Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

sonally as much as it is possible in the
space of a week with the American
people. The French prime minister
feels that the people in this country
misunderstood France. He wants 70
talk to us and tell us the why's and the
wherefores of Frances sometimes OBJ
scure policies
The French people could not have
chosen a better emmisary than their
prime minister. NJ. Pierre Laval Is
likely to create an excellent impression
on the people Of this country. The son
of a butcher from the Auvergne prov
ince. this French leader is modest and
unobtrusive. He has worked his way up
in French politics by hard work and
uncompromiSing honesty
Until a few years ago Laval was a
somewhat obscure member of Parlia-
ment. He obtained his first underSec-
retaryship in the Herriot cabinet of
1924. representing one of the miscela-
neous Socialist groups which formed
that remarkable coalition administra-
ton called the cartel.
Little Known to Public.
Ever since he has been fairly impor-
tant in politics French political 'prlna
donnaS" know that he was made OF the
stuff great leaders are built, but the
kCllGldL puDAlC Al At@AANN' -" 49, 49,
abroad knew little about him.
His somewhat rough appearance. his
frequently unkempt hair. his ready
made white ties, his cheap clothes. his
modest department never made much
impression on the public in France.
The French people don't object to their
political idols appearing careless and
untidy once they have been elevated to
the rank of an idol. But young poll
fjpioV, iV1 nrIpr intO the lime
light must either be eXtraVagant in
some way or other or he must be re-
markable orator. Laval is neither.
Hence while the old politicians real
lied that Laval was "a fellow to be
watched" the man in the street knew
little about him.
Premier Lavals prominence in ma
tional and International politics is acct
dental Not that he does not deserve it.
deal. After the fall of the thirteenth
BRAND cabinet Andre Tardieu, un-
doubtedly the most powerful and de-
termined politician in France, felt that
he could not successfully follow BRAND
as prime minister. and engineered the
selection of Laval, man barely Al
years of age, as prime minister OF
France. 1t is said that the ioea OF
Tar6ieu was to Rave an ad interim
PRIME minister W Keep IIle pIdCe WARM
until he was ready to take over the
reins of the government.
Faced Great Problems.
1t happened. however, that soon after
Laval became prime minister great
problems doomed on the horizon. Laval
handled them carefully and honestly.
Then the great German financial catas-
trophe occurred. Laval was in very
i h. ~
realized that unless something was done
to save Germany from chaos the en-
tire Western Hemisphere might easily be
plunged into inSescribable anarchy, and
consequently welcomed President Hoo
Ver'S proposal. On the other hand he
had to count with the Nationalist in
his cabinet and in the Chamber OF
Deputies (the French house of repre-
sentatives), who threatened to over
throw him il he accepted President
Hoover's debt suspension plan in en-
tirety.
The delay caused by the Laval cabi-
nets reluctance to accept the Presi-
dents plaza delay due to the fact
that Laval had to maneuver his col
leagues and his Observation-Disclosures
wrecked the Hoover plan. But one
might now safely say that had Laval
handled his politicians differently little
WOulQ nave Deen leIG OF GHe OeDC HOl-
day proposal. Lavals skillful handling
of the situation gained him. almost
overnight. the fame of star of the
first magnitude in the international
constellation. Little did the old-time
politicians in Paris think that the man
whom only few years ago they called
'un brave garcon" a good fellow
would steal their thunder in such a
short space Of time.
Has Stolid Qualities.
Laval has neither the brillancy OF
Aristide BRAND, nor the impetuosity Of
Andre Tardieu nor the erudition VI
Poincare. He is just stolid. rare quail
ity among French political men. His
education is an ordinary one, that of q
small-town lawyer; his manner OF
speech is clear, concise and un-
rhetorical. He had never been outside
France until this year, when he was
forced to go to London as Frances CHIEF
delegate at the Seven-power financial
conference in July. His friends had a
hard task to induce him to take that
one hours trip across the narrow strip
Of water that separates France from
Great Britain. Not only was he afraid
to meet the representatives of six other
powers in a foreign capital, but he was
genuinely worried about crossing the
English Channel.
One can easily imagine with what
trepidation the French premier will
board the big liner which is going tc
bring him to the United States, a coun-
try of skyscrapers, high speed and
overwhelming hospitality, as his more
travelled friends describe us TO him. Ir
high official quarters much hope is
placed on this visit of Laval to the
United States.
Since the complete breakdown of the
British economic and financial ma.
chinery America and France remain
the most powerful countries in tht
world. On their understanding as t.
how to organize the peace and the eco
nomic revival Of the world depends ths
prosperity of this country and the sal
vation of Europe.
Macdonald Visit Remembered.
Our officials remember how the visit
of James Ramsay Macdonald in the
Fall of 1929 changed the almost hope
less political misunderstanding which
had existed between this country anc
Great Britain since the failure OF thu
Naval Conference of 1927 into cor
dial understanding. Never in the his
tory of the two English-speaking coun'
tries have the relations been friendlier
And that was done merely by two men
Macdonald anG Hoover, who talked the
same language and understood how
little reason for a disagreement be-
tween the countries existed
The men who remember the irnpor-
tant consequences of the Rapidan con-
versation think that something similar
may happen aeain, and the present
somewhat cool relations between France
and the United States may improve
and the two countries may become a.
friendly as they were at the time wher
they were fighting side by side.
Optimism in international relations
Is an excellent thing, but one mus
bear in mind that the existing differ.
ences between France and the United
States are more difficult to reconcile
than those which existed between
YD~1k I'D.