Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-04
Partisan Attacks on Americans
Blamed ON Untactful Tourists

American opinion is inclined to
place much of the blame for anti
American outbursts in Paris upon the
behavior of comparatively small
groups of ill-bred tourists plus the
natural irritability of a people beset
with difficulties.
The Seattle Daily Times feels that
at is worthy of note that some of
the cooler heads among European
statesmen deplore the trend of Old
World opinion while the Uniontown
Herald says: "We in this country
know enough about mob psychology
to appreciate how noisy demonstra-
ton may be made over an idea which
not one person in thousand takes
seriously"
Upon the question of the conduct
of American tourists, the Syracuse
Herald warns that international re-
lations are serious enough in the pres
ent course of affairs without being
complicated by the boorish behavior
of few Americans who go to Europe
for play spell in the Summer and
act as if they belonged to a kinder
garten." The Providence Journal is
sure that "basically the i'll will of
France is due to misunderstanding
and false reasoning, but the anti
American feeling has been intensified
by the arrogance and insolence of
American vulgarians who, when they
are abroad, aggressively misrepresent
their country and its people. They
are obnoxious at home, adds the
Journal, land even more SO when they
travel"
THE more enlightened men and
women in France" in the opinion of
the Kalamazoo Gazette, undoubtedly
know that these boorish visitors in
no way represent the country from
which they come. If any Americans
are unacquainted with those rules of
common courtesy which govern the
relations between guest and host, If
they have no personal desire to con-
duct themselves as ladies' and gentle
men, the least they can do is remem-
Der that their own country suffers
the most from the brazen effrontery
of it's nationals abroad"
The Richmond News-Leader, calling
attention to the fact that some
young English tourists have
considered it fine sport to plaster over
their suit cases with 5-franc notes."
exclaims, Imagine the feelings of a
French laborer who sees that luggage
at a time when he and his wife have
to agonize over every sou that they
spend"
X y
There is a great similarity" says
the Schenectady Gazette, between
such Americans and Queen Marie An
toinette, who said, when informed the
French people were starving because
of lack of bread, They should eat
cake.
In an. analysis of the situation, the
Manitoba Free Press explains: II
has been necessary to assimilate mil
lions of people from many lands into
one national citizenship, and for this
purpose to insist upon uniformity in
language, education, customs ana
manners of thought. Every point OF
difference has been branded as
badge of inferiority. This national at
titude has been reflected in both the
foreign and colonial policy OF the
United States. 1t has bred SUI
periority complex which exasperates
other nations. That it does not 10
the same extent irritate Britons may
be due i'm part to the fact that Britain.
herself has often been subjected TO
unreasoning suspicion and resentment
from many countries of continental
Europe"
The chances are, in the judgment
of the Pittsburgh Sun, that If the
tourist does not make Ostentatlous
vaunt of his prosperity, or proclaim
that the United States won the war,
or disparage France, he will meet
with courteous treatment"
but France, the France of noble
history and consummate art, not of
opportunists and political f1atterers,
declares the Atlanta Journal, is as
dear to America today as in the time