New-York tribune., 1921-03-31
Sees Abandonment of
Allies in Proposal; To
Ask Attitude Of America
Toward German Trade
His League Mission
Is Expected to Fail
Washington Doubts Har-
ding Will Approve Early
Entry Under Any Terms
BY Carter Field /.

WASHINGTON, March 30. -
There is excellent authority for the
statement that the Viviani missions
despite the many things which
France, and, for that matter, Eus
rope, would like to see it acconas
plish, will content itself with two
objeetives.
One of these is to do everything
possible to prevent this country from
declaring an immediate peace with
Germany, thus virtually withdrav~
ing the moral support of this couns
try from the Allies in their dealings
with Germany.
The other is to take back to Francs
an accurate report as to what tho
opinion of American leaders is on
several questions. These include the
possible entry of this country into
an association of nations with Ar.
ticle, X and the whole idea of super
government eliminated. They inc
clude also the possibility Of this
country approving the Versailles
Treaty with some new covenant for
the association of nations substituted
for the Wilson covenant. They cover
the subject Of French debts to tbs
United States and of German rep+
arations to France.
And perhaps most important o1
all, they include what America may
do about permitting the entry into
this country of European goods, in.
cluding German-made goods, for
France wants gold, not goods, from
Germany, and the obvious way for
the Teutons to obtain that gold is
by selling her goods where the most
gold is-in the United States.
Viviani Meets President
NJ. Vivian, accompanied by Ambas-
,sador Jusserand, called formally on
President Harding day, passing
twenty-five minutes with the Chief Ex-
ecutive. NJ. Jusserand was interpreter
both at this call and at the conference
later in the State Department with Sec
retary of State Hughes and Under. Sec.
retary of State Fletcher. The follow
the following statement was issued by
the White House after the visit:
IN. Fiviani called to pay the compile
ments and utter the good wishes of the
President Of France to the President.
He was accompanied by the French AM
bassador. NJ. Viviani emphas sized the
desire of France to continue the friend
ship between the two republics and ex-
pressed gratitude to America for the
great things done since his previous.
visit. ~
The President is giving dinner in
M. Viviani's honor on the evening of
April s."
The impression prevails that there
IS now a realization on the part of M.
VlVlanl that his mission to the United
States comes a little too soon for any
sucn ambitious program as was origi-
naiiy intended. 1t is not too soon, of
course, 1t is pointed out, for the
French leader to gather accurate inn,
pressions as to the temper of pres;.
dent Harding, Secretary Hughes. Sem
ator Lodge, as Republican leader Of
the Senate, and other men who will
have hand in determining the OUT
come. He will be able to report to HIS
government just what the situation ia.
ana ms experience gained now may BE-
OF great value a little later when
events nave begun to shape themselves.
League Hopes Likely to Fail
But as to any consammation now az
the hope of persuading America n.
enter the league at once. mo matter
now IT may be changed, it is believed.
mat NJ. Viviani realizes the cold fact
'hat the American government is NOT
YET ready to move, and no effort made
at this time is likely to result in any.
thing more than talk.
france has many more pressing
problems, it is pointed out, than the
States into the league. France chief
concerns now, as they have been since
.ne armistice, are finances on the one.
mana, and the fear of future German
aggressIons on the other The more
immediate of these two is finances. The
whole question of money, however. ;s
naturally interviewer not only with the
deots and reparations, but with trads.
Country Not Ready to Act
The point is that Viviani is believed
to have discovered since his arrival
that according to the best information
here public opinion in America is not
ripe for any positive action. Certainly
1t Is apparent that the Administrator,
would like to await the working out of
some of the world problems before
pIung'ng INTO new attempt to set up
the desired League of Nations.
Hence the ENJOYS effort to have il
understood that his chief function here
IS as a listener" and the carefully
worded statement made by the Wh;t.
House to-day, which gives absolutely
no inkling at all as to any serious
topics which may have been discusseI
ny n. Viviani and NJ. Jusserand WITH
the President. "''A