Evening star., 1925-09-28

"Aviators is aviators'' is a saying
they have in both the Army and the
Navy. What they mean is that
aviators are innovators. They have
fine contempt for precedent, these
flying men like Billy" Mitchell. The
only traditions they know are the ones
they create, almost from flight to
flight. Ask them the schoolboy ques-
ton in geometry-"what's the shortest
distance between two given points,
and they're certain to answer: THE
airplane route Bearded admirals
and graying generals have told the
Coolidge Air Board that America 8
young eagles of the Mitchell breed are
constitutionally impatient with proc>
ress that is deliberated before achiev
ed. Their motto is: Lets co. Armies
and navies have existed since
Caesarian times. But flying, as
Billy" Mitchell knows and practices
it. is a fledgling of barely Is years.
Bleriot staggered the senses by flying
the English Channel, a span of 81
miles. in 1910. Today a Rodgers
wings his way from California to
Hawaii, a span of 2,100 miles. 1t is
because aviation is developing by such
lightning leaps that men like Mitchell
want to scrap methods and systems
that have been centuries in the
making.
How the American tariff prevents
Europe from selling goods in the
United States may be an issue before
the Caillaux- Mellon duel is finished.
If the French finance minister is Of
the same mind he was on the verge
of leaving Paris. he holds that France
can only pay America If America per-
mits France to pay partially in goods.
1t Is the CaillauX theory, in other
words, that sooner or later French
payment must represent a trade bal
ance in French favor-an excess Of ex-
ports over imports. The French had
to acknowledge the soundness of that
argument when Germany'S capacity
to pay under the Dawes plan was
fixed. They don't see why sauce for
the German goose should not be sauce
for the French gander. Caillaux con-
veyed the impression in Paris a few
weeks ago that if the American settle
ment didn't take these considerations
into account, any agreement signed at
Washington would have the force only
of a platonic bargain.
y X
Punctuality is said to be the priv
ilege of kings. To remember, it would
appear, is the prerogative of queens
A Washington lawyer. William w.
Bride, is at any rate ready to take the
stand and testify that royal Marie of
Rumania does not forget. Two years
ago Mr.. Bride, who went to Bucharest
on behalf Of American financial inter
ests, was the guest of the King and
Queen at luncheon in their palace.
Somewhere between the monarchtcal
soup and nuts. the Washingtonian
suggested that an autographed photo
graph of Europe's most beautiful
souvenir of memorable occasion.
Last week it arrived. Mr.. Bride re-
Gently was appointed Rumanian con-
sui general for the area of Maryland
and the District of Columbia.
x X
Washington's smart set, especially
it's hostesSeS. read deep significance
into President Coolidge's innovation
in entertaining the French and Amer
lean Debt Commissions at White
House dinner for men only" There
is wonder as to whether a precedent
has been established. Woe will take
its way through the ranks of Capital
society women If that is so. They
adore" luncheons and dinners at
which high politics is on the menu.
Many of them pride themselves on
the ability to keep the swiftest con-
versational pace on those occasions.
Mr.. Coolidge is not so strong for
mixing society, especially dinner-table
small talk, with affairs of state. The