Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-14
Why The French
Veterans Marched
~ Ger. Henry 7. Aueg,
Who Comnaaude4 che AaeFiesh Army
I'm On the Rhine,

II II diflcuit Tor the average Amer.
lean TO understand the attitude 81 the
average Frenchman to the. United
States. But q very short converse
ton would reveal the fact that ne
considers that our country was saved
from the hOfrOrD III the spread OF
rnoImrchisnf BY El9a enormous sacri-
fice o. HIS fellow counkryTnesl. Ht
feels that while his country was being
bled white both I'm men and resources
the great republic across the Atlantic
was losing but few Of her sons and
ct the same time was enriching her
self steadily. Why, therefore. ne
asks. should the United States not be
in1agnanimous?
In thiE he has been supported ~
the frequently expressed views ok a
number OF Americans that our coln.
try would be well advised TO cancel
ell her war debts, particularly that
Of the nation that bore the brunt o.
the lighting. To. his attitude must
be accorded an important lnfuence IN
Eaolding French public opinion on
the war debt question. u helps *
plain why France maintains she g
emitted to preferential treatment well
beyond that Of any other country.
III sas y y y y fss. &ss ~ N 8 sf5
Another potent consideration that
the average American would md
present IN the Frenchman's mind,
and one that should have its weight
with America, II the failure OF our
country to sign the agreement where
by the United states. with England,
was, TO go to. the support Of France
in case of any unprovoked war Of ag'
gression on the part OF Germany =
Is well known that this proposed
agreement was never ratified ~ ouf
Senate.
The French argument may be sum,
med up a. follows: We we're engaged
N . common cause against 2 com,
mon enemy; we expended the blood 81
one and q half million men to your
few hundred thousand: we paid Out
treasure In q vastly greater proper
tiouate degree than YOU, and ths
horribly devastating war was fought
on our soil. Therefore, blood and
treasure should be pooled.
The argument that blood and treas
ura should be pooled has RI sundFJ
times appealed TO American feelings
In q way that has made many French
men believe that we agreed with them
In the view that the eO-cailed wal
debt due the United States was u
reality not commercial matter.
$3.50
In addition, so much has beer
written and said on both sides Of thu
Atlantic Of the traditional frisndshiF
between the United States and FFancs
that q veritahIe cult Of sentiment hal
been developed, particularly among
the French. Participation by France
In the ending Of the American Revo
luton has been magHified In the c0ufi
try Of Lafaystte, Rochanabeau and
Do Grasae To such degree that ths
| fact that Gen. Washington was callet
from bis retirement q second time
to command the American armies
against France and the strong French
support given TO Maximilian In Mex
leo are but family remembered.
To conclude, France cannot under
stand why. in the debt settlement
the United States should demand
even half Of the total sum involved
or why payments should not be con
tingent on GeFmany's payments Il
her,
Under the spell Of these convictions
| the veterans decided upon their sun
day march TO the statue pf Washing
ton and the American Embassy y
tcoDysishtl 1890