13 AUGUST 1937, Page 6

Last week there was brought to me direct from Washington

the latest good story going the rounds in that capital. President Roosevelt's last words to the French Finance Minister, so the legend ran, were " Whatever else you do, balance your budget." (Mr. Roosevelt's own budget falls short of balance by only a trifling $2,55o,000,000.) Now back comes M. Bonnet to Europe and straightway reveals the legend as fact. The President, it seems, did say to him exactly that. Well, after all, why not ? jANUS.