New-York tribune., 1921-04-19
Vivialli Assures
Bankers France
CansCo1lle Back
tn Speech Before Leading
U. S. Financiers Special
Envoy Strikes Most OPP
tilnistic Note Since Arrival
CitesReconstructionWor ork
Tone of Address Taken to
Indicate U. S. Support in
Making the Germans Pay

In the presence OF large gathering
OF men powerful in American business
and finance, Rene Viviani, special en-
voy of France to the United States,
yesterday predicted that France would
be able to come back financially and
economically, and said that his nation
remained to-day, despite the war, "up-
standing, courageous and determined. "
Sitting at the envoy's right at a
luncheon given in his honor by the
American Section of the International
Chamber of Commerce, at the Bankers
Club, twenty-ninth floor of the Eauit-
able Building, was j. p. Morgan, and
scattered about the room were scores
representing the most powerful finan-
clal institutions in America
Il have pride in saying that France
is to-day strong and energetic" said
NJ. Viviani. "She is erect like the
United States. Every one in France is
working. The small functionaries, the
peasants, workmen, miners, the bour-
geoisc, the men Of the general profcs-
sions are at work one like another
Seventy-two per cent OF Frances in
dustries have been reconstructed, while
in the devastated districts we have
tories destroyed Last January, official
figures show, Frances exports exceeded
her imports for the first time since
the war. There is no grumbling any
where in France, everybody is work
ing The envoy pleaded, however, for
continued American cooperation.
Viviani's Views Optimistic
M. Vivianis message was interpreted
by many as the most reassuring he has
yet voiced during his visit in America.
1t was optimism rather than the sup
plication which had characterized q
dozen earlier speeches. Speaking pos
sibly of the results of his mission
here, he added significantly:
1--WE are in accord with you and
your power will aid France to- rise
from her ruins. The reparations ques-
tion is for France a national point of
view, but for America it is an inter
national one"
guished ex-Premier commenting on the
question Of reparations, said that
france, If forced to go on alone, would
have the power to collect what was
due her. His speech yesterday might
indicate that he has now received more
definite official assurances Of American
cooperation in forcing Germany to nav.
. Among those high in American
finance and business attending the
luncheon yesterday were ]. P. Morgan,
Oscar S. Straus, General T. Coleman
du Pont, Otto H. Kahn, James S. Alex
aander, Mortimer L. Schif, w. c..
Teagle, Charles H. Sabin, julius Krutt-
schnitt, Daniel Guggenheim, Charles
M. Schwab, E. v. R. Thayer, Percy Rock
efeller, William c. Potter, General Guy
E. Trip, General Samuel Roberts
Julius Barnes, Frank Munsey, Judge
R: S. Lovett, Robert de Forest, D. P.
Kingsley, A. C. Bedford, E. W. Rice,
W. Fl. Truesdale, U. N. Bethel, F. D.
Underwood, A. w. Krech, D. w. Nor
row, Seward Prosser, George F. Baker
jr., Morgan J. O'Brien, II. B. Thayer,
J. VIZ Platten, John D. Ryan, Thomas F.
Ryan, William j. Schieffelin and more
than a hundred others.
A. c. Bedford, presiding, in behalf of
the International Chamber Of Com
merce, made q strong plea for free
trade with other nations, especially
France.