The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-25
V|V|AN| COMING
/ TO TALK LEAGUE,
SAYS SECRETARY
Will Arrive Sunday and Plans
Conference With Cabinet
Members and Also
congressman
BY Associated Press

Washington March 24.--While the
visit of Rene Viviani, former French
premier and special envoy to the
United States, is announced officially
as one "of courtesy" to President
Harding. DR.. Marcel Knecht, his gem
eral secretary, who arrived here to-
day from France in setting forth the
subject of his mission, stated that Nj.
Viyiani was prepared to give a recep-
tive ear to any proposals by the
United States regarding the peace set
tlen ent and the League of Nations.
| The former French premier will
make no specific overtures in the d.
rection of American participation in
European affairs, particularly as ar
feeting Germany, it was stated, and
unless the subject is initiated by Pres
! ident Harding or the state department.
he is expected TO return to France
after having discharged the officially
announced purpose of his mission. He
is expected here Sunday or Monday.
Dr. knecht represented as included
in M. viviani's programme not only an
exchange OF fluctuations with Presi-
dent Harding, but also the meeting
with members OF the cabinet and con y
gressmen. III was recalled that the
4 former French pretAier WAS not only
personally acquainted with Secretaries
Hughes and Hoover, but that on his
i visit to the United states in 1871 as
head Of the French mission he had
lmet Senator Lodge and other senator's
la Z
ance he desired to renew.
In emphasizing that Viviani was
bringing no concrete proposals to or
fer the United States with respect to
Its relations politically or financially
with France and Europe, DR.. Knecht
stated that the French envoy was ac-
colnparied by no experts and advisers,
and although it had been reported that
Stephen Lausanne was attached to the
mission officially, the French journal
list was coming only as 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 I'M
formal discussion of the attitude OF
the new administration toward the set
tleT ent of peace with Germany, he
would be ready to receive the propo.
sails of President Harding for personal
transmission to the French govern
ment- They would be studied by the
French foreign office, it was suggest
ed, upon M Viviani's return to France,
and 1T might then be made incum bent
uI OH 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 clear
ing up of the latters relations as a
former associated power with the al
HES
| COOPERATION PROBLEM
That the problem of American co.
operation with the allies in the peace
settlement, in which on the part OF
France NJ. Viviani is Interested, will be
brought to the forefront OF considera.
ton by the state department upon his
arrival was indicated today by re
sponsibe official of the department,
who stated that the mission of thu
former French premier was accepted
as directed toward the furtherance o,
the good relations existing between
the two republics.
Although it was announced by DR.
Knecht that NJ viyiani would visit the
United States as an envoy extraordi-
nary, with the rank of ambassador. II
was learned at the state department
that no special arrangements have
peVit indue lor the french OFFICIALS re-
ception similar to those with which he
was attended upon his visit to the
United States in 1917
The state department previously had
announced that Assistant Secretary OF
State Bliss would meet the envoy, but
it was later said that this order had
n been withdrawn. The French ambas-
sador. Jules Jusserand. however, will
go to New York for this purpose, and
will return Immediately In company
with the French visitor.
On April 2. NJ. yiviani will go a.
New York for reception of the ALI,
arce Francois, and he will return
there again April for a luncheon
with the French Chamber of Commerce
and dinner with the Society for Dew
astated France. of which Miss Anna
Morgan is president.