Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-23
LAVAL TO EXPLAIN
FRENCH DEMANDS
Premier, With knowledge OF
Country's Needs, Does
Not Mince Words.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
peatedly "the shortest way between two
points is the straight line, and you can't
change that"
He had not been two hours on Amer
lean soil when he told the world that
our isolationist policy must be consid-
cred a thing Of the past and that
France wants from us some sort of
guarantee pact. This has been whiS-
pered by American and French diplo-
mats ever since 1929, but no one has
put it so bluntly as the French premier
in the address he made yesterday in the
New York City Hall.
Sees Situation Clearly.
Laval is not here on a joy-ride. He
wants to talk to the President Of the
United States about matter which in
terests the French nation-the question
OF Frances security. And he does not
intend to use any devious methods in
his conversations.
The situation is, as far as he is con-
cerned, very clear. France is today on
the crest of the wave. 1t has powerful
army, the most powerful in the world.
1t has a powerful new navy; better than
1t ever was in Frances modern history.
It has no unemployment to speak of and
has about as much gold as the United
States. It has alliances with five East
ern and Southeastern European coun-
tries each of which has a powerful
army and is wealthy in natural re-
sources. Never, in modern times, has
France been in a better strategic posi-
ton than she is today. But France is
worrying about the future. Her wealth
may be only temporary, her alliances
somewhat unreliable; other nations may
organize armies in the future as pow-
erful as hers.
Laval is here to get life insurance for
France and feels that he can pay the
premium if the United States is willing
to accept the offer Never since the
war has France been in a more Splen-
did strategic position to obtain what
every Frenchman seems to wiSh-Se-
curity with Americas assistance. France
has an army which is looked upon
aSkance by the rest OF the world. France
has a lot of gold which could be put to
better use by those nations which have
none. She can reduce her army and
part with some of her gold at a
price-a security treaty duly signed by
the President of the United States and
Endorsed by the United States Senate.
And this Laval is going to tell the
American people and their President
without mincing his words or conceal
ing his thoughts.
Not Welded to Office.
Diplomats may find him brutally
frank, but at least he is-frank. Laval
can afford to be SO because he is not
welded to his Office He never thirsted
for power and his spectacular rise to the
foremost pc ion in France is rather
accidental de has certainly never
sought it. For a while he was the
mayor of a small suburb of Paris
Auberv1lerS, suburb of poor workmen
He was happy to be able to do some
thing for those poor people He is said
to be quite willing to return to his
AubervillerS nayorShip and care for
that small community if he can't sue
coed OF taking care of the larger COM
munity-France.
nad anything to do with international
affairs. He is consequently totally ig-
norant OF what is called diplomatic
language and diplomatic WAYS.
When he decided to come to Amer
lea 1t was. said that he would be ac-
companied by a large staff of diplo-
matte, naval and financial experts. He
Shivered. Experts have seldom achieved
anytnlng and ne was out to get some
thlng. Since then the number of ex-
perts has been gradually reduced until
when he sailed he had with him lust
lew financial lights. a commander in
the navy and no foreign expert at
all. He left his experts and his trouble
home.
Discarded Most Experts.
He arrived in Washington yesterday
and instructed his experts, few as they
are, to talk to the American experts.
He himself was going to talk with
President Hoover and Secretary Slim
son without assistance other than that
OF an interpreter, whose job is, not to
translate tis thoughts but merely his
words.
When he was a mere Deputy in the
French Chamber and followed anna
teurishly the many international con-
ferences which were taking place since
1919, he often wondered what use were
those many experts which each foreign
minister felt duty-bound to employ.
Was it because they had to have their
thoughts supplemented and holstered
by others? Laval does not think he
needs such aid. Nobody has ever
heard him use Ambassador Dawes
famous expression to Ramsay Mac
Donald when they were discussing the
naval SITUATE, ITO hell with the ex-
perts,'' but many Of those who are
close to the French premier believe
that this is his innermost thought.