Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-13
Tardieu Denial Fails to Halt
Criticism of Debt Interview

Andre Tardieu's reputation Of an in.
terview published in Nations Business
which attributed to him an interpreted
ton Of French feeling in the war debt
controversy and critical remarks about
the American character. has not
checked comment on the incident. In
fact, the distinguished Frenchman's de-
NAL apparently is regarded rather gen.
orally as a technical disclaimer of
something which didn't please a con-
siderable section Of the public on this
side Of the water.
1.-THE newspapers are becoming hard
ened veterans at playing the goat for
timorous public men who absent-mind-
eddy express a sincere opinion, which
later turns out to have been indis-
Greet" observes the st. Paul Dispatch.
Calling attention to the fact that the
interview was printed Gin no less con-
sentative and responsible a periodical
than the organ of the United States
Chamber of Commerce" and that, fol-
lowing NJ. Tardieu's denial Gin toto"
the editor, Merle Thorpe, stated, II
had an interview with M. Tardieu in
Paris late in June, with the under
standing that it was for publication"
the Dayton Daily News says:
$50 now we guess we know what
happened. In the warmth of CONVEX
sation, M. Tardieu said it. In print, it
looked terrible. Now he exer-
cises the privilege mentioned by Mr..
Thorpe Of disclaiming one day what he
said on a previous day. Meanwhile
A hoo ho6 ofy,0 inc
not very encouraging look-in on one
French heart
\ X
The Richmond News Leader re-
marks: IF he says he did not say it,
that is the end of it. But those who
know the distinguished former high
commissioner to the United States
probably will agree that if he did not
say it, he thinks it," AS the Illinois
State Journal views the matter, IF he
has been misquoted and made to say
the things charged to him, irreparable
damage has been done, not alone him.
but the French people and govern
ment, and the cause of harmony be-
tween them and us has been so badly
injured, years will be required to re-
pair it, :.
1.-THE purported declaration of NJ
Tardieu attracted a great deal of at
tention in the United States" says the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which
quotes the French authority as having
been reported to have said that no
French Parliament would ever bind
the French people to the schedule of
payments provided in the Mellon-Be-
renger agreement, and that the French
people would not understand if their |
INT l,o
Texas paper remarks: 1.-THE fact is |
that whether or not the French Par
lament ratifies the agreement makes |
little difference so long as the French |
government continues to make the /
payments provided in that agreement"
AS to the reported comments Of M.
Tardieu on the qualities that make
Americans unloved by Europeans, the
Youngstown Daily Vindicator takes a
view, saying: ut is never
pleasant to admit our faults, yet we
may have to confess that Mr.. Tardieu
Is right. Americans do think that
they know Just what Europe needs
to do to be saved, and they don't
take the trouble to study European
problems before giving their advice"
And the Baltimore Sun thinks: an.
Tardieu's plain speech is good: it
should be and will be welcomed in
this country. and we believe It's frank
Of differences and difficult
ties will help In dealing with them"
In its elucidation Of the French atti-
tude the Ithaca Journal-News OBJ
serves: "They simply maintain that it
Is impossible to foresee the future
with sufficient accuracy to make up a
that can be lived up to for
more than half a century. And they
are reluctant to pledge the faith of
heir country to an agreement which I
may or may not be practicable. This
attitude ought to be comprehensive