OCR Text |
Show ALL NEW YORK GIVES WELCOME I TO FRENCH WARTIME PREMIER Clemenceau Cheered By Thousands Upon Landing Land-ing in New York and During March to City Hall; Will Give French Version of War Debt Difficulties. I NEW YORK. Nov. 18 (By the Associated Press ) Georges Clemen-leeaU, Clemen-leeaU, wnr-timo premW of Prance, oamo to America today on a mission of peace. The- fiery old Tlpror earnestly volrd the purpose of hie tour In a brief response at city hall to iin address of welcome by Acting Mavor Ilulbcrt "In the world ut this time ho declared, de-clared, "is a crisis which has not been settled. How It will end, nobody knows. Tf you take the wronn lldf well, the war counts for nothing and we muv have to go to war again. If 'A turns nut right, and the right thing Is none nt the rlplit tlmo, then It will he the greatest step for the civilization civiliza-tion of mankind." Clemcneoau's Idea of the "right thing" Is the me.sape he will givo to An-.erlca In a series of addresses her and In Boston. Chicago, St Louis. Washington and Philadelphia. HONORED AS DIPIjOMAT Although ho comes as a private citizen the famous French statesman was accorded the honors of a diplomat diplo-mat Bed tape was cut by Washington Washing-ton to facilitate his landing A pergonal per-gonal representative of Presllont Harming Har-ming Assistant Secretary of State 2UibS went down the bay to welcome him, and Invito him to the Whit? House. Jules J. Jiis?erand, the French ambassador to the United States, was on hand to put the stamp of his government's gov-ernment's approval on the visit. Cle.monceau had scarcely set foot on 6horc when a telegram from another famous world war figure wan ihandcd to him. The message was from Woodrow Wilson and read "Allow me to bid you welcome to America where you will find none but friends." The Tiger, who had worked at Versailles Ver-sailles with Wilson for the league of nations, hastened to scribblo this reply: re-ply: "Deeply touched by your kind message. mes-sage. Please acc pt mj kli ..'est re-grards re-grards and Wishes Am looking for-Ward for-Ward with great pleasure to seelngl 'you In Washington." visrroit f.xcitf:i). These wer the day's BOrlous spots "For the rest, it was a day of mad-cap .adventure for the aged statesman and ,he went to It with a im that belled ihls 31 years. The keen eyes beneath the shaggy brows were sparkling and snapping rwlth excitement -when the committee :that went down the bay to greet him .first caught sight of him high up on ithe promenade deck of the Paris. I Thoy wer still sparkling and enap- ping when he was hustled into harles Dana Gibson's home in Ea-st Seventy-third Seventy-third street at nightfall to rest for the morrow. The Tiger eamo as a private citizen, but to no potentate could have been extended a moro stately welcome than was accorded him when he was taken from the steamship Paris In the harbor har-bor and landed on the historic Bat-I Bat-I tery wall I The Tlpr-r found thousands of people wnlting for him on tho tip i or Manhattan island There were ! cheers when he .stepped ashore and then, headed by the police department band, M. Clemenceau and the committer com-mitter whi h welcomed him, start''! up Hroadway for his official reception ! at the city hall WAVES TO GIKLS. I The aged statesman was carrying a red rose in one hand when he began his motor trip up the Krut canyon. Girls In office buildings leaned from windows and blew klasos to him lie replied by waving the rose In a courtly munner. The welcoming committee on arriving arriv-ing ut quarantine aboard the municipal mu-nicipal steamer Macom found the Tiger Ti-ger peering through a window on the promcnadn deck He was wearing .i gray cutaway with a gray fedoriu Escorted to the grand salon by t! . captuln of the ParLs the committee was presented to M Clemenceau by J. J Jusserand, French ambassador to tho United fetate6. IN SPLENDLD HEALTH. Complimented by the committee on tho healthy appearance he presented, M. Clemenceau replied lightly "I arn growing younger every day. In 60 years I think I'l be a baby.- Robert Condon, a member of tho national executive committee of the American Legion, then welcomed tho former premier "as a man who more than any other exemplifies the spirit In which we carried on the war. " Shaking hands, tho Tiger replied. "You're the man I like to see. It's the thoughts of you men that count." Making ready to leao the Battery, iM. Clenionccau called excitedly to his valet. Albeit, who was going up to the dock with the baggage to bo sure und see that It was landed safely Led by Colonel E M. House, a cioao ' pecsona: friend, the distinguished I Frenchman stepped gingerly aboard the municipal craft Manhattan to cross to the Macom Tin. Mannattun siren loosed three tremendous blasts. 1 The Tiger clapped his hand hurried- j !y over his ears and scrambled aboard 1 mo macom. men came a rush o photographers. "Oh, Isn't there somebody to kill these photographers"" cried the Tler plaintively. "Is it not permissible in your country?" But ho posed LOOKS FOR ST ATI E. A band aboard the Macom then truck up tho MarsellkUne and M Clemenceau. his hat removed, stood I with bowed head opposite Colonel ; House Just a3 he- was about to drop Into a seat tho musicians swung Into Um ;tar Spangled Banner, and ho nros aaln Then he was led by the commltlco to a chair. The Tiger kept casting piercln? glances from under Ms shaggy gray brows at the harbor scene Soon lie Inquired for tho whereabouts of the 1 Statuo.of Liberty. M Jusserand polnt-J polnt-J ed It out through the mist with the Jesting observation that the lad) was somewhat obscured by prohibition- "Oh," exclaimed Clemenceau, gazing gaz-ing at the statue, "it Is really Impressive," Impres-sive," Beforo landing the Tiger announced that he Intended this afternoon to attend at-tend tho performance of Mephis-tophelcs Mephis-tophelcs at the