Evening star., 1954-11-14

PARIS. - Omclal sources mere
have been so reticent about ascrib-
ing motives to the visit of Pierre
Mendes France to Washington that
one observer has suggested that the
French Premier's real purpose is to
get himself good glass Of milk. 1t
seems, in fact, that the official visit
first suggested last June-has been,
deliberately postponed until no very
serious issues or misunderstanding
remain to be settled.
From every ones point of view,
this is probably just as well. Ger
tainly 1t is hard to see what would
have been gained by the presence of
Mr.. Mendes-F France in Washington
last spring, when decisions on 1ndo-
China still hung in the balance.
Even less helpful would have been
conversations with American lead
ers while the fate of EDO and the
new pattern for western European
defense was still unsettled. While
Franco-American relations were
passing through their stormiest pc
riod since the war, no one was hap
pier than the men in the State De-
partment that Mr.. Mendes-France
found himself too busy at home to
make the trip to washington.
Now that smoother waters have
been reached, the visit takes on some
Of the festive quality of the prodigal
sons return. The fact that the
French premier has given his allies
some very trying and anxious mo-
ments in the past seems to make his
first American public appearance all
the more interesting.
Like a Debutonte
For all the propitious timing,
there were plenty of jitters in the
Mendes-Fr encourage while
details were being worked out. There
was endless nailchewing over.
speeches. public appearances, press
interviews and private conferences.
The pros and cons of this or that
televiSion show have been anxiously
debated. Although any suggestion
Of a popularity contest between Mr..
Mendes-F France and DR.. Adenauer is
firmly denied in official quarters, the
tour Of the German chancellor has
been watched with close interest.
Through it all. Mr.. Mendes-F France
himself has shown all the self
assurance Of girl at her coming
out party. He seems particularly
nervous over the thought that his
English (Which is excellent) may not
be up to the role that is being set
for him.
There is good reason why so much
fuss should be made over the i'm
preston that Mr.. Mendes-France
will make when he reaches WASH
1ngton. No major Western leader
in years has provided such contro-
versial interest in the course of a
few action-fllled months, none whose
popularity has had such violent ups
and downs. His debut at Geneva
last spring set the stage. If some
critics were prepared to applaud the
appearance Of a French premier
who seemed to know what he wanted
and how to get it, there were al
most as many others ready to con-
denim him for "surrendering" to the
Communists in Indo- China. His
stock, which rose to new heights as
the result Of his handling Of the
Tunisian crisis. plunged to rock bot
tom again when the French Assem-
bly, finally rejected EDO. Since then
1t has been recovering steadily as
the vacuum Of Western policy has
filled and the rift closed between
France and the allies.
Less Distrust Now
Today. although there seems to be
far less distrust of Mr.. Mendes-
J France than before, there are still
many reasons why the premier
should go out of his way to meet
the American public on more inti-
mate terms. His associates complain
Of the American tendency-for
which American correspondents
probably must bear the blame-to
60 overheard in comparing the pre-
mier to other more or less notable
world figures. Whatever else he may
be. Mr.. ndes-France, they say,
Is neither Poincare nor a Franklin
D. Roosevelt. neither Krishna Me-
non nor Syngman Rhee. It is high
time. they think, that the American.
people get closer look at Mr.. Men
des-France and see him in more
accurate proportions.
Compared to the public relations
problem, much less concern Is being
shown over the official side Of the
trip. The premier's talks with Presi-
dent Eisenhower and Secretary of
State Dulles. 1t is said, will add up
TO general tour of the diplomatic
horizon in which number of COM
mon problems viii be discussed. Some
OF the more obvious stopping points:
o NDO- -CHINA--At long last, the
French government seems to have