Evening star., 1923-04-29

Former French High Comnissioner
to America.
By Cable to The Star.
PARIS, April 2s.-The interra-
tional situation can be dismissed to-
day while I tell you about the visit
OF those American women, elected by
their oompa triots to come and see US
work. They arrived here yesterday.
and II seems TO me the 1928 good
will delegation offers rich food for
thought about the deep roots of the
Franco American friendship, ana
those people who always are talking
about ''propaganda abroad" could
learn valuable lesson from the
women of heart and brain who or
ganized this trip.
The delegation last year succeed
ed wonderfully. 1t saw tho ruined
France Of the battle front and the
happy France of the interior. Az
honorary president OF the American
Committee for Devastated France.
had the privilege OF meeting the
visitors several times and getting
there was no obstacles to mutual
good feeling and good will.
Conditions Show Change. :
This time il is different. There are
many difficulties in the way. our
ridiculous Turkish policy has lost
much American sympathy, while our
Ruhr methods. rendered necessary by
the British attitude. have been lilly
understood in America. So much go
that there was suggestion OF post
poning this latest visit until autumn.
These delegates are responsible for
the raising 70 S600.0n0, which will be
expended in restoring the devastated
regions of our country.
Certain details OF this campaign
have made a great impression here.
For example. the fact that in New
York 200 firms participated spoke for
itself. The way in which the Durant
Motor Company raised $i20.000 by
countrywide appeal TO its factories
was an eXampl" " American speed.
The ,t,, ,.r,ad adyeEtising glsn campatgn OF ne
deluged the people with ingenious
picturesque advertising showing.
what it was. all about. brought homs
TO the people their traditional
friendship for France. Then the fact
that many business houses every
where gave their employees time off
TO listen to speakers in favor OF the
restoration of devastated France re-
suited in demonstrations Of friend
ship that have not been manifested
since the war.
Lesson to PropaRandists.
What a tremendous lesson this is
to the dull. sterile official propa-
ganda bureaus, 1t demonstrates how
silly it is to believe that America
can be inoculated with sympathy
toward France through insipid pub
lications. All that is needed is 10
give that sympathy which is in all
of YOUR hearts n chance to show
itself. The greatest thing about the
goodwill idea is its simplicity.
What simple idea. To appeal di-
rectly TO the American people to re-
cruit delegates in, the principal cities:
TO proclaim one dollar buys ten votes:
to enlist the support OF great com
mercial and industrial enterprises,
and. finally. to insist that the dele
gates must all be workingwomon
earning their own livelihood
Not officials. but private individuals.
originated this simple idea, and they
were women who already had raised
million dollars since 1917 to re-
build French ruins. To conceive and
realize the plan they refused to heed
either conferences or experts. with
out which officjaldom cannot get
along. The hearts impulse. back
ed with common sense, is all they
required-two qualities which gov
ernments usually lack. and which
lack prevents their accomplishing
what they undertake.
Copyright. 1921
EDENSr rn yyTCTr TT c