New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-27
AMERICAN TRADE WITH FRANCE
sembat the FenN Minister
OporunV o

Paris, May 2o.-"The greatest opening for
American enterprise in France after the war
will be in sending coal here"
The speaker was NJ. Marcel Sembst, Minis
ter of Public Works. | met him few days
ago at Marselles where he went to repre-
sent the government at the inauguration Of
the canal from Marseilles to the Rhone, and
there took the opportunity to make an APP
pontment with him in Paris.
That the Ministry of Public Works does
not sound like war Office is not the measure
Of either the position or influence of h. Sem
bat The truth is that he is one Of the most
important men in the French government.
This is because he is one of the most highly
considered leaders of the Socialist party and
his position is so strong that he has been
able TO make what amounts almost to a right
sbout-fsce without losing ! is power and pres
tige with mis- fellow Socialists. On the con-
trary, they have accepted his act as right
because it is his act
NJ. Sembat began his political life as s
Royalist and became a Socialist. After be-
coming a Socialist he advanced rapidly in the
belief until he became powerful advocate
of national ownership in big business" But
practical experience in the war has changed
him again. and. as far as national ownership
is concerned, he prefers to let sleeping dogs
lie. This is the rightabout-fsce he has made
without losing his commanding position
among his fellow Socialists, and to have done
it is very considerable achievement; for al
though France is at war. there is no more
seething cauldron of politics. and often very
petty politics, in the world to-day than the
Pslais Bourbon. The couloirs of the Palais
Bourbon as bad as the halls OF the right
wing of the Capitol when the pork barrel is
being opened at Washington.
When the Viviani government vas formed,
soon after the war began, in order to make
the union sacree" fact instead of a theory,
several Socialists were included in the Cab-
net. NJ Sembat was one of those who were
asked TO take Office. He is, also. one Of those
who held over from the Viviani to the BRAND
government That in itself is sufficient -
mark the confidence the people and the Cham
Der have In him, and it is not too much TO
say that NJ. Sembats resignation would as
certainly mean the fall Of the government as
would the resignation of ~ BRAND himself
Any one OF ten men in the French Cabinet
might resign, and his place would be quietly
hlIed and the government 60 on with no more
than temporary rufle. We have seen quite
recently how the Minister OF War was
changed with only three days gossip. But II
NJ. Sembat resigned the government would
be in very bad way.
Part of the reason is evident on meeting
him. He gives the impression of man Of
strength and force of character He is be.
tween feet inches and feet inches IL
height and very stockily built His shoulders
are broad and square and his back is almost
excessively straight He has a habit of car
rying his hands in his coat pockets, and he
walks with very solid step. One of the
most pleasing things about him is the firm
ness with which he shakes hands. There is
nothing in his handshake that reminds one of
the fshmonger passing a dead fish over the
counter. NJ. Sembat shakes hands as though
he meant il, and that gives one confidence in
him at the very beginning
How about petrol?' suggested. when he
said that Americas great opportunity in
France would be coal
you already send petrol here" he replied,
but you do not send coal. We need coal
now, and we are going to need it even more
after the war We have been in the habit Of
buying coal from Germany, Belgium and Eng
land. but America should be our great source