New-York tribune., 1921-04-01
Envoy Discusses French
Financial Situation at
inner Given bv
Ambassador Jusserand
Asks Only Moral
Support of U. S.
Assurance Given That No
Request Will Be Made
for Remission of Loan

WASHINGTON, March 31.-Problems
involved in the collection by France Of
reparations from Germany were dis
cussed by Rene Viviani, Envoy Ex-
traordinary from the French Republic,
with Senator Lodge, chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, and other
American officials at dinner rendered
the former French Premier tonight by
Ambassador Jusserand.
M. Viviani, in conference with Sena-
tor Lodge and George w. Wickersham,
former Attorney General of the United
States, after the dinner reviewed at
some length results of the recent Lon
don conference in which the Allied
reparation demands were refused by
Germany.
M. viviani will confer again to-mor-
row with Senator Lodge, it was said
and in addition will meet Secretaries
Of the Cabinet
Others present at the dinner tonight
and with whom the former French
Premier discussed in general way
the reparations and other problem
confronting his country, were Vice
President Coolidge and Senators Moses
Of New Hampshire, Capper of Kansas
and Pomerene of Ohio.
Those close to M. Viviani were en-
phatic in disclaiming any request by
him for material aid to France, assert
ing he suggested only the extension of
"moral support" by the United States
in what was represented to be q grave
international situation confronting
France.
France Ready to Pay Debt
The former Premier, it was said,
endeavored to set at rest all reports
that France intended to ask for any
remission of its debt to the United
States. In asserting that France would
discharge all financial obligations to
this country, he took occasion also, it
was said, to set at rest any presump-
tion that the official viewpoint Of
France was represented in any way in
the recent contention in the French
Parliament that debt was due France
by America in unpaid loans, dating
f ON the Revolutionary War.
While not desiring to present an
alarmist view of the situation con-
fronting the French Republic, M.
Viviani, it was said, pointed out in
conversation with certain of those
present at the dinner the depression
under which the French people were
*
problems affecting the relations of
France with Germany.
NJ. Viviani was said to have pointed
out the barrier which France offers
to the westward spread of Bolshevism
and in envisaging the possible renewal
Of a Bolshevik offensive this year to
have emphasized the hearty approval
with which the recent reply of Secre-
tGry Hughes to the Russian Soviet gov
ernment's invitation to enter upon for
NAL trade arrangements had been re-
ceived in France.
Makes No Plea for Aid
Officials present at the dinner EN-
phasized that in his conversation M.
Viviani made no suggestion or con-
crete proposal for American aid. 1t
was said that he had cndeavored mere
ly to present the situation in which
France found herself at the moment.
without Offering any suggestion as to
the form of moral assistance which the
United States might render.
He was understood to 3ave stated
merely that France could not proceed
to the task confronting her without
the moral support Of the United States,
as we'll as the Allied powers.
No attempt was made by the forme r
French Premier, it was said, to enter
into a discussion of the precise part
the United States might take in future
European affairs.
So far as was diclosed, the question
of the withdrawal Of American troops
from the Rhine, or the conclusion of a
separate peace between the United
States and Germany did not enter into
the conversation.
NJ. Viviani addressed message of
greeting here tonight to the American
people in his first public statement
since arriving in the United States.