The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-24
TrumonHits French Press
Continued from Page 1)

the French press was not giving the United States a square deal.
 DeGaulle himself will hold a press conference today at which he was expected to hold out hope of new era of improved understanding be- tween the two countries. He also was expected to clarify many ques- tions which now plague Franco American relations as well as those between France and the Big Three. MT. Truman told his news confer ence late yesterday that his first talks with DeGaulle had been very pleasant. When the conference was over, 12 French correspondents who accompanied DeGaulle here re- mained behind to be introduced to MT. Truman.
 The president startled the French newsmen into silence by saying that he had only one thing to say to them-that he hoped the French press would begin to give the United States square deal, which, he added, we haven't received up to date.
 The French journalists were so amazed by the blunt remark that they asked no questions. They were no more surprised, however, than the State Department officials in charge of French affairs. They could not put their finger on any incidents which might have prompt ed the presidents remarks.
 Whatever adverse effect the in- cident may have had on Franco American relations was eased con- siderably last night by Secy. of State James F. Byrnes.
 Praise De Gaulle
 At formal dinner in De Gaulle's honor, the secretary paid glowing tribute to the generals leadership during the times that tries the souls of men," He said he already was satisfied that as a result of De Gaulle,s visit "there will be greater cooperation between the United States and France in the future" ,st ..a x
 Some 50-odd French and Amer ican officials attended the dinner. The atmosphere was most cordial. Byrnes broke all recent precedents for dinners by the Secretary of State by allowing nine toasts-two by himself.
 Byrnes' second toast-closing the dinner-came after he, Sen. Arthur H. Vandenberg, R., Mich, Sen. AL ben w. Barkley, D., Ky. and Sen. Warren Austin, R., Vt., and Rep. Sol Bloom, D., N.. r., had toasted Franco friend- ship and the French leaders pres ent. They were answered by De- Gaulle, French Foreign Minister Georges Budault and French Am- bassador Henri Bonnet.
 It was Byrnes' first formal state dinner as Secretary of State. After eight toasts, the secretary rose to recall that at the Yalta confer ence he had attended 8 dinner giv- en by Generalissimo Josef Stalin where, 'by actual count" there were 47 toasts.
 "The occasion" he said, offered an opportunity for physical exer- else, mental entertainment and reasonable intoxication. have no desire at this time to try to com- pete with the generalissimo so I offer a toast to end all toasts here:
 Visit Soldiers Tomb
 'Since the arrival of Gen. De- Gaulle there has been greater un- derstanding of the problems be- tween our two countries. I am sat- isfied that as a result of Gen. De- Gaulle's visit there will be greater cooperation between France and the United States in the future"
 The Byrnes dinner came after a busy day. After 8 ceremonial visit to the unknown soldiers Tomb, De- Gaulle spent much of the day talk ing with the heads of the French economic, military and naval mis- sions here. Bidault. meanwhile. spent three and one-half hours with Byrnes discussing all questions at issue between the two countries.
 Bidault made 1t clear to reporters after his first conference with Byrnes that French economic prob lems were getting high priority in the discussions. French internal problems for the forthcoming win- ter center around adequate supplies of coal and food.