Evening star., 1921-04-01
VVAN| STRESSES
MORAL AID OF u. S.
Wants This Country to Pro-
pose Workable Peace
Plan, Is Belief.
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

Republican senators are following
with deep interest NJ. vivianfs pill
grim's progress' in his sounding out
Of American sentiment on an associa-
ton OF nations similar to the league
Of the Versailles treaty. They OBJ
serve that thus far the distinguished
pilgrim to these shores has been in
contact mainly with senators who are
not in sympathy with his presumed
mission in behalf of the league. nota-
bly, Senators Lodge. Moses and Nc
Cormick
This is described as largely a COIN
cideRce, however, as these senators
are conversant with the French Ian
guage. and make discourse easy with
the visitor from France. The coinci-
dence is not regarded as regrettable
by those senators. it is assumed. as
scribing sentiment in this country, as
they hold it to exist.
Moral support Needed.
1t is dawning upon senator's that
the visitor is at the outset stressing.
not the league of nations, but the
necessity of the moral support of
France by the United States in the
present crisis over German ,repara-
tions and the Strengthening of
future trouble with Germany.
From WELL informed sources comes
the statement that in his interview
with President Harding NJ. Viviani
made an impassioned declaration of
the present financial and industrial
condition Of France-not with any
suggestion OF cancellation of Frances
debt to the United States. but bear
ing upon the necessity of Germany
meeting her reparation obligations
and. of the. United States lending
moral support to France in her de-
mands for reparation.
After he has impressed the United
States government and influential
senator's to the : fullest extent pos
sible with this condition. IT is sup
tfle-ieague Of nations and follow that
line of sounding out of sentiment
as well as. presenting the arguments
he has assembled in favor OF the
United States taking up the subject
seriously.
Favorable Sentfnest.
In the final analysis both subjects
are regarded as centering upon the
broad proposition that the United
the essentials Of the Versailles treaty
and become party to after-war set
tlement of affairs in Europe gener-
ally. He will find faction of Off
cialS and OF statesmen IN fnIS coun-
try in sympathy with that conclusion.
Many American officials and sena-
tors will draw a distinction. however,
between the Uaited States acting
upon the body Of the treaty and as
sociating this country in league of
nations. Robert Lansing. in a recent
article in the Saturday Evening Post.
echoed the, sentiments of groups of
men in official and congressional life
when he declared that "selfishness is.
ard, I fear, will continue to be, the
supreme impulse of nations in their
dealings with one another until man
kind is morally regenerated." OF the
league of nations he said: The theory
Of the proposed organization was an
appealing one. There was little that
could be urged against the general
principle of union for the sake of
peace. 1t was in. the application OF
t.re nrircirle and in making that
theory workable in practice that the
difficulty lay"
M. viviani is regarded. in his pres
ent attitude. as admitting the truth
Of this pronouncement and candidly
saying to the United States. The
peace conference failed to make the
theory practicable to the United
States: now YOU propose a worka BILE
plan, hut do not abandon the theory"
rEpprcK COMING HERE.