Evening star., 1933-05-07
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

ARIS.-The return Of former
French Premier Edouard Her.
riot from his dramatic visit with
President Roosevelt in Washing
ton raises questions Of extraord-
mary interest both to France and to the
rest of the world.
--.s Herriot's trip, from the French
viewpoint, a success, as his friends In
eist, or failure, as his adversaries
would like to believe?
Should France adopt the new policies
which Herriot. in his talks with Presi-
dent Roose-c't seems to have agreed to
propose in Paris?
In particular, should France, without
other compensation, now pay its Decem-
Der war debt installment to the United
States?
And. above all, what effect Is the dis
cussion of all of these grave matters
likely to have on the French political
situation?
Will the government of French Pre-
mier Edouard Daladier fall?
Will a period of political uncertainty
ensue which may tend to delay both
the disarmament and the economic
negotiations?
Will Herriot emerge victorious as the
next premier Of France?
COolness Between Leaders.
1t Is with such questions that these
inner political circles here are fairly
buzzing today. The fact that Foreign
Minister Joseph Paul-Boncour and Min
lister of the Interior Camille Chautemps
both went to meet Herriot at Havre on
his return has aroused much comment
1t is an open secret that there has
been coolnesS between Herriot and
Daladier, both of whom are members of
the same party, since the latter accept
ed the premiership on the basis of not
paying the United States. Some veteran
tactictanS even suggest that Daladier
declined to go to Washington and sent
Herriot instead because he was con-
WINGED that nothing good for France
could come of the Washington talks.
IF so, what a mistake Daladier
made" these politicians now exclaim.
What Herriot apparently is telling
Daladier and President Lebrun can be
stated roughly thus:
Il found in President Roosevelt
highly intelligent, friendly, profoundly
human and cordial man, in whom the
long-suffering American people have
suddenly concentrated their highest
hopes and greatest authority.
"He is the first American President
in years who has shown the slightest
understanding Frances problems or
ideals. He wants to work with us as
well as with the British to re-establish
the economic and political peace Of the
world and put an end to the peoples
woes. He understands the need for the
worlds three great democracies to
stand together in these troubled times.
For France, the opportunity Is
unique. am convinced that we can
and should work with this man.
have come back more convinced than
ever that friendship with the worlds
strongest democracy Is today Frances
best hope.
Covered Lot of Ground.
Naturally our time was limited and
we could not do everything. Much re-
mains to be accomplished. Yet we
covered a good deal of ground and the
results are already appreciable."
Specifically, what Herriot proposes
seems to be:
|. France should pay the United
States Immediately the December Is
war debt installment and simply trust
President Roosevelt to work out some
satisfactory arrangement respecting the
next installment, due in June.
1t was not for nothing, he intimates,
that an agreement was reached IN
Washington to fix the date of the World
Economic Conference for June IL; that
is to say, three days before the next
war debt payment was due.
.. France should give sympathetic
and constructive study to President
Roosevelts proposals for the simultane-
Gus devalorization of the gold content
OF the worlds principal currencles, rapid