The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-19
HARDING'S EXPLANATION


 Marion. Ohio. october 1S-Replying to an inquiry from President Wilson, Sen ator Harding wrote the Whte Houso tonight that although France had sent her "spokesmen to him informally ask ing America 10 lead the way for an as- sociation Of notions. the incident had not invoIy ed the French government in any violation of international proprieties The senator declared that in his refer- ence to the subject in a speech at Green castle, Ind. recently he only had sought to convey the thought that there had come to him those who spoke senti- ment which they represented to be very manifest among the French people, He added that his words could not be con strued to say that the French govern ment had sent anybody to me Referring to MT. Wilson's suggestion of impropriety in a foreign nation approach ing private citizen" on such sub iect Senator Harding pointed out that he is a member of the foreign relations committee as well as nominee for tho presidency and suggested that 'an in- formal expression to me is rather more than that to q private citizen"
 The text of Senator Hardng's letter, sent in reply to one from President Will son. asking whether the senator had been correctly quoted in his Greenvlle speech. is as follows
 
 press copy of your letter to me of this date, though l am not in receipt of the original copy am glad to make a prompt reply.
 Tt is very gratifying that you hesi- tate to draw differences without my as- surance that I am correctly quoted Ina quotation as reported in your letter is not exact The notes of the stenographer reporting my remarks quote me as say. ing, France has sent her spokesmen to me informally, asking America in it's new realization of the situation to lead the way for an association of nations
 ''l am sure that my words could not be construed to say that the French gov ernment has sent anybody to me The though I was trying to convey was that there had come to me those who spoke a sentiment which they represented to bs very manifest among the French people. but nothing could suggest the French government having violated the proDrie- ties of international relations. Official France would never seek to go over your Ugh office as our chief executive to ao- neal to the American people or any por- ton thereof.
 q can see no impropriety in private citizens Of France or in Americans deeply friendly to France, expressing to ma their understanding of sentiment in that friendly republic.
 it lH not 4HNipiNsitil 'hOtSH l' NfSNdSS- ~erhaps. but 1 very respectfully urgs that an informal expression to me is rather more than that to private citi. zen. hold place as member of the foreign relations committee of the United States Senate. which is charged with certain constitutional authority in deal- Ing with foreign relations. and I am necessarily conscious that am nomines of the republican party for the presi- dency of our republic.
 Tn the com bination of these two posi- tons 1t ought not be unseemly that some very devoted friends of new and better relationship among nations, no matter whence they come. should wish 10 advise me relating to aspirations to co-operata with our own republic in attaining that high purpose. Let me assure you again
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