what individuals OF the
peoples In tho conflict often think
1hat is, that he who Is not actively
for them is against them, As to my
ow4l sentiments regarding France,
addressed a. letter to the president
OF the French republic that. expresses
them clearly. Be sure that / do not
think anything less than what that
letter Gays"
M. Alphaud says he asked Presi- l.
dent Wilson II the contemplated in
crease in the American army and
navy had any precise object and that
the President replied:
mo augmentation has been re-
tarded rather than hurried by current
everrts. We desire to avoid false In
terpretations."