The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-03-30
FORMER PREMIER
VISITS AMERICA
visit of Former French Premier to
United States More Than One OF

Courtesy.
Washington, March 24.--While the
visit of Rene Viviani, former French
premier and special envoy to tho
United States, is announced officially
as one "of courtesy" to President
Harding, DIR. Marcel Knecht, his gem
eral secretary. who arrived here today
from France. in setting forth the sub
Ject or his mission, stated that Mr..
Vtyfani was prepared to give a recep-
tive ear to any proposals by the United
States regarding the peace settlement
and the league of nations.
The former French premier will
make no specific overtures in the di-
rectfon Of American participation in
european affairs, particularly as at
fecting Germany, It was stated. and
unless the subject is initiated by Pres
fdent Harding or the state department
ne is expected to return to France af4
ter having discharged the Officially an
nounced purpose Of his mission. He
Is expected here Sunday or Monday.
Or. knecht represented as included
In M. Viviani's program not only an
exchange Of felicitations with Presi-
dent Harding, but also the meeting
with members OF the cabinet and con-
gressmen 1t was recalled that the
former French premier was not only
personally acquainted with Secretaries
Hughes and Hoover, but that on his
visit to the United States in 1917 as
head OF the French mission he had met
Senator Lodge and other senators and
representatives whose acquaintances
he desires to renew.
In emphasizing that Viviant was
bringing no concrete proposals to Of
fer the United States with respect to
It's relations politically or financially
with France and Europe, DR.. Knecht
stated that the French envoy was ac-
companied by no experts or advisers
and although it had been reported that
stephen Lauzanne was attached to the
mission officially, the French journal
ist was coming only as a representa-
tive Of LIE Matin, Of which he is editor.
In diplomatic circles it is believed
that should the former French premier
find the occasion propitious for an in
formal discussion OF the attitude Of the
new administration toward the settle
ment Of peace with Germany, he would
| be ready to receive the proposals Of
| President Harding for personal trans.
mission to the French government.
They would be studied by the French
foreign Office, it was suggested, upon
Nj. Viviani's return to France and it
might then be made incumbent rl0on
him to return again to the United
States to engage In whatever it might
be proposed that the allies enter upon
with the United States for the clearing
up of the latter's relations as for:nc:
| associated power with the allies.
That the problem OF American CO.
operation with the allies in the peace
settlement in which on the part Of
France M. Viviani is interested will be
brought to thcforefront Of considera-
ton by the state department upon his
arrival, "As indicated today by re-
sponsible official OF the department,
who stated that the mission OF the for
mer French premier was accepted as
directed toward the furtherance Of the
good relations existing between the
two republics.
Although it was announced by DR.
Knecht that NJ. Vivian would visit the
United States as an envoy extraordin-
ary with the rank OF ambassador, Il
was learned at the state department.
that no special arrangements have
been made for the French officials re-
ccption similar to those with which he
was attended upon his visit to the
United States in 1917.