Metropolitan opru house, where he will deliver his :irt I lecture Tuesday night. In his chat with Ambassador Jus-(serand Jus-(serand on polities. M Clemenceau conversed con-versed In French During an animated ani-mated discussion regarding Premier Mussolini of Italy, the Fasclsti leader, the Tiger e.clalmod: "Ah, there's a government." SEEMS BEWILDERED The Tiger seemed bewildered when he saw the army of newspaper reporters, report-ers, photographers and movie men. more than 70 strong, which greetei him. Confetti and ticker tape rained on the Tiger as ho moved up Broadway. At the city hall, which he said he we'll remembered, he was received by Acting Act-ing Mayor Murray Hulbert, who hnil-ed hnil-ed him as "the most distinguish d citizen of the groat sister republic France. " "Tho people of tho two nations belle.. be-lle.. -.1 then as they believe now that self-go crnrnent Is the natu'rul government govern-ment of mankind," said Mr Hulberr To the maintenance am! def. :is- ji that principle you have deoted a long lifetime servleo characterized by the display of unusual courage, koen foresight, fore-sight, masterly ability and dynamic force." Ueorge w Wlekersham lntrodui -.1 I hi Tige r as ono of the greatest citizens citi-zens in the world DISCLAIMS MUiITARISM. M Clemenceau, responding to the welcome, said "For 50 years I have been mixed up w ith tho most Important political crisis In France. I have seen my country Invaded In-vaded twice during my lifetime I do not want to see a third invasion before be-fore my death "Wo will disperse our arm when it can be shown that we aro safe from this invasion " Ho explained that ho came on no mission and that his visit was personal per-sonal At first, he said, he vowed he would not "come, to America be' ause ho was too old But when he heard his country criticised he decided to come, he said. "We wore called militaristic and Imperialistic," Im-perialistic," he fald. "If there's a man who is not militaristic, it is I." M. Clemenceau paid that ho read while In France an article by a great English critic, criticising France and America and declared that this made him resolve "to defend America against anybody." Ho said that Franco did not know what was going on in America and America did not know what was going on In France and ho wished to make the posttlon of France clear, "as a free man speaking to free men." By HARRY L. ROGERS. International News Service, NEW YORK, Nov. 18 Georges rieioenceau. 81-year-old fighting statesman of France, who received a tr. mendous ovation upon his arrival here today, will loae no tlmo In taking up the all Important question of the French debt to the United States, It was learned officially tonight. Highly pleased with the recoptlon accorded him In the city he had not seen for 60 years, tho former French premier is determined to make the most of the opportunity to bring homo Ito the American people the things which he considers of vital importance import-ance to the welfare of his country. As tho veteran leader stated at city hall today, one of the prime objects of his visit is to kill for all time in America the Impression that France is either militaristic or imperlallstc. Beng a practical man, however, ho ! reallze-s tho question of elel.t and reparations rep-arations la fundamental, and he makes no bones about saying no. SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY'. I Throughout his speaking tour In the United Stales tho Tlgef will str. s the 'importance of this question He will stnio In most positive terms, it Is learned on high authority, that France cannot pay immediately her war debt to tho United States of more than three billion dollars und that this debt cannot be paid at all unless France receives her Just indemnity from Gor-1 Gor-1 many. Clemenceau positively will not ask 'for cancellation of the debt, it Is stated. stat-ed. He will endeavor to convince Americans, however, I hat Germany, by an unprovoked and aggrcsslvo war le-aused France a loss of more than T50.000.000.u00 gold francs, to say 'nothing of tho loss In human I if o ana suffering. He will clto the fact that France had a war death toll of 1,700,- 000 of the flower of her manhood out 1 of a population of approximately 38.-000,000 38.-000,000 ami that there are in addition addi-tion 300,000 other Frenchmen totally disabled "and a charge upon the government, gov-ernment, with more than a million others partially disabled Ho will sh"v that a thirteenth part of tho area of France, and tills tho richest Industrial section, has been devastated. For the work of restoration. Clem-1 enceau will argue, the Germans have paid only 4.000.000.000 francs B INKERS ASSISTING Aa exclusively reported by International Interna-tional News Service, Clemenceau will speak with the force of official ut-; terancc, inasmuch as he Is known to have reached an understanding with M. Polncare, the French premier. He I will have, too, the sympathetic sup- port of a powerful group of American International bankers. Including the International Interests represented by Thomas W Lamont, Otto W. Kahn and Bernard Baruch. It is regarded, as significant that the former French premier on .Monday will be the guest, of honor at a reception tendered by the Franco-American society at Lamont La-mont s home. Tho official sanction of the Harding administration, too. is seen in the fact that Assistant Secretary of State Bliss today tendered Clemenceau an Invitation Invita-tion to be tho guest of honor of President Presi-dent Harding al the White House during dur-ing his stay In Washlngton. Deaplto his age the "Ticrer" withstood with-stood the trip extremely well With characteristic French gallantry, gallan-try, tho "TlRor" paid a compliment to the wome n of America "I Bhall cable to Paris at once." he said, "to come ocr and see the beautiful beau-tiful women of New York. Tho city Is full of them:" |