New-York tribune., 1921-04-16
Will Assist in Economic
Readjustment ofEurope,
Including Fixing of the
German Reparations
Delegates to Sit
In Conferences
Viviani Told America Will
Protect Its Interests by
Aiding War Settlements
By Carter Field

w WAOHlNGlON, April 16.-With the
assurance that the United States will
take an active part in the economic re-
adjustment of Europe as we'll as in the
determination of the reparations Ger
many is to pay, M. Viviani babe fare
we'll to the President late to-day. The
! last official act of the former French
! Premier was to attend a dinner given
IN his honor tonight by Secretary of
State Hughes. N
Just how much or how little NJ. vi
vlani had to do with the tremendously
important decisions announced by this
government OR which have become
known during his stay here is a mat
ter about which there is sharp differ
fence of opinion. 1t is known positively
that on several of the questions about
which he professed the greatest eager
ness he was disappointed. But there
is no doubt also that at the time he
left Paris the French government would
have been willing to give much to
bring about what has happened during
his visit.
From the French point of view an
E1oi'iihi SVi Videioi pollcy Wnlcn was maze
much clearer to-day-that with regard
to the economic readjustment of Eu-
rope-is almost equal in Importance to
the declaration of the Hughes memo
randum to the Germans, sent just af-
ter Viviani's arrival, in which Ameri-
san sympathy was declared with the
policy that Germany must acknowledge
responsibility for the war and must
pay to the limit other ability.
Plan to Protect American Interests
1t is made clear that this decision
by this government to have repre-
sentative and a voice in all conference 8
relating to economic adjustments in
Europe is not made from any altruis-
tic motive The intention is solely
to protect American interests AS one
administration spokesman put it:
There is not man, woman or
child in the United States who is not
interested in practically every eco
nomic decision reached in these CON
ferences in Europe. 1t must be better,
therefore, that our opinions and OBJ
jections may be urged during the dis
cussions than after decisions which
may be Objectionable to us have been
reached"
This is in line with the portion of
President Harding's message to Con-
gress in which he said: "Our obliga-
tions in effecting European tranquil
lity, because of wars inducements,
are not less impelling than our part
in the war itself. This restoration
must be wrought before the human
can be helpful because we are moved
by no hatreds and harbor no fears.
Helpfulness does not mean entangle-
ment, and partici patton in economic
| adjustments does not mean sponsor
ship for treaty itments which do
not concern us and in which we will
have no part"
U. S. Delegates at Conferences
AS result of this decision to tive
American representatives take part in
the conferences leading up to these
economic decisions it became known to-
day that the United States would have
a representative at the conference on
April 80 at Porta Rosa, near Trieste,
on the financial and economic situation
of Austria. This country already has
been invited to have a representative
present
!. America will have representative
also on the Reparations Commission.
Nothing is of greater Importance, in
the opinion of the President and his
advisers, than the determining Of the
amount of reparatons to be paid by
Germany. An Administration spokes-
man to-day laid great stress in this
connection on the idea that this deter
mination must be fair and just, in es-
timating the amount which Germany is
able to pay But in this determination
and in these payments are involved the
greatest problem of all with regard to
the restoration Of Europe to normaIcy,
and. as drectlv affected nv that re ato
ration, the prosperity Of the people Of
the United States.
1t is being made clearer and clearer