La Belle Blonde

A tall, whip-smart young Jesuit named Father Hernan Benitez saw to it that Eva Peren's visit to Paris was the works. He showed up in the French capital ahead of time, quickly signed up the big shots for dinners and receptions, arranged a sightseeing schedule that omitted few historical monuments. But Father Benitez, who is both Evita's chaperon and confessor, could do nothing about the weather. The weather was cruel.

At Orly Airfield the temperature stood at 90DEG when Argentina's touring First Lady, dazzling in a white suit, white shoes, white handbag and a big white cartwheel hat, stepped out of a DC-4. Foreign Minister Georges Bidault came forward, bowed, kissed her hand. "On behalf of France," said he, "I welcome you warmly and affectionately." Then a motorcade whisked la belle blonde, as Parisians called her, to the Ritz.

Scarlet Smears. Outside the hotel entrance 18 French war orphans waited and wilted. "Vive I'Argentine, vive la France," they piped as Evita's car arrived. She hugged two of the youngsters, kissed them, leaving smears of scarlet lipstick on their sweaty cheeks.

In succeeding days there was luncheon with President Vincent Auriol at the Chateau de Rambouillet, dinner with Foreign Minister Bidault, a visit to Versailles. One hot afternoon (95DEG), Evita slipped into Notre-Dame, listened to a brief sermon, prayed, then drove back to the Ritz for a bath. Always there were rich food and champagne and the tasteless corn-bread that is found cn most French tables. It was a polite way of emphasizing French need for Argentine wheat.

The high point came at the Quai d'Orsay when Evita watched stout, perspiring Argentine Ambassador Julio Victorica Roca sign a French-Argentine commercial treaty granting France a loan of 600,000,000 pesos ($150,750,000). It would mean a lot more wheat. It would mean, too, more beef. One French commentator quipped unkindly: "Madame Peron will be made palatable to the French workers and peasants by being dressed as a piece of Argentine frozen beef."

Tired Tourist. Evita, grown pale and listless in the heat, had only a languid eye for the mannequins who gave an unprecedented private showing from four of the best-known houses of French haute couture. Other women have to go to the dressmakers; but the dressmakers came to Evita. Members of her entourage said she was "very tired." She canceled an appointment to visit the Louvre, and Father Benitez pinch-hit for her on the radio.

But Argentine friends insisted on taking her to the night spots. At the gaudy Lido on the Champs Elysees, there was an embarrassment. Evita, dressed for the first time in black, picked at lobster, watched the floor show. At the show's end two men inside a camel's skin go through various antics under the spotlight; the climax comes when the camel's rear presents a bouquet to a woman spectator. Evita was selected for the honor. She was not amused, stalked out to the sniggers of other diners.

At week's end Evita, who has done Spain, Italy (TIME, July 14) and Portugal, left for Cannes. In Paris there had been no wild cheers as in Madrid, no boos as in Rome. Next week she plans to be in Switzerland, where it is cooler.

*Mmes. Bidault and Auriol.

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