Presentation by France to the United States of a bust of “La France” at the Champlain celebration

Note.—In 1908 the New York and Vermont commissions appointed for the purpose of investigating the ways and means of celebrating the tercentenary of the discovery of Lake Champlain, jointly reported in favor of collaborating with the Governments of the United States and the Dominion of Canada for the purposes of the celebration. These reports were submitted by the President on April 30, 1908 to Congress. A report from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Report No. 2169, 60th Cong., 2d sess., accompanying H. J. Resolution 257) was presented on February 15, 1909. In April, 1909, an invitation was extended to the Governments of France and Great Britain to participate in the proposed celebration, and both Governments accepted. The celebration was duly observed, July 5–9, 1909, in honor of the discovery in July, 1609, by the Frenchman Samuel Champlain of the lake named for him.

In 1731 France erected Fort St. Frederic on the peninsula of the lake known as Crown Point; this fort, after two wars and several minor engagements, was finally captured in August, 1759, by the British, who held it until American troops under Seth Warner’s command took it in May, 1775. On October 11, 1776, Benedict Arnold engaged the British in a naval battle on Lake Champlain which served to prevent British invasion of northern New York. Burgoyne took Crown Point in June, 1777, but the end of the Revolution restored it to the Americans. The naval battle on Lake Champlain in September, 1814, was an American victory decisive enough to terminate the war of 1812. Fort Ticonderoga, Plattsburg, Burlington, Isle La Motte, and many other points of historic interest are associated with that of Crown Point and Lake Champlain, and exercises were held at several of these during the tercentenary of July 5–9, 1909.

As a sequel to the tercentenary celebration the joint Vermont and New York Champlain Committee undertook the erection of a monumental lighthouse on Crown Point to commemorate the discovery and subsequent history of the lake and its environs. In view thereof, and while the monument was nearing completion, the French Ambassador, Mr. Jusserand, suggested to his Government the propriety of participation in the dedication. This suggestion was referred by the Foreign Office to the Comité France-Amérique, a society organized for the purpose of strengthening the social and business relations between France and the American States. The Comité France-Amérique conducted a collection of funds for carrying out its program of participation. This program consisted in the organization of a delegation of distinguished Frenchmen who should personally present to the Champlain Committee, in behalf of their country a bronze bust of a young woman representing “La France,” executed [Page 440] by the French sculptor Rodin. Of this bust M. Hanotaux, who headed the delegation, said, in announcing to the French people the Comité’s plan of participation: