Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-30
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

1t is most refreshing to have a
European inform us Yankees how
much he diSlikes us-and then have
him remember that "molasses catches
more flies than vinegar"-and see him
souirming out of the vinegar into the
sweets.
Your wonderful assurance makes
it very difficult for Europeans to love
YOU" sounds exactly like one of those
sef-assured Narcissuses of Europe,
who really imagines that Americans
mean it literally when he hears them
murmur, 1--WE should worry
Love US? Don't they borrow money
even from Shylock, whom no Christian
dog ever did love? And they pay in
terest on it, too-interest which M.
Andre Pierre Gabriel Amedee Tardieu
avs should never be thought OF be-
tween friends and allies Below VIII
be a citation of most "usurious" IN
terest paid by America to France
which, according to this person Tar
dieu. ought never to be considered be-
tween gentlemen.
X X X n
The present writer called upon Mr..
Merle Thorpe, editor of the Nations
Business, in whose magazine, the or
gan of the National Chamber of Com
merce, had appeared the Tardieu de-
nunciation of the ENJOYABLE Americans
an interview now repudiated by thls
greatest of all European regulators.
Mr.. Thorpe, the accused, was smil-
ingly involved in preparations for his
annual vacation-it was perhaps q
question of worms or flies which alb
sorbed him-but he replied as to M.
Tardieu's reputation of his Veracity
and trustworthiness:
ut is my first experience in that
line. I am convinced that NJ. Tardieu
was forced into that denial, and when
/ meet him again, he will explain and
weep upon my neck. If you seek con-
firmation of what he said, just read
his book, France and America and
read his sayings about the Americans
in his speeches in the Chamber OF
Deputies"
Now, having already quoted from
that book, France and America, y
that is "old stuff" but there is another
book which has never been translated
into Yankee patois, so it Is fresher
source-book for present research. 1t
Is "Tardieu: Les Etats Unis," which
in plain American means that he was
talking to the French and telling them
of his explorations in the wilds of the
United States 20 years ago.
The only wonder is that so exquisite
a gentilhomme should have stayed so
long in the tall timbers. Biology is
interesting.
"Je demandais I'm jour un homme
d'Etat Americain--'' Oh, yes, it is
to be translated: II asked one day of
man Of the American country who
had played role of the first order In
the history of the last IS years II the
Government of the Union showed any
political preference for any European
power"
NO" he responded, "our politics as
to Europe is a politics of Indifference
shaded, If you would that I be frank,
with some disdain."
1T is impossible to express more
exactly the state of the spirit of po-
litical men across the sea concerning
the Old World. National pride ex-
plains. in some part, this sentiment.
AS some one has said. the United
States does not keep it's eyes fixed on
Europe. 1t does not seek to take it as
q model. 1t submits at times to Euro
pean influence, but it reacts against
that influence. Their politics is
paramountly and magnificently self
centered (egoiste)"
1t should not be forgotten that M
Tardieu used to be a professor in Har-
ward University, so he knows Ameri-
cans from a Boston standpoint.
NJ. Tardieu in his book continues:
There is no foreign people who in.
terest them more than the English.
Blood Is thicker than water Ameri-
cans remember with pride that Eng
lish blood. well mixed today. ran in
the veins of their forefathers. This
pride is Of a special nature. 1t has
made attachment and revolt; attach.
ment to the superiority OF the race;
| revolt, also. for men of the Indepen-
dence vanquished England and con-
quered their liberties. Most Ameri-
cans would say, 10 modification Of a