Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24

I tempt for the verbose and the superflu-
Gus! This man, say, Is precise like a
machine gunner"
This is Tardieu as his political
enemies portray him. But is there not
in this picture something Strikingly new,
almost startlingly different. in country
where precision and direct action are
, among the rarest of virtues? Is there
| not. indeed, something commanding
and invigorating in the spectacle of the
coming to power in France of a man
who epitomizeS these positive qualities
which too long have been missing in
French political life?
But SO Years Old.
How Is it, one is prompted to ask
that Tardieu today presents such a
forceful, arresting personality which
commands respect even to those who
dislike him? I am brought back as
every observer must be brought back,
to Tardfeus own words: Capable of
action--love of achievement" Today
Tardieu is but SO, an extremely youth
full age for a premier of France, a
country where premierS for two decades
have ranged between the ages of 60
and rs.
1t is true, perhaps. that Tardieu's
record has not been that scintillating
kind which focuses worldwide atten-
ton. Rather it has been one of per-
sistent, quiet brilliance. AS a student
Tardieu broke all records in France for
competitive scholarship, winning IL
consecutive prizes. At IS he entered
the Ecole Normale Superieure, that
most difficult of all French colleges,
which has given France many of her
rnnct
at the head of his class, was graduated
with honorS.
At 20 Tardieu was first in an exami-
nation for the diplomatic service, and
in 1897 was appointed secretary of the
embassy at Berlin, where his powers of
observation was turned upon the grow
ing ambitions of William II. Twenty
two. years later this same young man, as
an important aide to Clemenceau at the
peace conference, was to write the ma
jor portion of the peace treaty which
marked the final humbling of this En-
peror's pride
From Berlin Tardieu became inspector
general in the department of the lnte-
rior, that same building into which he
went in November, 1923, as the first
minister of the interior in 80 years who
was not member of the Radical So
cialist party. Even in spite of his ha-
bitually phlegmatic disposition there
was the flush of achievement in Tar
deus face as he re-entered the minis
try OF the interior that day. Today he
remains minister of the interior in adj
dition to his duties as premier, having
maintained that Office through two fall
| en- cabinets regardless of the bitter OPP
position from powerful Left parties.
Begins Newspaper Series.
In 1904 Tardieu began a series of
newspaper articles which soon attracted
national attention, and in January,
1905 he accepted the distinguished post
of chief political editor of LIE Temps
at youthful age probably never pre-
viously recorded in the history of that
august journal of official opinion. The
power OF Tardieu'S pen won him renown
In France; his dynamic force, clarity
and sense of reality, rs well as his dra-
matte quality, are unsurpassed in the
present generation except by Clemenceau
In 10 years Tardieu won fame as the
most outstanding journalist in France.
The power of his words may we'll be ap-
preciated by the tribute of Prince Won
Bulow, the Kaiser's famous chancellor,
who once said: There are six great
powers and seventh, which is Andre
Tardieu"
Since those early days Tardieu has
written half dozen historical books
and perhaps one of the most remark
ably complete and perceptive books on
Franco American relations, - France
CONTINUED on Fourth Page)