Seeing Red

An Ambassador blunders

More made-in-America tough talk was exported last week as U.S. Ambassador to France Evan Galbraith committed la gaffe on French radio. In a 75-minute interview, the conservative diplomat's unsubtle views on French Communism provoked rapid-fire and sometimes childish questions from French journalists. Galbraith responded in kind. When asked for his opinion of prominent Communists, including Transport Minister Charles Fiterman, the Ambassador candidly responded that a Communist is "a poor Frenchman who went wrong." Et alors: "Everyone knows very well that the French Communist Party has a special relationship with the Soviet world."

Horrified either by the obvious or by Galbraith, the French press and Communist Party blasted the Ambassador, who then spent much of the week trying to clarify his remarks. Premier Pierre Mauroy summoned Galbraith to his office "to signify the unacceptable character" of the Ambassador's remarks.

Galbraith emerged looking circumspect but not defeated or contrite. By agreeing to meet with Mauroy, he inadvertently delayed the signing of a new Franco-Soviet economic cooperation agreement by several days. Touche.