Mr. Porter to Mr.
Hay.
Embassy
of the United States,
Pans, April 18,
1902.
No. 1006.]Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your No. 1000, of March 27, instructing me to deliver to
President Loubet an autograph letter from the President inviting the
Government and people of France to unite with the Government and people
of the United States in a fitting dedication of the statue of Marshal
Rochambeau, to
[Page 411]
be unveiled at
Washington on May 24, and also to transmit to Count Rene de Rochambeau
and to Mr. Gaston de Sahune de Lafayette, prominent members of the
families bearing these names, letters extending to them and to those
families a like invitation.
After having conferred with the minister of foreign affairs, I had an
audience with President Loubet, to whom I handed the letter of the
President. He read it with very great pleasure, expressed in warm terms
his appreciation of the action of our Government, and said that his
Government would reply to it in a fitting manner. The necessity of
bringing the matter before a Cabinet meeting delayed somewhat the formal
action of the Government, which I made known to you by my cable of the
16th.
I transmitted to Count de Rochambeau and to Mr. de Sahune de Lafayette
the letters addressed to them. As I stated in my cable, Count and
Countess de Rochambeau accept the invitation. With regard to the
Lafayette family there is a change. Mr. Gaston de Sahune de Lafayette
and his wife, not being able to proceed to the United States, the
invitation is accepted for Mr. Paul de Sahune de Lafayette, who has been
living in the United States for the last two years and who speaks
English. He is the brother of Mr. Gaston de Sahune de Lafayette.
I inclose herewith copy of my letter to Mr. Delcassé, informing him of
the action taken by my Government and applying for an audience with the
President, and copy of my letter to Mr. de Sahune de Lafayette,
transmitting the invitation extended to him. A similar letter, with a
few verbal changes, was addressed to Count de Rochambeau.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Porter to
Mr. Delcassé.
Embassy of the United States,
Paris, April 10, 1902.
Mr. Minister: There will take place on May
24 next, at Washington, the inauguration of a statue of Marshal de
Rochambeau, who commanded the French forces during the American war
of independence.
The President of the United States, having been authorized by an act
of Congress to extend to the French Government and people a cordial
invitation to take part with the American Government and people in
the inauguration of this statue, I pray your excellency to be so
good as to obtain for me an audience from the President of the
Republic, when I may have the honor of delivering to him the
autograph letter by which the President of the United States tenders
him this invitation. Inclosed is a copy of this letter.
My Government trusts that this invitation will be accepted as
cordially as it is made, and instructs me to say that the persons
who will represent the Republic on this occasion will be the guests
of the American Government and people.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Porter to
Mr. de Lafayette.
Embassy of the United States,
Pans, April 11, 1902.
Sir: On May 24 next the inauguration of the
statue of Marshal de Rochambeau, the companion in arms of your
glorious grandfather, will take place at Washington.
[Page 412]
The American Government, which will take part in this ceremony, has
desired me to associate in it the families of the two soldiers who
have acquired so marry claims to our gratitude, and an act of
Congress has placed it in a position to do so.
I am therefore directed, sir, to transmit to you the inclosed letter,
by which the Secretary of State, Mr. John Hay, invites you, in the
name of the President of the United States, to join yourself to all
the Americans who will on this occasion give a new proof of the
sentiments of gratitude that they cherish for the great nation that
came to their succor at a critical hour.
I trust, sir, that this cordial invitation will be accepted, and that
the American nation will have the honor and the pleasure of having
you as their guest.
Accept, etc.,
