Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-19
WILSON MAY
ASK HARDING
TO NAME MAN
Desires to Know Spokesman
in Association of Nations
Statement.
NOTE SENT PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. president
Wilson may call upon Senator Harding 10
name "spokesmen" of the French peo-
pie, who, the Republican candidate stated,
had approached him and urged that the
United States lead the way to an asso-
rciation of nations, it was learned at the
White House today.
Secretary Tumulty stated he RAD noe
seen the President and did not know
what his plans were.
However. others close to the White
. House indicated that they expect the
President to call on Senator Harding TO
name the "spokesmen.'
Prince De Bearn, French charge daft
faires, has informed the State Depart
ment that the French Foreign Onice has
denied sending any spokesman to Sen
ator Harding relative to an association OF
nations.
The charge d'afaires says he is salts
aed no official spokesmen of France have
voiced their approval to the candidate OF
ian association Of nations"
Under Secretary of State Davis made
this announcement. but refused to state
whether a formal announcement has been
received from France on the inquiry or IN
what manner the inquiry was made.
READY TO CONSIDER
INCIDENT CLOSED.
1t also has become known that Am
bassador Jusserand has advised officials
of this government that he has never
discussed the association Of nations with
any member of the Senate.
1t was strongly indicated at the State
Department that this Government is
ready to consider the incident closed, so
far as the question of diplomatic pro-
sz f0u ?
considered a party to the controversy.
Senator Hardings letter containing the
official text Of his statement, Il was gem
orally admitted, absolves the French gov
ernment Of any breach Of diplomatic pro-
prieties.
1t was also admitted that the Official
text differed from the report TO which
te President took exception.
FRENCH SUPPORT
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
The Presidents reply to Senator Hard
ing is now awaited with interest, and IT
is generally predicted here that the
Chief Executive will frame reply In an
effort to show that the French govern
ment is firmly in support Of the League
OF Nations and does not desire an "Asso-
citation Of Nations"
Senator Harding's reply to President
Wilson follows:
"Dear Mr.. President:
"I have before me press copy OF
your letter to me OF this date, though l
am not in receipt Of the original copy
I am glad to make a prompt reply.
.It is very gratifying that you hesi-
tate to draw infereaces without my as
surance that I am correctly quoted The
quotation as reported in your letter Is
not exact. The notes Of the stenog-
rapher reporting my remarks quote me
as SAYING France has sent her spokes-
men 10 me informally, asking America
in its new realization of the situation
70 lead the way for an association or
nations
"I am sure that my words could not
be construed to say that the French
government has sent anybody to me.
The thought ! was trying to convey
was that there had come to me those
who spoke q sentiment which they rep
resented to be very manifest among the
French people, but nothing would sug-
gest the French government having yio-
lated the proprieties OF international re-
aations. Official France would never
seek to go over your high office as our
chief executive to appeal to the Ameri-
can people, or any portion thereof.
CANDIDATE SEES
NO I8TPROPRIETY.
'I can see no impropriety in private
citizens of France, or in Americans deeply
friendly to France, expressing to me
their understanding of sentiment in that
friendly republic.
SIT is not important enough to discuss,
perhaps, but I very respectfully urge
that an Informal expression to me is
rather more than that to a private citi-
zen. I hold a place as member Of
the foreign relations committee Of the
yS4lted States Senate, which is charged
with certain constitutional authority in
dealing with foreign relations. and / am
necessarily conscious that l am the nom
inee Of the Republican party for Presi-
dent of our republic.
I'm the combination Of these two po-
sitions it ought not be unseemly that
some very devoted friends of a new and
better relationship among nations, no
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