New-York tribune., 1922-04-26
Beck Assures
.Joffre L. S. Will
Stand by France
Solicitor General Tells
Marshal That Harding
Won't Tolerate Policy
That lmpugns Old Ally
Hero of Marine at : Fctes
TO- Year Old Commander
Shows Strain by Taking
Dozc at MOlierc Meeting

guest yesterday at three functions a
luncheon Of the Pennsylvania Society
at the Hotel Plaza, a Molierc celcbra-
tion at the Ritz Carlton in the after
noon and dinner by the city at the
Hotel Pennsylvania in the evening
The day had its note of serious import
and its moments of humor.
the grave note was struck by James
VI, Beck. Solicitor General of the
| United States, in tribute to the Mnr-
! shal and hrs country at the Pennsyl-
vunia Society luncheon. Mr.. Beck
deprecatinE the censure that has re-
Gently been heaped upon France for
her alleged militaristic tendency,
said
because she, on guard at the Eastern
gates, cant reduce her armies let us
not throw up to France the imputation
OF false militarism. am only
small part Of the administration. but
one thing can gay certainly that
calm, serene, steadfast man in the
White House will never countenanco
any policy Of our country to desert.
betray or impugn her ancient ally |
know interpret the sentiment Of War
rem g. Harding when | say on this oo-
casion, Nive la France. Vive Jofrel"
ly answered for the French people by
Jules J. Jusserand. Ambassador to this
country, at tho city's formal dinner to
Marshal Joffre last night. NJ. jus
serand emphaNcally disavowed all
militaristic ambitions on behalf of his
countrymen, pleading that the Amer
lean public disbelevc that the French
nation is anything but Il peace-loving
people.
Marshal Supplies Hnmor
The humor was furnished by the
Marsha! himself at the celebration Of
the Moliere anniversary. The truth
must be told. The great soldier nodded
and fell into intermittent dozcs during
the three hour reading of recondite
addresses on the French dramatist. As
the dissertations wore on it became
apparent they were too much for the
seventy year old hero Of the Marne.
His eyes closed, his head fell to the
side or on his chest. Smiles stole over
the faces of some in the audience. The
Marshal would try to pull himself to-
gether. He would pinch his nose, twirl
his moustache tumble his program.
1t was no use. His eyes closed, He
nodded frequently.
Nine. Joffre and her daughter Ger
maine shared honors with the marshal
as guests at The luncheon. Charles
NJ. Schwab, president Of the society.
acting AS toastmaster, welcomed the
soldier in glowing tribute to his
military genius and presented him with
gold medal conferred by the society
only upon the most distinguished
guests.
Sitting or the dais with Mr.. Schwab
to honor the marshal we're John D.
Rockefeller jr., Frank A. Munscy, Ell
bert II. Gary, Major General Robert
Lee Bullard, George F. Baker, Ben
jamin Strong. Ambassador Jusserand.
Robert Underwood Johnson, Captain
r. r. Condon, the Right Rev. Thomas
J. Garland, Major L. s. Grant Sd,
Samuel Hill, Colonel Lucien Issally,
Major Andre c. NJ. Davy Major VIII
| llam t. Deegan and others.
Mr. Beck said in part;
France, remembering how futile
were the noble ideals of the Hague
convention when Germany precipitated
the World War, preferred to rely on
the only force which Prussan Junkers
or Russian Bolshevists respect, and
that is an efficient army. Because che
is unwilling TO disband or reduce that
army and thus throw open her gates
to invasion she is falsely charged with
the spirit Of militarism.
"France realizes that the peril is bt
az means riueu ana LnaL deTmhnT an0
Russia may yet combine to overwhelm
Western civilization. And within
week her fears, derded by some Of
her Allies, have found striking CON
frmation in the German-Russian Genoa
alliance.
Lesson for L. 8. in France
IF | am right in believing that The
Battle of the Marine wss won by the
light wine of France intellect against
the heavy beer Of German intellect is
, there not lesson in it for us? Let
US trust the clarity of French vision.
and even if we cannot always agree
with it let US at least not impugn her
motives. Let us take q little caution
from those instances where France was
right, and because she, on guard at the
let US not throw up to France the i'm
pu.ation Of a false militarism"
The marshal replied in brief speech
IN French, which was interpreted by
MAJ or Grant as follows:
81 am most appreciative Of the DEM
onstration accorded me by what appears
to be the elite club Of the city. [
heard with the greatest pleasure the
remarks of Mr.. Beck, particularly the
these sentiments with grattude.'
There was a considerable crowd out
side the hotel when the Marshal drove
TO the NJ oliere celebration of the Amer
lean Academy of Arts and Letters. The
ceremonies a. the Ritz were presided
over by Brander Matthews. chancellor
of the academy, who read an address
on the French dramatist, as did also
MN. Maurice Donnay and Andre Chev-
rillon. both of the French Academy.
Augustus Thomas read a one-act play
Of Mo]iere's.
700 Guests Attend Dinner
There were about 700 persons at the
dinner given by the city at the Penn
sylVania Hotel in the evening. where
the wife and daughter of the Marshal
also were guests with the military
Rodman Wanamaker, chairman of the
Mayors committee on receptions to
distinguished visitors, presided. JoFre
was welcomed by the Mayor in a short
address, and speeches also were made
by Ambassador Jusserand and Job Z.
Hedges, The Marshal replied with
few remarks of appreciation.
silk American flag was presented
to the Marshal while Nine. Joffre was
given a diamond brooch personal
gift from Mr.. Wanamaker.
Mayor Hylan, in his address Of vel
come, said that no criticism Of the
policy of the French government vas
purpoSed in his worda of oraa+;, :. -.