The Washington herald., 1921-03-31
VIVIANI SEEKS
AMERICAN VIEW
ON new PEACE
Former French Premier
Meets Hughes and
President.
PAYS HIS RESPECTS
TO UNITED STATES
u. S. League Sentiment
And German Policy
Sounded.
By ARTHUR SEARS AENNrNG.

Former Premier yiviani, of
France. who Is here to sound the
attitude of the United States on in
ternational questions and to pro-
mote a closer accord between the
two nations. was received by Presi-
dent Harding at the White House
yesterday afternoon.
NJ. Jules Jusserand, the French
Ambassador. presented NJ. Viviani to
the President, and acted as inter-
prefer. After the Official call the
White House issued this statement:
M. Viviani called to pay the
compliments and utter the good
wishes Of the President of France
to the President. He was accom-
panied by the French Ambassador.
NJ. Viviani emphasized the desire
of France to continue the friendship
between the two republics. and ex-
pressed gratitude to America for
the great things done since his pre-
vious visit.
Dinner I'm Honor.
THE President is giving a dinner
in NJ. Nivianfs honor on the evening
of April g."
At noon the French Ambassador
presented NJ. Viviani to Secretary Of
State Hughes. and there followed
an hours conversation in which un-
der-Secretary of State Fletcher also
participated. The discussion is said
to nave revolved around the post
war situation In Europe. with par
ticular reference to enforcement OF
the terms of peace with Germany.
The meeting of the French envoy
with the President did not progress
appreciably beyond the formalities
of the occasion, but NJ. Viviani will
have an opportunity for informal
discussion with Mr.. Harding at the
White House dinner. He will meet
Vice President Coolidge and Senator
Lodge at a dinner at the French
Embassy tonight, and more Senators
al dinner to be jgivehs by Senator
Mccormick. OF Iiifftois, next Monday.
Sounds Sentiment. Fl
As a result of this contact with
the principal figures in the Harding
administration, NJ. Viviani will be
able to carry back to France an
authoritative report on the inten-
tions of the American government
as to further participation in the
affairs of Europe. He insists that
he has come ito listen" and report
but not to make any proposals to
the United States on behalf of
France. In this connection it was
noted that il he had come as an
envoy plenipotentiary he would have
been presented to the President by
the Secretary of State.
Among the questions which NJ.
Viviani hopes to be able to answer
for the information of his govern
ment are the following:
l. Is the United States willing TO
enter the league of nations with
Article y of the covenant elimi-
mated?
{. II not. what sort Of league. IL
any. is the United States willing to
enter?
3. Does the United States intend
to make peace with Germany inde-
pendently of the allied powers?
Peace Policy.
4. Will the Senate ratify the
treaty under which the United
States and Great Britain would help
defend France against any future
aggression by Germany?
tho ShitCu StdIeS 0lSDOSe0
to take any action which would
give moral support to the measures
for getting reraration from Ger
many?
There will be definite answers TO
all of these questions forthcoming
when President Harding, having
mapped out his program of do
mestic legislation for submission to
takes up international
questions with Secretary Hughes
and ctherS members of the Cabinet
and with the leaders in Congress.
the members of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations.
League Question.
The first question can be an
swered now. The mere elimination
Of Article X from the covenant
would not satisfy the administra-
tion. The sort of league the United
States is disposed to enter is the
association of nations described by
President Harding-an organization
for conference. not a permanent
alliance.
As to the third question the at
titude of the administration is that
the United States cannot accent the
Versailles treaty unless IL should
be radically revised and unless the
allied powers consent to such re-
vision ii will be necessary to make
peace with Germany Independently.
The question Of ratifying the
triple alliance has slumbered for
months and thara a pnAars 20 -