So fierce was the “Tiger’s” antagonism that, on the very day of the
Presidential election, and in the Palace of Versailles, M. Poincaré
appointed “seconds” to demand an explanation from M. Clemenceau. The
affair was “arranged.” But up to the last moment the “Tiger” canvassed
and canvassed for M. Pams in the lobbies of the Versailles palace. And
he was sallower than ever; he did not attempt to conceal his anger
and indignation when M. Poincaré was proclaimed Chief of the State by
a handsome majority. Said a Deputy: “Versailles has been Clemenceau’s
Waterloo. In Poincaré he met his Wellington.” But the “Tiger” wasn’t
tamed. A few weeks later he “smashed” the Briand Cabinet. Then he started
a paper—_L’Homme Libre_—and therein, as in the lobbies of the two
Chambers, he renewed his attacks upon the new President. So has Paris
been amazed, staggered, almost petrified to read in the newspapers the
following official announcement:
“Sur le désir que le président de la République lui en avait fait
exprimer par son secrétaire général civil, M. Clemenceau s’est rendu
aujourd’hui à l’Élysée, pour conférer avec M. Poincaré.” Or: “At the
desire of the President of the Republic, expressed through his principal
private secretary, M. Clemenceau has called at the Élysée and conferred
with M. Poincaré.”
Mortal enemies—nearly a duel—three months ago: but now is M. Clemenceau
invited most politely to call at the Élysée, where he remains shut up
with President Poincaré for a whole hour! Never such gesticulations
on the boulevards, such excitement in the French Press. “Even the
weather has been _bouleversé_ by the interview at the Élysée,” writes a
Paris journalist. “M. Clemenceau’s visit to M. Poincaré is undoubtedly
responsible for the sudden heat wave.” Asks another journalist, somewhat
cruelly: “What does M. Pams think of it? Also, where is M. Pams? We
have sought for M. Pams at both his Paris and country residences, but
in vain. No news of M. Pams either at the cigarette paper manufactory.
We are becoming uneasy about M. Pams.” And declares a third journalist:
“Versailles is forgotten and forgiven. Behold the President and
Clemenceau hand-in-hand. But it is the triumph of the ‘Tiger.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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