Evening star., 1927-10-16
BY GILBERT II. MONTAGUE
If the New York Bar


~ OMETEING new Is stirring III Huropea"
craftsmanship.
Eor ten wears uncertainty, awkward.
~ ness and nervous Difference have
marked Europe's attitude toward the ohlteo
States. ,. :.
Today in Europe a new statesmanship is
arising which is viewing the United States
u,th GOO, disnassionate certainty, without awk
wardness without nervousness and with little
suggestion of Difference.
Less meekneSs and a growing CONVICTION tnat
to regain Americas respect and good VIII
Europe must cease to appeal to traditlonal
friendship and begin to assert an aggressive
materialistc, economic nationallsm are the out
lines Of this new craftsmanship.
It's foremost exponent is Andre Tardieu. min
lister of public works in the present French
cabinet and former French high commissioner
to the United States. Young-Tardleu Is ou'
and a man of that age who arrives at his
place of prominence in France is rarity
French to the core, unincumbered by party
commitments brilliant and Unconditional Tar
dieu stands out as the pre-eminent realist and
the most powerful potential personal force IN
present-day European politics. The probability
of the growth of Tardieu's influence, with the
consequent increasing significance of his opn
ions, is matter of interest and Importance to
Americans.
1t should be observed that of all the states
men who guiding the nations of Europe
through belated period of postwar adjust
ment with the United States Tardieu probably
has the most comprehensive accurate and SYM
pathetic understanding of America and Ameri-
cans. AS scholar, historian and journalist,
he has long been student of American insti-
tutons. But most of that knowledge which
has frequently astonished Americans who have
been brought into contact with him was gained
by firsthand experience, He taught French at
Harvard when he was in his twenties He
has Travelled in America extensively. In 1917
he was sent to Washington as French high
commissioner in complete charge of the pro.
gram of war cooperation between the French
and the American governments Summoned
to Paris in 1918, he was appointed commits.
sioner of Franco-American affairs and as
plenipotentiary of the French Republic and
Clemenceau's first aide at the Peace Confer
ence, he was in daily association with the
American representatives there. Bernard
Baruchs statement, HE knows us almost bet.
ter than we know ourselves" expresses the
view of those Americans who know him best
1t happens that this man who knows us so
well, and who tomorrow may be the dominat-
ing figure in the relations of his country with
ours, has publicly pointed out the direction
which he believes those relations must take
In book called 'Devant FObstacle"-roughly
translated Facing the Obstacle"-which is
now under wide discussion in every European
capital. and which has recently been made
available to American readers through an edi
ton in English called France and America. +"
Tardieu apprases both his own countrymen
and us with penetration that is uncanny and
frankness that is little less than astonishing
y kKA
Behind the attitude that Tardieu reveals lies
a point of view and the basis Of policy with
which, very probably, we shall soon be called
upon to DEAL We have already encountered
evidences of 1t. The present tariff negotiations