New-York tribune., 1921-03-30
France Willing to Join
Tribunal With Power to
Judge Nations Ignor.
ing Territorial Rights
Harding g Is Sending
Note, Paris Hears
Said to Insist No Peace
Settlement Is Final In.
til u. S. Approves It
BY Ralph Courtney
Sncctdl CGbic 10 TIE Trih,rs


Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, March 29.-The project whia}
Frances special envoy, Rene viviani
is carrying to Washington for submis
sion to President Harding envisage.
the addition to the League of Nations
to take the place of super-state attri
butes that are to be eliminated If the
United States joins-of strong league
tribunal. This court would Judge ma
tions which failed to respect the rights
and territories of other peoples.
The fact that Viviani's secret mis-
sion carries with it power to agree for
France to the dropping Of all but the
administrative functions of the league
if the United States will enter it car
ries the impression here that the
French government is convinced that
France would gain much both mate
rally and morally in problems arising
ratifies the treaty.
The French Foreign Office is awaiting
note which it understands Pres
ident Harding has prepared, in which
he declares that the United States has
not abdicated it's position as one of the
victors in the war and considers that
no peace decisions are final without it's
assent.
French Comment Reserved
Up to 8 o'clock this evening no COM
munication from Washington had
reached the French government, or
even the American Embassy. French
officials comment on the subject with
reserve.
The French are, however, most anx-
ious to know whether President Har-
ding's reported declaration means that
the United States intends actively to
take n part in the settlement of Euro
pcan affairs. If this is so France
intellectually welcomes Americas de-
cision, no matter what views or claims
the United States government may hold
or make.
France has confidence that Americas s
participation in the settlement of prob
lens in Europe will inevitably mean
stand side by side in all decisions
reached hereafter by the worlds lead
ing nations.
Hope for Interest in Europe
On the other hand, if the American
note means that the United States
while refusing any responsibility for
the enormous difficulties which beset
Europe, merely insists that its own in
terests be recognized the note would
be received here as a matter of minor
Importance. The European diplomatic
Offices receive hundreds of "just" de-
mands from one nation and another,
and except for the possibility of gain
ing Americas moral and material sup
port in the game of world politics the
righteous wrath of the Washington
government over the Mesopotama and
Yap mandate decisions would receive
only moderate amount of attention.
If, however, the United States is
willing to take an active interest in
the affairs of the world all the nations
of Europe will make an effort to win
Americas support. Neither France
nor the other nations on this side of
the water can be persuaded to get ex-
cited over Americas position on the
disposition of Mesopotamia and Yap
If they have no hope of Americas re-
ciprocal interest in their affairs. The
time is already past when the pure
justice of any particular point of view
is sufficient to arouse Europe's enthusi-
aSm.