New-York tribune., 1918-02-03
Clemenceau
Notes on the French Pre-.
mier From French
Periodicals
By Harry Kurz
By Harry Kurz

ME following newspaper stories
give striking idea of the char
acter and manner of the new
French Premier. They tell more clear
ly about him than any lengthy personal
description.
NJ. Painleve, former Prime Minister.
takes last farewell look at his minis
terial Office as he hands the keys over
to his successor, NJ. Clemenceau. The
eX-Premier then walks to the door, but
changes his mind when his hand
touches the cold knob. He turns, walks
back to Clemenceau, and says:
"Ah! l forgot, Mr.. President,
wanted to tell you that l have de-
pended very much in the work of this
Office upon Mr.. So and So have every
assurance that you would find him ex-
tremely valuable :"
"No USE" interrupts the new Pre-
mler. IL intend to burn even the fur
nlture."
Under the title of "In the Tigers
Den," NJ. PraX writes up in lie Peti.
Parlslen" an interview with Clemen-
ceau (January ~:
Yesterday stole a few instants OF
his time
He was seated before desk strcwn
with envelopes and folios. He was
wearing gray cap, a sort of Tam O.
Shanter
His manner was simple and cordial.
He said smiling:
"Wcll? What do you want me to
tell you, since it is perfectly under
stood that | cannot grant you an in
terview? l wish Happy New Year
to you"--
He stopped.
And to myself also.
My programme? War. of course
Concentration OF effort on
TINS war And standing be-
hind our soldiers, doing everything
aor them everything To fight
10 WIN! There you are My projects
10 WIN. But must one tell in ad-
vance what one is going to do? No.
you 90 what 1T is your duty to DO.
ana when 1T is done. then you can
talk about 1T. / am very glad to have
seen you. Good day"
And general entered.
NJ. Clcmenceau has an Interesting
oratorlcal twist quite unusual in the
speeches of Frenchmen. where NC are
rather likely to find verbose and flow
cred peroratlons. In more than thirty
dlscourses so far delivered bv the un-
tanned Premier he has brought his
argument to sudden end at its climax
by the tersc "J'ai dit" ("I have spok-
en~). His voice is always steady and
controlled. and his sentences concise.
lhese ne talks out like hammer strokes,
one after another. Here is part Of q
famous speech in the Chamber Janu-
AIRY y on Frances need of calling out
,, again The old military classes and the
youngest class:
"lf you have any other resources
tell them to me- If YOU do not know
any others, | shall have TO face All
unavoidable necessity. You have your
responsibilities, the government has
Its own
Il, You tell ne: France WAS fighting,
her men We're falling. at the time
, when her allies of to-day were still
unable to bear their part of the bur
den
low can | change that situation
u take the facts as they come.
nave no theories to spin.
"You ask me to wait till our allies
! have furnished their quotas.
a ~ haven't the time to wait
France, invaded for more than
lhree years, needs men for her arm
les. These men YOU must give me. |
] demand all Of them the old. the
n Young, veterans and hedglings, slL
c france Is generous. There is danger.
Let us hurry; time presses, and TO-,
0 morrow it may be too late. need
t the class of 1919, and may call back
$ INC old classes. Useless to protes.
:, the situation demands it, | affirm it,
s want 1t. | have spoken"
"
e AS the legendary horn of Roland,
$ hohcesValie;, SO now the call Of FRANC
mas sounded all over the world. In III
n meantime. til great armies shall brln
n her succor. she is girding herself 10
The fray alone. Her leader summon
o her strength and the whole natio'
$ strong and quick to his touch, qun
II ers with the memories Of the Mara
) and Nerdun. The whole nation vi
= follow because "a leader has come
o las.