The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-22
Laval, NUS,
|. IS ON Way TO
White HOUSE
Premier of France Is Given
ThunderouS Welcome as
He Lands in N. Y.
SKYLINE THRILLS HIM
Noted Visitor Will Sleep in
Historic Lincoln Bed
at Capitol.
BY SIDNEY B. WHIPPLE
Tinted Press staff Correspondent

NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-Premler
Pierre Laval of France arrived to-
day to confer with President Hoo
yer on joint action by the United
States to re-establish the equili-
brium of the world in the present
economic crisis.
Laval was taken from the liner
lie de France and paraded to the
city hall where he was given Amer1-
cas- first official greeting, and in
reply outlined in strictly general
terms the purpose of his visit with
out going into the details Of the
subjects he will discuss at Wash
ington.
France was deeply touched when
President Hoover invited me to visit
him." Laval said.
"She realized that this gesture is
not alone the expression of an old
and tried friendship between our
great democracieS, but that the
American government had turned to
her because in the midst of a wide
spread disturbance, she remained
sound"
Met by Welcoming Party
Laval and the official French
party, including his daughter, Jo-
settle, arrived at quarantine in New
York harbor early in the morning.
The lie de France was met there
by a welcoming party.
Laval and his party then boarded
the Macon and it steamed to the
battery to the booming Of guns from
governors island, saluteS from the
craft in the harbor and an aquatic
display by fireboats.
The premier, making his first trip
abroad, was delighted and amazed
by the sight of New YorkS skyline,
with the towering skyscrapers out
lined in the sun of a crisp, clear
autumn day. He wore a silk hat
and morning clothes. He is man
Of medium height, with black hair
turning iron-gray, and clipped
muStaCIe.
Premier Is Delighted
Laval smiled with delight and ex-
pressed his appreciation of the
scene in French, his voice musical
and pleasant.
His daughter, also making her
first trip here, was in high excite
ment and her eyes Sparkled. She is
an attractive girl of 10 and was
dressed in the latest Paris mode,
wearing a knit blue ensemble, with
close-f1tting knitted blue hat.
To reporters on the Macon, Laval
said it was his first grand voyage"
At the battery, an official re-
ception committee headed by Sec
rotary Stimson greeted the party,
which paraded to the City Hall
along lower Broadway, escorted by
mounted police.
Soldiers, sailors and marines were
drawn up in the plaza of the City
Hall, where fanfare of trumpets
announced the party's arrival. A
crowd of several thousand sur
rounded the park.
1900 at Reception
The official reception was held in
the aldermanic chamber before an
audience of 1900 to 1,500, many of
whom had to stand.
In his reply to the welcome, Laval
confined himself to the general pur-
pose Of his visit and the intention of
France to cooperate with the
United States. He did mention spe-
officially, however, the French need
for security from aggression, pol
icy constantly stressed by his coun-
try in ali international negotiations.
Our only desire is peace" he
said. But we set great store by
our security. Governments and peo-
pies should understand that security
can not be expressed merely in
words Of hope; it should be organ
lied. If France and the United
States can agree and unite in an
ever-increaSing cooperation, we
may look forward to better things"
Mayor Walker pinned the medal
Of the city of New York on Laval.
To Sleep in Lincoln Bed
After the city hall reception, the
party motored under escort to the
Pennsylvania station, where they
departed on the 1882 a. m. train for
Washington, Laval and his suite oc-
cupying private car.
There were no wines or liquors in
the official baggage, for Laval gave
specific instructions to take no adj
vantage of official immunity. In
America, he will obey the dry law
and drink only mineral waters.
Laval will sleep at the White
House Friday night in the historic
Walnut Lincoln bed, nine feet long
and six feet wide The bed was
built soon after President Lincoln
came to the White House, because
none of the other beds in the man