New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
F'ron, The Tribunc's European Bureau
Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.

AO4NOON, March lU.-frcmIcr Brand
to-day received a message from Presi-
dent Harding replying to note from
the French Premier suggesting that the
Parls government hoped to send Rene
Viviani TO Washington on special
mission this spring. Not only did the
President of the United States express
his Willingness to meet the Viviani
mission, but said that he was anxious
to discuss European affairs with the
former French Premier.
1t has been understood that Viviani
would go to America alone to discuss
With the Washington administration
the French Indebtedness to the United
States.
BRAND is exceedingly pleased with
the success attending this first ey.
change of notes with Washington. He
leaves London tomorrow for home.
WASHINGTON, March 10 (By The
Associated Press). - Administration
officials withheld comment to-day on
the statement made at the French For
eign Office that negotiations were
under. way between the French EN-.
bassy here and the State Department
with regard to the acceptance by the
United States of modified League OF
Nations. The impression was given
however, that the initiative in any such
development rested entirely with the
French government and that in any
event the matter had not yet reached
the stage of negotiations.
Secretary Hughes refused to discuss
10
ever, that on last Tuesday he had g
half hour talk with Ambassador Jusse-
rand just before the presentation of the
diplomatic corps. M. Jusserand is the
dean Of that corps, and at the time il
was understood that the visit had tc
do largely with the reception OF the
ENJOYS. Whether the subject of the
League of Nations was broached has
not been made known.
Domestic Program First
President Harding has indicated al
along that his first steps in foreign
affairs would come after the formula.
ton of a definite domestic reconstruc-
tion program and that nothing forma
would be done until the attitude of for
eign governments had been felt out
through unofficial channels.
Mr.. Harding already has received con.
siderable information through his un-
official sources regarding the feeling OF
European statesmen, and it is expected
that he will make still more exhaustive
investigation before he launches his
foreign program. Whatever steps France
and other nations take to inform him
voluntarily are expected to fit in with
his general plan of procedure.
The forthcoming visit of former
Premier Viviani on special mission anc
the return of Ambassador Davis from
London are regarded as opening two
important avenues of information aside
from those which the President is pre-
pairing on his own initiative.
Whether the President intends te
send representatives to Europe, accrcd
tied officially or unoffcially to make
inquiries for him, has never been re-
vealed. Speculation about the Caulto
has turned toward the presumption
that he will do so, and even has husee
itself with guesses about the men mos
likely to be selected for such q mis-
sion. In this gossip the name of El:hr
Root frequently has been mentone /
but if any sort ofVnission actually ha:
else, some of the Presidents closest
official aids do not know it,
Listening Post at Geneva
One plan which is said to have beer
urged upon Mr.. Harding would provide
for the dispatch of an emissary to es
tablish listening post at the next
CONTINUED on page three)