The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-23
u. S. LIBERAL
IN ITS LOANS,
SAYS TARDIEU
High Commissary of France
to u. S. Tells of Enor-
nous Budget.
Special Gable to washington Herald
md New York Tribune.


Paris, Dec. 22.-The budget of
the French mission to the United
states amounted to twelve billion
francs, according to Monsieur Andre
Tardieu. the high commissary of
France to the United States.
To realize the greatness and the
complexity OF my task" he said to
the Temps" in which he review
ed the work which he had accom-
plished during his stay in the
United States. you must know
! that the budget which j had to
manage amounted to nearly twelve
billions. about twice the total an
nual budget of France in peace
times.
Il believed that the object OF my
mission was double; first to bring
to a maximum the cooperation of
the United States with France as
regarding finances. armament, food
supplies and transportation; second,
to cooperate with America, on the
basis of our past experience, in de-
veloping the resources of the United
states for the purpose of effective
ly conducting the war.
The Paramount Issue.
The financial question dominated all
otners. few figures on this subject
VIII show the progress made during
the last six months. Before the en-
trance of the United States into the
war It was only with great difficulty
ana In insufficient quantities that we
were able to find credit for our pay
ments In dollars.
aIn for
dispose thereof French treasury notes
amounting to $4,000. 900. In 1875 we
were able to find a market for not
more than S25,OoO.00o Of our Treasury
notes. In 1915. 1916 and during the first
-FOUR months of 1917 our various trans
actions secured tor US the total credit
or $50. 900 at 6 and per cent.
But this was not enough. England,
whlch was making considerable pur-
chases for us in the United States, had
10 place S22iOoo.0oO at our disposal for
the payment Of additional sums owed
by France.
But since the beginning Of May the
government Of the United States
which at the same time has TO pro-
vide for its own needs and those of
the allies-supplied all our demands
with liberality. The sums which /
obtained from May till December
amount to 8. 900, ,0OO, 900, at 41-2 per cent
These sums have been sufficient for
all our payments in dollars, aid we
have not needed the assistance OF
England. These sums have enabled
US TO repay TO England fss5 ea0 900, coys
ering purchases which she continues to
mako for US. according to interalli1d
arrangements, for example, purchases
OF cereals.
Deceive German Hopes.
'As to armament. the chief difficulty
law in the fact that we had to pro-
vide ourselves with as many articles
as possible without interfering with
the supplying and eQuipping of the
American army and navy. You know
that the German press placed great
hopes on our interference with Ameri-
can preparations. But am able to
: state now that the German hopes have
been entirely deceived.
I'VE have also provided ourselves
with automobiles for the army, of
the heavy truck and touring car type
in a quantity sufficient to last US till
the end of the first semester of 1918.
l was able to buy the latter at exact
ly the same price as the American
government is paying. and thus save
| the money formerly paid TO interme-
diaries.
Another important question was
| that of railroads. We have succeeded
in buying everything We had been or
dered by our government-600 loco
motives, 1000 kilometers OF railroad
tracks and 500 railroad apparatus.
In addition. the American govern
ment is sending ESQ locomotives for
/ the American army. and these will
diminish the work of French rail-
roads.
Another Advantage.
Another adv Irtage for us lies in
the fact that the American govern
ment. which has agreed to transport
all this material. will allow us to set
tie the financial question in connec-
tioE it'll the transportation after the
war.
81 have also received the promise
from Mr. Baker. the American Secre-
tary of War. that our orders for sew.
eral thousand railroad cars will bt
filed Among other articles I have
placed orders for raw materials neo-
essary for the building of aeroplanes,
for copper. lead. cyanide of sodium,
parts of cannon, machine instruments,
cts. All these articles will be charged
to US at the same rates the American
government is paying"