Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-21
CALL
ON HARDING OF
CHIEF CONCERN
League Issue Promises to
Outrank All Domestic
Problems.
SOLONS WATCH OUTCOME

WASHINGTON, March 21.-Reluctant1y
or not, the attention of the Harding Ad-
ministration will be dragged away from
things domestic this week and turned To
the highest piece of unfinished business
left by the old regime, the League OF
Nations and the adoption of an European
policy The arrival Of Rene Viyiani for
mer French premier, is going to take the
spotlight, temporarily, at least, from tax
alton, tariff, patronage and the thousand
and one other things that have kept the
new President and his advisers labor1ng
many hours a day since March 4.
Viviani is coming to the United states
IN the dark as far as knowing in adj
vance what he might expect from the
new administration. And the new adj
ministration is almost as completely in
the dark concerning N. Viviani. jules
J. Jusserand, the French ambassador,
it is true, conferred at the White House
with President Harding concerning the
extraordinary ENJOYS mission, but IL
is understood he was able to inform
the executive but little outside Of the
fact that the ex-premier was coming
to ''pay his respects"
VISIT CONCERNS
LEAGUE AFFAIRS.
That ". Tivianfs chief mission con-
Germs the League Of Nations and Amer
ica's attitude towards it, there is little
doubt. Aside from this, it is the gem
eral conviction that the ex-premier's next
big task is to obtain the moral sup
port Of the United States in the Efforts
now being made by France and England
to compel Germany to pay the indemnity
claims.
France believes, whether rightly ox
wrongly, that If the United States had
H.
Germany never would have dared refuse
the demands Of the allies in the repara~
ton settlement Even now, France be-
Heves, according to Information reach
ing a number Of Republican Senator's,
that II Washington can be prevailed on
10 do or say something that will show
Germany the United States is still back
Of the allies, the right-abOut-face of the
Berlin government viii be swift and GER
tain.
This Indication Of American support
could be given in various ways-a presi-
dentatal letter to the chairman Of the
Senate Committee of Foreign Relations.
a Senate resolution, White House COM
munication abroad, or by a more an
n0uncement to the press following the
Harding Vivinni conference.
DEBT ISSUE TO BE
CONSIDERED.
W lille Paris has seen fit to Issue
equivocaI denials that NJ Vivianis visit
in any way concerns the S3000,000,000
which France owes the United States, ID
is nevertheless considered certain in
Washington that this debt problem viii
be taken up. 1t is closely allied in the
French mind with the reparations set
Element. Until Germany is forced to pay,
France can not relieve her debt to the
United States, according to the French at
titude as NJ. Viviani is expected to adj
vance it. Therefore. if America wishes
her IS, coo she must aid France in get
ting the money with which TO pey her, Is
the French argument.
Republican Senators, particularly those
irreconcilables like Johnson of Califor-
nit and BOrah Of Idaho, are regarding
the forthcoming visit of N. Viviani with
intense interest. They believe the league
to be "scrapped" in its entirety, lock,
stock and barrel, and they view the ex-
premier's mission with suspicion and
dlstrust. Any attempt to hirt with the
league viii throw the whole matter into
the senatorial arena once more. Thai
much is certain.