Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-04
POINCAREIPRA|SES
WORK OF HERR|Ck
French Premier. Tells Of His
Arrival in Paris in8l912, to
/ Win Heart of Nation.
hr the Assnciated press.

By the Associated Press.
FPARIS, April 4.-The speech of Pre-
hnier Poincare in eulogy OF Ambassador
Herrick at the American embassy today
follows, In part:
Ten DAYS ago on the sad occasion OF
Marshal Foch's funeral, Myron 7. Her
kick gave France his last supreme marx
of constant friendship. Although he had
hardly recovered from long dangerous
Sllness he made a point OF walking In
the procession that followed the mar
shall to his grave and attending the
funeral from its beginning to its END,
thus taking publicly his part In our ma
tional mourning.
To-day he, in his turn, suddenly has
fallen prey to death. His body present.
ly will be carried by French warship
across the ocean he was SO glad to
have crossed few weeks ago to return
10 his post in dear Paris.
/, Task Not Easy at Start. g.
ION the eve of his last voyage. how
kould I without emotion but remember
Myrcn T. Herricks arrival in this coun-
try in 1912? An American ambassador
who had won our SympathieS here, and
who spoke our language to perfection,
Mr.. Bacon, had just left and was much
regretted by all. The excellent memory
he left behind him certainly did not
contribute to make his successors task
IN easy one.
"Myron T. Herrick, however, a tall,
elegant figure with an open countenance,
made everyone feel at once he was as
charming as he later proved himself to
/ be, and that he was bent on learning
how to understand and love France.
Il Felt He was Friend at First.
"After a brilliant career as barriSter
/ m Cleveland, he lad been In charge OF
important financial interests. His mind
+ had been trained by the experiences OF
actual lie to deal with facts and work
for practical ends. But his gift for
practical action was inseparable from
the delicate feeling AMI earnest idealism
combination so frequently found In the
American soul.
THE visit he paid me at the Quai
HOrsay the first few days after his ar
rival made me feel at once America
had sent us new friend who would do
everything to remove distances between
the two countries"
THE distance between them was
much greater IN those days than it Is in
these. shortened by science and natural
affection. The Ambassador wanted to
encourage the development Of not only
commercial but intellectual relations
between the two nations.
"A few months before the war he
told me of the hops he entertained
that the President of the French Re-
public might be received in Washing
ton and the President of the United
States might be authorized by Congress
TO return the visit to France. But fate
did not allow such an exchange of
courteSies to take place in an atmos-
catastrophe of 1914 forced more thank
Jess tasks upon the two governments.
Deplored Hostilities.
1.-THE breaking of hostilities was de-
plored by none more than by Myron
E. Herrick.' He knew perfectly that
France bore no responsibility for the
conflict and he therefore was deeply
moved when on Monday, August 3, 1914,
he found himself obliged to inform the
French cabinet the fateful hour had
struck.
The German Ambassador, Baron
won Schoen, had been instructed to ask
his American colleague to assume pro-
lection OF German Interests in France.
Mr.. Herrick, of course, had thought
such request could not be rejected.
But as Won Schoen expressed his
further wish that the Star Spangled
Banner should be hoisted on the Ger
man embassy, Mr.. Herrick definitely
refused, and at GAS o'clock he tele-
phoned Premier Viviani informing him
Of the double reply which could leave us
under no delusion as to the possibility
bf maintaining peace"
Tells Of Behavior Under Fire.
The French premier then dwelt Upon
the recall Of Ambassador Herrick in
conformity with the administrative ira
Hition of the United States. He dwelt
upon the Ambassadors behavior at a
critical moment as the victorious Ger
man armies were approaching Paris be-
aore his successor actually had, taken
his post. t.. 49,. .,
I'm a conversation he had with me
ht the Elysee Palace on September q,
he told me he had firmly decided not
70 leave Paris before his successor had
actually taken his post Secretary OF
state Bryan had allowed him complete
Freedom in that respect.
II Paris is TAKEN the Ambassador
SAID, I VIII use my country'S authority
and will display our star spangled
colors to cover your museums and mon
umentS. Will 60 to the utmost limits
of my power to protect the inhabitants
against pillage and oppression The
Tears rose to his eyes while he spoke.
Il assured him France would not lay
iown her arms before the day of VIC
tory and that Paris would be stubbornly
uefended. He looked at me silently, I'M
willing to lessen my hopes, held my
aands in his for a time and then went
away, showing signs of deep emotion.
Expressed Admiration for France.
"A few weeks later, before he sailed
Sor America, he sent me a very sad
PETER, in which, after deploring Frances
prdeal, he expressed his admiration and
enthusiasm for the courage Of spirit
and sacrifice Of our people. He prom
Used to come back to visit his friends
"a Paris. Upon his arrival in the United
States he made himself the indicate
gable exponent and supporter of our
cause. When at last. after the Repub-
sicans returned to power, he returned
20 France, his joy was doubtless marred
by family bereavements (Mrs. Herrick
bad died).
He was, above all, faithful repre-
sentative Of American policy and fol-
lowed scrupulously the instructions of