The sun., 1916-11-12
SEND
By EDWARD

,''t~o otdtcS anu those OF mis-
own country one Of the greatest men
OF France has Sc. his hand. He il
Gabriel Hanotaux. already so we'll
known to our people that he needs
no further introduction than the men,
ton or his name. This could be said
of scarcely any other living French
man.
II is his belief that the three free
peoples Of the world. France. Eng
land and the United States, should in
some measure link their destinies.
and. even though France and England
now are fighting side by side as allies
In a great war in which America il
not involved. he feels that the bonds be-
tween his country and our own. which
are OF peculiar and unique strength,
have been and shoul be strengthened
by the crisis.
The interview with N. H%anotaux,
which follows. was obtained by me in
Parls. and may be regarded as one OF
the most significant messages which
have been sent across the sea since the
outbreak OF this war. II il a message
OF something warmer than good will.
1t Is an invitation to and promise
OF sympathetic cooperation. 1t is an
expression Of that sort Of sympa-
thetic understanding which seldom
goes from the mouth Of n great man
OF one nation to the eyes Of the pco-
pie Of another.
And II is rendered definite. unique,
by the fact that It includes the first
public announcement of an unprece-
denied invitation. that OF a great Gov
at war to a single citizen OF
q nation at peace. a citizen at present
occupying no position OF official sig
nificance. but world famous for the
things which he has done. to visit II
and study at first hand. untrammel,ed
anywhere and aided everywhere. the
processes Of its battle for existence,
the details OF its struggle for the pres
ervation OF its freedom. the method
OF its expulsion from its soil OF an in
yader.
II was after I had asked a question
indicative Of the friendly feeling which
stirs the heart Of every American who
has seen France at war that NJ. Hano
tauN made the utterly Unexpected re-
ply which indicated the extraordinary
plan which has been conceived and de-
velopcd OF late in the minds OF those
important Frenchmen who are most
eager for a strong Franco-American
future friendship and for n complete
Franco-American future understand
ing.
NJ. Hanotauy has jus; exclaimed:
III America tenders her hand to
France 1t vii! be warmly clasped."
How can We best hold out our
hand?" asked.
send us Roosevelt" was his en-
tirely unexpected reply. Before the
war comes to an end send us Roosevelt
to go into the French tsenches. Let
him come TO us and witness our great
struggle at close range. He well knows
that for which this free people has
gone into the field. Let him come
and see II we at war acqu!t ourselves
as a free pc PIE should"
This was an extraordinary tribute
from a Frenchman to an American.
| had heard many tales q French
complaints against Americans. and. in
spite of the MANY evidences Of the
contrary which ! had seen here dur
ing the spring and early summer. |
still wondered II there might not, arise
somewhere in France "A voice Of pro.
test against this extraordinary honor
offered to a citizen of that neutral
country which. during the course OF
the great conflict. has had the most
difficult Of parts to play.
Are you sure that II he comes he
VIII he well received upon all Sides"
l asked.
VIII he be we'll received" Mr..
Hanotaux rel eated my inquiry smil-
ingly, as IL incredulous that any one
should ask a question Of the sort.
He will lie received like a great king
he declared emphatically. He will be
received as might have been Alexander
the Great II invited to be a witness OF
the battles Of q Power friendly TO him.
Do you know him"
I explained to NJ. Hanotaux that II
chances that | know Col. Roosevelt
rather well. having been wounded
while attached as n correspondent Ia
the Rough Riders in Cuba and having
been made by the permanent regi-
mental organization its official histo-
rian.
Then urge him TO come" said the
great Frenchman. The invitation will
not be wholly unexpected. perhaps,
although il has not been made pubic
that it is To be extended and although
we have not the slightest idea whether
or not it will be accepted.
III YOU can do anything through
newspapers or otherwise which viii
nt4D 10 lnlutItt HsHi t'"e'N ~
ceptance Of II YOU thereby VIII be DO
ing the finest thing for France whe+'
YOU. as an American, s,uin 40, \
'9i;. winnie We are at war, from
Theodore Roosevelt, Through such
an episode. indeed. America really
MIGHT holi out the hand OF fellowship
to France"
Have the people OF France peen
satisfied with the attitude OF the
United States during the course OF
the great war; | asked.
I'VE have been very satisfied with
the American attitude" said NJ. Hano-
,aux. The efforts to convince the
ueorle OF the United States that TINS
: not the case have been made by the
enemies OF France.
We have received from the peo-
pie of the United States a sympathy
and understanding which have been
very welcome and which have tended
10 sustain our courage and determine
ton. We nave received from the re-
sources of the United States, financial
Industrial and economic. enormous a'd'
While your Government strictly has