New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-14
Harding's Message Taken
as Proof of Americas
Willingness to Help De-
eide Cermany's Fate
Is Jubilant Over
Treaty Prospects
France Eager To Be Inter-
mediary~ i'm Settlement
of Dispute With Japan
By Ralph Courtney
Special Cable to The Tr,bu,,c
'5PeVtUt CUUtg 20 I TIC ITtOUltc
;rixht. 1921 Ne1v York T,,.;i,,,,o 7

Copyright, lJ2l, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, April 13.--America is about
to assume again her chair at meetings
of the Supreme Council of the Allies. it
is understood in we'll informed quar-
ters here.
President Harding's message to Con-
gress, which was greeted with a chorus
of praise by all the French press, is
taken by those in close touch with af-
fairs as confirmation Of this intention.
1t is thought that America may even be
sitting with the Allies when Germany's
fate is decided, after May /. French
political circles believe that with the
mandate over the island of zap and the
Mesopotamia oil matter impending
America cannot afford to pursue pol
ICY of complete isolation. 1t is felt
she must have dealings with Europe
and that she is compelled to choose be-
tween the League Of Nations and the
Supreme Council.
Harding's Action Untrammeled
1t is now considered that, having re-
pudiated the League and cut Americas
feet free from dangerous entangle-
ments, President Harding will be able
to reenter world discussion with free
dom of action. Nevertheless, Pres dent
Harding's willingness to ratify the Yer
sailles Treaty is regarded here as a
great victory for France and the rest
OF the Entente powers.
Americas ratification of the treaty
and her resumption of her place in the
Supreme Council would legalize all the
demands Of the Entente powers against
Germany, and every act taken since the
armlstlce, either toward making Ger
many pay. in the annexation of her col
onles or the acquisition of other items
Of her former property.
The Journal des Debats tonight SAWS
it seems that Congress was greatly
surprised at President Harding's mes
sage, and that this might also be
stated Of French political circles.
The French waited all day on tenter-
hooks for official confirmation of the
intention of the United States to ratify
the Versailles Treaty without the
league, and when this had not arrived
by late afternoon the semi official
Temps showed much indignation at the
slowness of French official dispatches.
See President as Independent
Some Americans here express pleas
ure that President Harding has taken
an attitude toward the treatv which
astonished both the pro-leaguers and
those thoroughly opposed to the Yer
sailles document. This they regard as
a sign of independence on the part of
the new President, while others are
inclined to share the French view that
former Premier Viviani may be credit
ed with a highly successful visit.
AS for the gratitude Of France
toward America for ratification of the
treaty. it is revealed that she offered
to use her good Offices both with Japan
and the Supreme Council with the
object of obtaining reconsideration of
the zap and Mesopotamian questions.
The note which France is said to
have sent to Washington in reply to
the communication on Yap is declared
Frances reply, but only her acknowl-
edgment. Nevertheless, France took oc
casion to express sympathy with
Arerica's claims, pointing to the
French note Of February IS to the
United States, in which France bears
witness that prior to the decision of
May z, 1919, President Wilson and Sec
retary Lansing, in the presence Of
Baron Maxine, formulated objections
which ran counter to this decision.
Japan Reassures France
France expresses in consequence her
opinion that there is sufficient reason
for reopening the conversation be-
tween America and Japan. France is
understood to have received definite
assurances from Japan that she de-
sires to do nothing unfair in the ques-
tion Of the Island of Yap and is anx-
ious to reach satisfactory com
promise.
The French say that, however great
viewpoint, they cannot repudiate the
decision of the Supreme Council with
out the consent of the Japanese. They
therefore regard direct Conversations
between the United States and Japan
as the method most likely to reach
a solution.