New-York tribune., 1921-03-29
Paris Dispatches Tell of
Purpose, but Ex-Pre-
mier Keeps Mission Se-
cret Till He SeesH Harding
Lausanne, Article X
Foe, Is Companion
Seeks to Retain Cove
nant's Administrative
Features; Crowds Cheer

Rene Viviani, ex-Premier of
France, arrived yesterday on the
steamship La Lorraine. as envoy
extraordinary from his country with
secret mission. The Importance OF
his mission was acknowledged by NJ.
Viviani, but he said he could give
no hint of its purport until he had
discussed these questions of great
Importance" with President Harding.
1t is generally believed that his
intention is to bring the United
States and France into agreement
which will enable the two nations to
cooperate in an international policy.
preventing a separate peace between
the United States and Germany and
removing any obstacles to complete
harmony which the present Admin
istration may find in the existing
League Of Nations covenant.
According to a dispatch which The
Tribune received last night from its
Paris correspondent NJ Viviani is en-
powered to discuss with President Har-
ding the suggestion that the Versailles
Treaty be ratified in such a way as to
eliminate all the attributes of super
state from the League of Nations, leav-
ing merely its administrative functions.
Opposes Separate Peace
1t was said that France regards the
administrative side Of the league as
highly important, and believes that
such an international body, with the
United States as member, would be
preferable to trying to maintain the
league in its present form, and facing
the possibility of separate peace be-
tween the United States and Germany.
Color was lent to the report that
France was ready to scrap those parts
of the covenant which the United States
found Objectionable by the presence of
Stephane Lauzanne, editor of LIE Matin
and the cordial foe of Article X, when
M. Viviani left the liner at Quarantine
M. Lauzanne accompanied M. Viviani on
board the Coast Guard cutter Guthrie.
which met them at Quarantine, shared
the reception which awaited him at
the Battery and vanished with him into
the Businesses of the Hotel Vanderbilt.
Officials from the State Department
extended the nations welcome to the
visitors on board La Lorraine and went
up the Bay with them on the Guthrie.
The police boat John F. Hylan escorted
the cutter to the Battery, with Special
Deputy Police Commissioner Rodman
Wanamaker and Grover A. Whalen,
Commissioner OF Plant and Structures.
on board as representatives Of the
Mayor.
Crowd at Pier Cheers
The police band on the John f.
Hylan struck up the Marseillaise as
the Guthrie rounded up to Pier A.
which was decked with flags and
swarming with unofficial welcomers-
The crowd burst into cheers, the band
mished with policemen in an effort to
snap the special envoy and his COM
panion and with a Gordon of bluecoats
about them M. Viviani and NJ. Lau-
zanne were shouldered through the
confusion to a taxicab, which whisked
them to the Vanderbilt.
Marcel Knecht, of the French High
Commission, was at the pier with the
only statement of the ex-Premier's
to be obtained The brief typewritten
document was as follows:
II have come to the United States
to pay to the President Of that great
Republic the respect of the government
and the entire nation of France. I
therefore can make no further state
ment before having saluted the Chief
of the United States! In saluting the
first and great citizen Of the American
democracy l salute also the great and
noble people for whom France keeps
her tender affection and eternal
gratitude"
Jusserand Arrives Late
jules Jusserand, French Ambassador.
did not arrive from Washington in time
to participate in the reception at Pier
A, but he reached the Hotel Vanderbilt
just as M. Viviani was getting out of
his taxicab. A crowd was waiting there
and cheered the Frenchmen as they en-
tered
M. Viviani held an informal reception
IN his suite at once, and though he did
not depart from his policy Of secrecy.
ne did modify the statement given out
by NJ. Knecht. He had come not mere
~ to salute the President of the United
States, ne SAID, pur TO discuss "ques-
tions of great importance" with him
and until he had done so his lips were
sealed
It had been a pleasure to him to re-
ceive the welcome that had been given
him, he said, and he could not but con-
trast this visit with that which he made
in 1917, when ships slipped in and our
of this Atlantic port" without hin.
of their arrival or departure being pub
lished. He expressed regret at the
death Of Cardinal Gibbons and approval
Of the stand taken by the Administra.
ton against encouraging trade with the
Lenine government in Russia
Debt Negotiations Doubted
1t is not believed that NJ. Viviani viii
attempt to discuss the financial prob
lens pending between his country ami
the United States wilhelm Washingter
The impression was gained yesterday
that he will wholly ignore the question
especially the attempted controyarsv
initiated by certain members Of ths
Chamber of Deputies, who claim thss
loans made to the Continental Unitsd
states during the War Of Indepen> ucs