Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-27
.GEN. PORTER AMBASSADOR Was Yesterday Formally Receiv-
 ed by President Faure AT THE ELYSEE PALACE His Speech Was an Eloquent Effort in French, Which Was an Unprecedented Incident
 Ceremonies Very Imposing.

Paris, May 26.-President Faure for mally received the new United States ambassador today. Shortly before noon a squadron of curriaseurs with carriages, one Of them containing NJ. Crozier, the director of the protocol, and M. Willard, the introducer of ambassadors, drove up to the house on the Rue de la Madrid, where Gen. Porter is residing as the guest of Gen. Widslow, to escort the United States ambassador to the Elysee palace. On arriving the municipal band played The Marsaillaise" and the guard on duty presented arms. Gen. Porter alighted at the entrance and was conducted by M Crozier to the grand salon, where he was introduced to President Faure and pre- scented his credentials.
 The document was worded as follows: William Mckinley, President of the
 United States of America, to His Ex- oellency, Felix Faure President of the French Republics:
 Great and Good Friend-I have made choice of Horace Porter one of our dis tinguished citizens, to reside near the government of your eXcellency in the quality of ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipoten tiary of the United States of America. He is well informed relative to interests of the two countries and of our sincere desire to cultivate to the fullest extent the friendship which has so long subsisted between us. My knowledge of his high character and ability gives me entire confidence that he will constantly endeavor to advance the interest and prosperity of both gov ernments and render his mission accepta- ble to your excellency. I therefore re- quest your excellency to receive him fa- vorably ard give full credence to what he shall say in our behalf and to the as sufanees I have charged him to con- vey to you the best wishes of this gov ernment for the prosperity of France.
 May God have your excellency in His wise keeping.
 Your good friend
 "WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
 washington, March 31, 1897."
 Gen. Porter in presenting his creden- tials, said in French:
 Monsieur Le President:
 ''I have the honor to present you with a letter acrediting me ambassador of the United States of America. It Is source of extreme qualification to me to be per mitteH to represent the chief republic of the new world at the seat of the govern ment of the chief republic of the old worlds I have been charged with the very agreea bic duty of conveying to you the,'cordial Egood wishes of the eminent citizen recently inaugurated chief mag istrate of the United States of America and to assure you of the profound regard
 
 the high esteem in which he holds the people of France A similarity of the forms of government of our respective countries, the belief entertained by both in liberal political institutions and the deep interest felt by each in the free dom, rights and welfare of it's citizens, have created between our people endur- ing bonds of sympathy. The alliance entered into by both countries when the American republic was in it's infancy
 
 of human liberty and the traditional friendship continued through so long a period have esta blished rela tions of am ity which time should never be permitted to efface.
 "I take pleasure in assuring you that I should TDt represent faithfully the sen timentss of my government or of the American people if I failed to employ every tndeavor upon. my part to foster and strengthen the intercourse which now happily exists between our two sis ter republics, trusting that our govern ment will continue to act in entire har- mony and begging you to accept, per sonally, ahe assurance of my deepest re- spect"
 President Faure replied in somewhat similar terms, expressed satisfaction of the sentiments and assurances Gen. Por- ter had uttered and assured him chat he found France we'll disposed to second him in his effors and every faculty would be given him to accomplish his mission.
 Gen. Porter them presented MT Henry Vignaud, secretary of the United States em mbs ssy, MT E. E. ScoI.t. the second sec retary, Col. E. s. Kellogg, the United s ates military attachee and Lieut.. Sims, the United States naval attache.
 The ceremony lasted quarter of an hour.
 When Gen. Porter withdrew the muni- cipal band played 'The Washington Post March.y The ambassador returned to the Rue de la Madrid with the ceremonial escort, the squadron of curisseurs. Gen. Porter later called om M. Hanitoux the minister for foreign affairs. An unpre- cedented incident occurred upon the pre- sentatidn of Gen. Porter's credentials. The Ambassador wanted 10 deliver his speech at the Elysee palace in English, as the retiring United States ambassador, MT. James B.. Eustis, had done, but the deputy inefsted he must speak in French and Gen. Porter was obliged to submit Although on some previous occasions United States amba ssadors have spoke n in French, this is the first time the point has been raised and formally insisted on 1@xr kl~< x,-~r~t