The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-01
VIVIANI TELLS OF FRENCH PROBLEMS
 OF PREPARATIONS
Former Premier Sets at Rest Reports Country to See Re-
 mission of Debt
EY Assooiated Prcss

Washington, March 31-Problems involved in the collection by France of separations from Germany were dis cussed by Rene Viviani envoy extra ordinary from the French republic, with Senator Lodge, chairman of the foreign relations committee. and other American officials al dinner rendered the former French premier tonight by Ambassador Jusserand
 M. Viviani. In conference with Sem ator Lodge and Geo. 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 re- paratlon demands were refused by Germany.
 Those close to NJ. Viviaui were em- phatie in disclaiming any request by him for material aid to France, stat ing that he suggested only the exten- sion of moral support by the United States in what was represented to be grave international situation con rcn.ing brance.
 The former premier it was said, en- deayored to set at rest all reports that France intended to asisfor any remis- sion of its debt to the United States. In asserting that France would dis charge all financial obligations to this country, he took occasion also. ,it was said, to set at rest any presumption that the offical viewpoint of France was represented in any way in the re- cent contention in the French parlia- ment that debt was due France by America in unpaid loans dating from the revolutionary war.
 While not desiring to present ar
 alarmist view of the situation con fronting the French republic, M Vivi- and, itw as sald, pointed out in con yersRtion with certain Of those present at the dinner the depression under wNhh the French people were laborine in the face of many unsolved problems affecting the relations of france witt | Germany.
 M. Viviani was said to have pointed Out the barrier which France offers to the westward spread of boishevisir and in envisaging the possible renewal of q bolshevik offensive this wear, tc have emphasized the hearty approva with which the recent reply of Secre- tary Hughes to the Russian soviet gov. ernments invitation to enter upor formal trade arrangements mad beer received in France.
 Dfffsals present at the dinner empha, s,4ed 4t in his compensation Nj Vivian trade 4os suggestion or corerete proposG for American aid. It was said that h, | had endeavored merely to present tn, 1 situation in which France found hersel at the moment without offering any sug gestion as to the form of moral assist ance which the United States nigh l render.
 1 He was understood to have statee l merely that France could not proceed |, the task confronting her without th' moral support of the United States d 1 well as the allied powers I No attempt was made by the forme 1 French premier, it was said. to ente
 into discussion of the precise part tht | United states might take in future Euro
 pear affairs
 | So far as was disclosed, the question 0 the withdrawal of American troops iron | the Rhine or the conclusion of a separ
 ate peace between the United States an
 Germany did not enter into the conyer sation.