The Washington times., 1931-10-23

Mile. Jose Laval, 19-year-old
daughter of the French premier,
went on a shopping tour today
with her new friend and preferred
companion, Mile. RENE Claudel,
daughter of the French ambasSa"
dor to the United States.
The two girls ran lightly down
the steps of the Edge residence
and disappeared in Mile. Clau-
dels car without explaining the
absence of Mile. Jacqueline Gui-
mier, who, for some reason, has
not yet appeared in Washington.
It was understood when the
Laval party left France that Mile.
Guimier, daughter Of French
publisher, would act as semi-of-
ficial companion to Mile. Laval
during her American visit.
Enter Mile. CIaudel
However, as soon as Mile.
Claudel appeared on board the
lie De France. it was noticed
that the French premier's daugh-
ter spent very little time in the
company Of the girl, whose chief
reason for making the voyage
was to be with Mile. Laval.
Instead, "Josette," as she is
called by her intimates, was con-
stantly in the company of the
pretty blonde Refine, playing a
great deal of shuffle-board and
taking long walks around the
decks of the ship with her.
It was not definitely eStab-
lished whether Mile. Guimier had
remained in New York until this
morning. At the dinner and
dance given Mile. Laval at the
French Embassy last night. a
dark-haired young woman was
identified to newspaper men as
Mile. Guimier. She turned out
to be Madame Patenotre, wife Of
one of the French correspondents.
Mystery Is Seen
There were conflicting rumOrs
as to Mile. Guimier's arrival in
Washington. Some said she
would be here late this afternoon,
others that she would not come
at all.
Mile. Laval's evident enthusiasm
for her new friend livened this
mornings brief interview. The
young French girl appeared in a
dark blue French gown trimmed
with white crepe. Everything she
has worn so far in this country
has been blue. She was asked
if it were her favorite color.
She explained simply:
cit is my fathers"
She assumes to like to talk
about clothes. She a d mi t e d
naively she is interested in them.
Wants To Buy Things
every French girl is. I
want to buy lots Of things In
America. want to see all
the nice things they have here"
She declared she realized that
this is a serious mission for her
father, but that Of a necessity,
she could play no part in the
important business. She is in
tereSted in the outcome Of her
fathers conversation with Presi-
dent Hoover, and has asked her
father many questions already.
But" she said ruefully, che
doesn't answer always"
She pooh-poohed the suggestion
that she is her fathers right
hand man." deploring she did not
know enough to be Of any real
assistance to him.
But she looked very pleased
when one Of the official party
interrupted the interview, saying
she was needed urgently" in the
apartment upstairs. She paused
just long enough after that to
say she enjoyed being with her
father on business or pleasure,
that she had hunted with him
often, killed rabbits, pheasants
and small deer.
Likes Eugenie Hats
AS she was going out the door
she confided she liked Engenie
hats-"they are very pretty when
they are well done"-and that
she did not believe the vogue for
them had ended in Paris, as yet.
'Now that is all I can tel