The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
New Head of Government
Gives an Interview to
New York Herald
BOND STRENGTHENED
Paris's Fears Over Jones
Shipping Act Dispelled,
He Declares.
PEOPLE WORKING HARD
Prompt Payment Of Enormous
War Debts Cited to Show
Spirit of Nation.
PEOPLE WORKING HARD
BY LAURENCE HILLS.

Special Cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1890, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald bureau.
Paris, Oct. co.,
In a special interview granted to-
day by Georges Leygues, the French
Premier, the man who stands at the
head of the French Government and
who succeeded President Millerand In
the conduct of French foreign affairs
talked of the necessity of maintaining
cordial relations with the United
States, emphasizing particularly the
recent Franco-American loan and ex-
pressing satisfaction that French
fears concerning the Jones Shipping
act and various other matters had been
dissipated.
His interview is a message addressed
to the American people on the rela-
tions of the two countries. the financial
and politica; efforts that France is
making to discharge her Indebtedness
to america, and how she regards the
present state of affairs in Europe.
Premier Leygues received your corre-
spondent at the Foreign Office at the
Quai d'Orsay, and said he welcomed
the opportunity, particularly at this
time, OF addressing a message through
THE New YORK HERALD to the Ameri-
can people.
Sees Nations United.
THE war has brought the world closer
together" he said "It has brought
together nations which heretofore have
seemed to live on different planets II
has multiplied their points of contact
The countries which In the gigantic
struggle combined their efforts to save
the liberty and dignity of the world
are henceforth united hy common inter-
ests and common ideal. And never
more than at present have they so much
needed each other. This is new phase
of world politics
''There are signs In France of great
desire not only to maintain the tradi-
ton of Franco-Amercan friendship but
to tighten the spiritual and economic
relations between the two countries
The French Government Is giving its
assistance toward the realization of this
end. 1t examines in the friendllest spirit
all questions and all difficulties which
the modern life, so complicated and in
tense, produces.
Regarding the attitude of the Ameri-
can Government I am greatly rejoiced
that measures have been taken to dis
sipate the fears which had been born
on this side of the Atlantic because of
certain features of the Jones shipping
bill.
The United States is directly inter-
L., 81. aho III .
France The depreciation of the franc
compared to the dollar has caused a re-
duction in American importations of
from s5s. 900 to $4,000, 900 for
August. France is making an i'm
nlense effort TO restore her finances and
productive forces. She is working un-
ceasingly for the reconstruction of the
devastated regions and the resumption
Of her commercial and industrial life.
Despite the terrible losses in man
power and materials to which France
has submitted, she had not had since
the war one hour of dlscouragement not
one hour of trouble or violence. She is
invincibly devoted to order. You see her
calm. resolute and ardent. engaged In
fruitful labor in peace as you have seen
her calm and resolute in war. You know
the burden of the French taxpayers has
been increased I'm recent months to
enormous proportions. But our taxpay- |
ers accept the crushing burdens as a
necessary sacrifice.
Paying on All Debt.
I'm the present state of things and in
the presence OF unprecedented finan-
cial difficulties American public opinion
has noted. ! am sure, that France pays
regularly its creditors, and she has
proved It by meeting at the date fixed
her. share of the Anglo French loan.
But her debtors do not pay her. Not
only do her debtors not pay. but she
is obliged to make considerable addi-
tional advances II our principal debtor
honored her signature the question of
our economic relief would be less serious
to our people, and would be a matter Of
but short time.
since my arriving In power / have
declared and never ceased to repeat
that the French Government intends to
approach all International problems I'm a
spirit of peace. This spirit has as
corollary n precise notion of the rights
and duties OF the different countries to-
ward each other. In this respect one
realizes more every day in Europe that
q society OF nations enjoying great credit
and high authority Is necessary. Eu-
ropes equilibrium can be restored and
her reconstruction achieved only after a
long period of labor. Incidents like
those of wilma and Klagenfurt demon
strate this
"All good efforts on this side OF the
Atlantic, as on the other. must hence
forth be employed to consolidate and
maintain peace which can only rest on
the respect of International agreements
IT will be very dangerous to jeopardize
the validity and loyalty of these accords
bv unjust and inconsiderate criticism
II will only cause disquietude or chimer-
ical hope. whose sole result will be TO
maintain agitation and delay resump-
ton OF normal relations among peoples