The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-09
TARDIEU TELLS HOW
u CAN AID FRANCE
Men, Ships, Raw Materials
and Credit Needed to I'm
do German Devastation.
TASK CALLED COLOSSAL
Foreign Correspondents As
ISOLATION Hears of Plans
for Restoration.

The extent to which France IL rely
ing on the United States for assistance
In that work of reconstruction which
will absorb her energies upon the termi-
nation of the war was made clear last
night In a speech by Andre Tardieu.
French High Commissioner to America
and Minister Of Franco-American War
Affairs in the French Cabinet.
The Commissioner spoke at recep-
ton rendered to him In the Hotel Plaza
by the Association Of Foreign Correspon-
dents and made 1t plain that his ooun-
try is not only relying heavily upon
ours for ships, labor, materials and
money, but will need as we'll the assist
ance of thousands of our soldiers. either
those now IN France or those who Will
yet go over before our army Is reor-
ganised on a peace footing. He asked
especially for the help of those troops
having technical skill and possessed OF
technical equipment He said In part:
TO you Americans whose guest I am
for the third time during the war 1
will shy frankly what we. expect from
you
I'VE want first immediate assistance
in the matter of labor. We hope that
tHo piophi htioit eahA ~Ao -. S''e
out Of the transportation OF your troops
back to America, your technical units
as well as other units with their equip
ment will be able to cooperate In that
effort.
1--WE soon will have to carry out
colossal work of transportation in view
of the supplying of the regions evacu-
ated by the enemy. Of the recovering
of the railroads in northern and eastern
and In Alaace-I Crrafne,
Must Clear Away Ruins.
I'VE will have to clean the recon
auered ground OF the ruins accumulated
by the German hordes. Your army will
help us in this work while our popula-
ton will restore her cities and villages
Again in reference to those purchases
which will be made in America, we are
in need of credits in dollars covering
about so per cent. of our total pur-
chases for reconstruction.
1.-THE assurance of that financial help
will bring to every one in France the
courage and faith necessary to apply
to peace reconstruction the energy and
the spirit OF enterprise she has so prom
nently shown during the war.
For our agriculture, for our indus
tries, for our highways. for our rail-
roads, we need as we'll raw materials
and machine tools to be delivered as
speedily as possible.
I'VE will exact from Germany the
restitution OF such part OF the material
taken away from us and which can be
recovered But besides that restitution
we must bear in mind that speediness Ia
a primary condition in the reconstruction
OF France, and that America. on account
OF her immense capacities for production,
ought to give us the first help.
There is still with us an immediate.
all important need the supply of which
is the necessary condition of everything
else. We need ships, chartered ships as
well as ships transferred to our flag. The
speedy reconstruction of the country Is
strictly depending on the revival Of our
mercantile fleet
French Marine Needs Aid.
1.-THE colossal effort put up by the
United States in the building OF her feet
for war purposes will not be diverted
from this sacred end If it in part helps
France to recover on the seas for the
revival of her forces in peace the means
of transportation which were lost to her
on account OF the war.
I'm reference to these four items
labor, credit, raw materials and ships
have explained in detail our needs to your
Administration by whose welcome have
been deeply moved. What I told then,
what l asked for. I am telling to yon
again. because a policy OF secrecy does
not beit our day.
81 am repeating II to you. representa-
tves OF the largest newspapers in the
world, because wish you to echo in your
turn our requests.
81 am stating these requests publiciy
because France can pride herself on hav-
ing taken an immense lhare in the war
and in the victory and on being able 10
state to her allies the price she has paid
for the results obtained.
Speaking to America, Know that |
need NOT add anything to these facts: for
YOU 1t is enough to know in order to
will"
Commissioner Tardleu is an honorary
member of the Foreign Correspondents
Association by virtue OF his having bee.
at one time foreign editor of the Tc,ups
OF Paris. In addition to his Cabinet Office
he ia one OF the Ave members OF ~"
French War Council. which includes Pre-
mier Clemenceau and Marshal Foch,