Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
FRANCE MAY AWAIT LEGION VISIT
BEFORE ACTING ON DEBT TO u. S.
Effect ON American Veterans of Renewing War
Associations Might Be Favorable to Paris in
Event New Settlement Is Sought.

For the American Legion, however
every indication is that a cordial vel
come is being prepared. At the height
of the tourist friction the French gov
eminent renewed its invitation in
hearty terms and special ENJOYS came
to the legion convention in Philadel
phia to emphasize the unofficial ma
ture of the incidents in France which
caused criticism. The latest news from
Paris Is of a continuation of this
French desire to make the Autumn
pilgrimage a happy event.
Moreover, there are indications that
the American tourist, not connected
with the legion. will receive a. better
welcome this Summer. 1t does not
appear now that the tourist will get
one kind of welcome and the legion
naire another. For che thing, last
Summers incidents seem to have ere.
ated wider appreciation in America
of the need of conduct abroad that Is
free from those characteristics which
offend Europeans. A patronizing at.
titude, a Dragging mood, an ostenta.
tious distribution of tips" to persons
not in the tipping class, boisterous talk
and similar actions by some American
tourists may be less noticeable. Eu.
rope also may not he so agitated over
the assumed. hard" debt policy of the
United States, and so be less critical
of the casual American.
Effect of Pilgrimage.
In any event, nothing is expected
whether by policy or coincidence, from
France, in ratifying or rejecting the
debt settlement, until after the legion
convention will have given the vet
Grams a closeup of France and it's bat.
tie wounds. Next Winter. following
the return of the legionnaires from
France, it will be possible to gauge the
effect of the second "expeditionary
force" from America, and to see
whether, from the French viewpoint,
there is a change in American senti.
ment that will permit new negotia-
tons promising better terms for
France.
Any American who has visited the
American cemeteries in France knows
that this sentimental factor is a con-
siderable one. There is a stirring of
emotion from such a visit that revives
much of the war feeling favorable to
France and the allies. 1t renews the
role of comrade. Perhaps it will
soften the attitude toward adjustment
of war accounts. It certainly will not
harden that attitude and, from this
reasoning, France apparently IL taking
no chances in delaying action on the
present debt settlement.
Other countries than France are
preparing cordial welcomes to the
Americans. Germany, the late enemy
country, is likely to be visited by many
after the convention. along with Bel
gium, England, Italy and other ma
tions. There Is, however, no debt Is
sue with any Of these countries, ex.
cept in so far as a better feeling
toward them by the American veter-
ans may, in the future, influence some
revision of debt terms.e Only two or
three countries besides France had not
ratified settlements when the Ameri-
can Debt Commission went out Of exis-
tence last Wednesday.
If any move is made later by the
French government for a new settle.
ment, it will be carried on through
the State Department, assisted by the
Treasury Department, and ultimately
must be approved by Congress-.