Evening star., 1922-04-09
FRANCE REGRETS
RESULT OF PARLEY
Washington Conference Was
Harmful to Nations Inter-
ests; Is Belief Expressed.
AMERICA NOT CRITICISED
Andre Tardieu Says French Dele
gates Failed to Measure Up"
to the Occasion.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Commissioner to
America.

w VIZ OSS<SSAVAs
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former French High Commissioner to
America.
By Cable to The Star.
PARIS, April S.-Although Genoa,
with it's vastly greater problems for
France. is but day, away. the dis
cussions in the chamber Of deputies
this week all have turned upon the
Washington conference.
That conference did irreparable
harm to France.
This today is the opinion of the ma
jority of the French parliament. 1t
has been freely expressed in the de-
bates of the last day or two. and the
American public should clearly un-
derStand what this discussion means
The treaties that resulted from the
French parliament for ratification.
AT that time they will be closely
scrutinized and accepted, either with
or without reservations, or rejected.
But at this time the deputies are con-
sidering the question far more in it's
broad aspect instead of from a SEN
timental viewpoint.
American visitors have told me that
your representatives acted very un-
wisely in Washington" and because
OF that fact they agree that our in
terest suffered. That is also the unan-
lmouS opinion of the French officials.
Why? yeu ask.
There are two reasons: =
Gives Reasons for Belief.
First. because we began to notice
the changed tone toward France of
the American newspapers since the
conference.
Second. because we cannot excuse
our delegates in allowing themselves
to be excluded for five whole weeks
from the discussions involved in the
two principal topics. the Pacific and
disarmament problems.
These constitute a source of great
misunderstanding, which we must try
to explain away. 1t is agreed that
America, Great Britain and Japan
acted in good faith when they said
to BRAND: The greatest differences
are among us three. therefore. we
shall begin by reaching an agree
versations." In saying this the Ameri-
cans. English and Japanese were per-
fectly sincere, but BRAND imme-
diately should have said when this
was announced that France could not
agree: that such method was un-
ences between great powers, and that
no other method was acceptable or
could be acceptable to France. except
full and free frank discussion open
to all.
Course Pursued During War.
In the midst of the war, when
cussed. England and America usually
left France alone, even though not
wishing to slight her. This was
mainly because they had more ships.
1 noticed this when the question of
the transportation of the American
diateIy protested in the most friendly
way, basing my action on the prin-
ciples enunciated above. My protest
was sympathetically heard. and salts
faction Immediately was granted.
That is way we make wry face when
the Washington conference is mentioned.
If any one reminds you of some awk-
ward action you have committed you
also make a wry face. We have a
clear impression that our representa-
tives did not measure up at Washington
and we prefer to change the subject.
No Reflection ON America.
| OF course, this feeling implies no re-
! fection upon you Americans. 1t is one
of those Incidents which happen in the
best regulated families and France and
America are two big sisters who some
/ times criticize each other. but never
forget their blood ties; their similar
origins and common ideals. AS Ambas-
| sador Herrick said the other day, oul
work for peace is not yet understood
in America, because it is not yet fully
known. That knowledge and compre.
hension will come with time. We
might have furthered such a compre.
hension at Washington. but we did the
contrary, therefore the bad impression
we have of the Washington conference
That does not mean that we blame
America, but only that next cine We
| will try to send delegates who will
represent US better.
! Copyright 1927