Peking's Pique

No nation in Western Europe gets along better with China than does France. Last week, though, the Peking government issued a solemn warning to Paris about possible grave consequences for future relations between the two countries.

The cause of Peking's pique was a new movie called Les Chinois `a Paris, a wildly improbable comedy about what would happen to France and French morals under a Chinese occupation. Directed by Jean Yanne, a French film maker noted for his political and social satire, the film shows the Chinese army taking Paris without so much as a shot. Appalled at French decadence, the Chinese ban automobiles, alcohol and sex, mais alors, c 'est impossible! Mao's minions then decide to let the French indulge themselves in their vices and suffer the consequences, but the captors are eventually corrupted and abruptly ordered home to Peking, whereupon a handful of absurd partisans "liberate" Paris.

Fake Proverbs. The Chinese are not amused. Charging that the film draws "an unacceptable parallel between socialist China and fascist Germany," they demanded that the French government ban Les Chinois `a Paris or suffer the consequences. The movie was no laughing matter to the French government either, which politely explained that it had had nothing to do with the picture. Nonetheless, since China had already canceled a French symphony orchestra tour of China and a Chinese gymnasts' visit to France when the film was being made last August, there were fears that a French industrial exhibition in Peking this spring might also be called off.

Director Yanne (who was promptly dubbed Chang Yanne by one Paris wit) wasted no time cashing in on the tempest in a China teacup. He coined a helpful publicity slogan: "The film that frightened 800 million Chinese." He also invented a few fake Chinese proverbs, attributing them, naturally, to Confucius. Sample axiom: "Marxist philosophy can very easily be reconciled with foie gras. "More seriously, he argued last week: "If the cinema is going to cause diplomatic crises, then it's time to worry about the mental health of the great powers."

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