Evening star., 1922-04-30
Ambassador JuSserand.

1t Is TSpOEIeQ from S6(l8 tn0S SOunt
Peretti de Ia Rocca. political director
Of the foreign ofice. IL likely to sue
ceed Ambassador Jusserand as soon
as he can be spared by President Poin-
care. This will probably followaclosely
upon the retirement Of NJ. Jusserand,
arranged during his usual summer
visit to Paris.
1t would appear that q feeling pre-
walls at Paris that NJ. Jusserand. has
somewhat lost the confidence Of the
French government In consequence Of
observations made here by MN.
BRAND and viviani. who, 1t il init
mated, reported that the ambassador
had not kept France sufficiently In
formed respecting current American
opinion toward France and other coun-
tries.
It is much to be deplored that the
French ambassador, dean Of the corps,
one Of the most highly respected and
sincerely admired men who have ever
represented . foreign government at
this capital. should now be rated as
unavailable for further service. There
must be some political consideration
beyond the understanding Of Ameri.
cans to cause the proposed change. NJ.
Jusserand has certainly been in q posi-
tion to keep his government fully IN
formed on every aspect Of American
feeling and judgment. He is most
thoroughly acquainted. He is In touch
with all circles in American life. He
knows the workings Of this govern
ment as well. doubtless. as his own.
and it is hardly credible that he has
after so long an experience failed in
his estimates or In his duty.
Far more likely IL It that the am
bassador is to be made the scapegoat
for the mistakes Of others. The repre-.
sentatives Of France did not score As
high in the arms conference as was to
have been expected. NJ. Jusserand was
q member Of the delegation. but It was
generally recognized that he did not
formulate its policies or dictate its
methods. The premier and the foreign
minister were. in effect. the French
delegation. There was no evidence
that the posture Of France at the con-
ference was predicated upon any mis-
understanding Of American sentiment.
for which the ambassador could IN
any degree be held accountable.
In the course Of the dispatch from
Paris 1t il said that there has been
much comment In official quarters
since the return Of the delegation con.
cerning M. Jusserand's ''remoteness
from the American press and his al
most complete absence Of contact <ith
the principal correspondents in Wash.
inston." This is calculated to cause q
smile here at Washington. The am.
bassador was plainly not in a position
during the conference to commune
freely and frequently with the press,
when the publicity measures which
reached the delegation were framed by
the delegations themselves and not by
the formal Official representatives Of
the governments.
The short Of the matter probably II
that It is thought to be necessary in
Paris to replace n. Jusserand. not
because Of any actual failure Of duty
on his part. but because Of political
exisency. This is unfortunate. So
able q man as Jules Jusserand should
be retained, unless. Of course, he Is
not in sympathy with the present poll.
cies Of the French government. or has,
in some matter not disclosed. actually
failed in his duty, an assumption that
will not be entertained by those who
know his conscientious devotion to
France and her interests.