The New York herald., 1877-09-22
THE EXPOSITION OF 1878.

REPORT BY MR.. F. r.. coUDERT TO NEW
YORK MERCHANTS AND BANKERS,
The following report has boon made by Mr. Frederic
r. Coudert respecting the provisions made by the
managers OF the French Exposition of 1878 for intend
ing American exhibitors
NEW York, Sept 19 1877.
GENTLgMgN-I received on the Sth Of August last,
as was about leaving for Europe, the letter which
you addressed to the subject OF the French Ey.
position. ON reaching Paris | made inquiry as to tho
situation in which American citizens were placed in
the absence Of any official action tho part Of
government l informed that rule had been
made and thus lar followed to tho effect that ap
plications from foreign citizens should bo received
unless they were officially presented by Commissioners
other officers duly authorized by their respective
governments This regulation would necessarily
operate TO exclude all parties desiring to send their
products from this country until such time the in
vitation ol the French Republic had been accepted
and persons formally appointed through whom action
could be taken. 1t was further stated 10 me that
nearly thousand applications had been forwarded
IRON this country and were still IN the office OF tho
United States Legation Paris awaiting such official
action in this country would enable the French
authorities to consider them
IL was obvious that rigid adherence to this rule,
citizens from the coming Exposition, result which
would not only operate 10 the injury OF producers
but prevent the country at largo from receiving the
credit and the benefit which active participation In
that important enterprise would bring.
In order to carry out your views so far II in
my pLwer TO do so called on several prominent gen
tlemcn connected with the management OF tho pro-
posed Exposition, among others upon Mr.. Krantz,
It's President and one OF It's most active directors
was most courteously received by him, and | found
that he as indeed all those nteresed in the
OF the Exposition were xious TO secure the Co
lion OF our citizens. dc was greatly embarrassed,
however, by the rule TO which ] above alluded We
discussed the whole question very thoroughly, and
received his ASSURANCE tnat he would ~ once commu-
ncate with the Minister OF Foreign Affairs to the end
of promoting the object that sought.
GOVERNMENT MUST ACT.
subsequently called at the office of the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, where had an interview with n.
Meurand, one OF the principal heads of the depart
ment. This gentleman advanced substantially the
same arguments as Nr krantz, while al the same tmo
expressing earnest desire to facilitate the interests
Of our citizens He felt however that so lonp as our
adm nstraon contin ued silent and Inactive would
be difficult Tor the government TO recognize the appl-
cations OF individuals. submitted TO MIN various
reasons Tor not adherng 10 the letter OF the rule then
in force among others the following
HrSt-Ihcrc is no analogy between the case Of Ger
and prohibited any participation IN the Exposition or
the part OF her citizens Ihe United States did
fuse and did not issue any such cdct.
SecoRd-Ihc silence oil The United States governments
cannot be construed INTO refusal 1t very ques-
tioaabe, to say tue least whether the Executive hns
the power to appoint Commissioners until the meeting
of Congress- The inacton of the govern emf should
therefore DO attributed rather TO OF power than
to Indifference, unriendliness or neglect
Thtrd-Nor should American EXHIBITS be POSTPONED
until such time as Congress shall have had opp0r-
tunity pass upon ana settle the question. The
extra session wou probably bc taken up with very
urgent aud important, questions which might adjourn
the examination OF thAs matter until December
FOuJth-Should nothing be done until the December
the long delay would discourage of our
CITIZENS who desired to exhibit and tho interest now
felt country would be greatly diminished If not
entirely lost.
also ventured suggest that the old ties OF friend
ship between France and the United States were
strong enough to justify his government in assuming
that administration would harmonize its action
with the feelings OF our people, and that II but
just to TO assume that did feel IN the
favorable consummation of their great enterprise
France could not thought, afford to leave the cit
and producers Of the United States Outside her
doors when the world was assembling at her capital
could the United States afford 10 be absent from
such gathering Mr. Meurand was not only an at
iteutive and courteous listener, but showed entire
sympathy with my object. Ho assured that tho
depar would consider the views that presented
and do It's utmost to further them.
now APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE PRESENTED.
Shortly after leaving Paris received note INFORM
ing that Duke Decazes before whom the object Of
my mission had been laid, had decided that all app-
cations presented through the channel OF the legation
would be received and acted upon. IL seems to ne
that this practically disposes OF the matter and that
this reasonable and friendly decision makes II easy
for our cuzens TO enter into competition with other
nations of the world
remain, gentlemen, respectfully yours
H. Il COUDERT
To Messrs. Brown Brothers l. Co, Williams a. Guion,
Eugene Kelly & Co.. Moses Taylor l. Co., Drexs,
Morgan Il Co. and others.