National Affairs: Hail and Farewell

After the French Debt Commission left Washington there was one brief scene of its American journey yet to be enacted.

On the train the weary M. Cai-llaux spoke to reporters. Some one told him of having paused before a window in Washington where pictures of the French Debt mission were displayed and of having heard a woman say: “Oh, how sly they look!” “Ah yes!” exclaimed M. Caillaux, with a weary irony. “The Wizard! It is always the same. All people believe that foreigners would eat them if they could.”

At Manhattan automobiles carried the commissioners away for a busy afternoon.

M. Caillaux and part of the delegation were entertained by Hamilton Fish Armstrong, Editor of Foreign Affairs, at luncheon. The other guests included: Paul D. Cravath, John W. Davis, Herman Har-jes, Otto H. Kahn, Thomas W. Lament, Russell C. Leffingwell, James H. Perkins, Seward Prosser, Benjamin Strong, Paul M. Warburg, Walter Lippmann, Julian Mason, Frank A. Munsey, Rollo Ogden, Frank L. Polk.

Another section of the delegation was entertained at the Advertising Club. Later the delegation ,was tea’d by French residents at the Plaza Hotel, and in the evening just before sailing M. Caillaux dined with 400 members of the Lotus Club, Nicholas Murray Butler acting as toastmaster. Dr. Butler:

“We speak of debts; for more than 2,000 years the modern world has been trying to pay its debt to ancient Greece, and the obligation grows heavier rather than lighter with each passing year-So it will be with France.

“Gentlemen, hail and farewell.

We offer you at once welcome and bon vonaae. May favoring breezes and kindly seas make your homeward journey pleasant and may you always remember that, however difficult the public business upon which you have been engaged, you went out to your ship from the Lotus Club amid the cheers and good wishes of sincere and affectionate friends of France.”

And M. Caillaux, weary, hoarse, replied: “I see before me, a lot of men occupying prominent situations. I am so confused I hope they will conserve of me the same memories I have of them. . . .

“It is not a question of gratefulness on either part. If perhaps America owes us something, we also owe her a great deal. These facts are in every mind.

“To the heart of America I appeal, with no other thought than to ask all the people of America to look at my country with the same sentiments that were expressed here a few minutes ago by President Butler.

“Leaving your beautiful land and your friendly citizens, I bring to France memories of the kindest greeting I ever had, of the most gracious, kindly and generous treatment on every hand.”

At 11:00 p. m. the France went down the harbor.