The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-23
Interesting Ceremony I'm the East
Room. Where Ambassador Cam
bon Introduced the Visitors
NO FORMAL SPEECHES MADE
PRESIDENT SHOOK HANDS AND
WARMLY GREETED HIS GUESTS.
Later the Frenchmen Called on Cabf-
net Officers and Then Went to
Washington's Tomb.

high in all the branches of the government,
President Roosevelt to-day received as the
guests of the Nation the distinguished
Frenchmen sent by President Loubet TO
take part in the Rochambeau exercises.
The arrival iE the city OF the brilliantly
uniformed French army and navy officers
and their escort through Pennsylvania ave-
nue. by a troop Of United States cavalrymen
gave picturesque interest 10 the occasion,
and TO this added the international
significance of an extremely cordial ex-
change of greetings between the represent
atives of the two nations. After the Pres
ident's reception al the White House the
French visitors exchanged calls with men,
bers of the Cabinet and Lieut.. Gen. Miles
and Admiral Dewey. This afternoon they
journeyed TO Mount Vernon, where Gen.
Brugere, of the French army. placed a
laurel wreath on the tomb OF Washington
and Count De Rochambeau planted a tree
taken from the battle ground of Yorktown.
Tonight President Roosevelt had the
French party as his guests at dinner at the
White House.
The French visitors arrived in Washing
ton at 10 o'clock this morning from An
napolis, which point they reached yester-
day on the Gaulois Only a small crowd
was at the depot 10 greet the distinguished
visitors. Beside the police escort, a troop
of the Second Cavalry from Fort Myer
was drawn up in front OF the station and
| saluted the appearance of the visitors.
Assistant Secretary Peirce, of the State
| Department, entered the first Of the open
| carriages in waiting. with the ranking
members of the party, and several men,
bers of the French embassy also acted as
escort. All of the party. including the en-
bassy attaches wore the uniform of their
rank. The carriages. about a dozen in
number wheeled into Pennsylvania avenue
and proceeded to the White House, where
Count Rochambeau and his party. Ambas-
sador and Nine. Cambon and others waited
to greet them, and where. at 1880 O'Clock,
President Roosevelt officially received the
party in the East room. The carriages
were preceded by an escort Of mounted and
bicycle policemen and the cavalry troop.
AS the party entered the White House a
salute was fired by a detachment of artil-
lery in the grounds south Of the White
! House
J Shortly before 10 o'clock the French am
! bassador, NJ. Cambon, accompanied by
/ Nine. CambOn and NJ. De Margerie and his
! wife, drove up 10 the White House portico
| The ambassador was in the uniform Of his
| high diplomatic rank. Following the am
/
! stan, accompanied by the ladies Of the en-
i bassy. The ambassador and his party were
escorted 10 the Red room 10 await the ar
/ rival of the other French guests. Soon
| after second party of the French visitors,
| including the Count and Countess Roch-
ambeau and the Count De Lafayette.
! Joined the ambassador in the Red room.
| Meantime the highest officers and officials
| of the United States government were as
sembling TO do honor TO the visitors. In
| the American party were representatives
| OF the various branches Of the government,
| including the members OF the Presidents
| Cabinet, Lieutenant General Miles, Of the
army; Admiral Dewey. Of the navy; Adju-
tant General Corbin and a group of sem
| ators and representatives from the legisla-
| tive branch. BY this time the main party,
| the highest officers Of the French army and
| navy, designated by President Loubet as
his personal representatives. were entering
| the White House grounds. A great crowd
| had assembled outside and a hearty cheer
went up as the Frenchmen drove through
| the gates.
After brief exchanges the entire party
| proceeded TO the East room. where the re-
| ception by President Roosevelt was held.
! The President was accompanied by Miss
| Alice Roosevelt and Miss Carew. a sister
| of Mrs. Roosevelt Grouped about the
| President were members OF his Cabinet and
| other distinguished officials many accom-
| panied by ladies' AS the French ambassa-
| dor presented each Of the official guests the
! President gave him warm grasp OF the
| hand and spoke a few words OF felicitous
| welcome. On both sides there were many
| expressions Of international good will and
| of the lasting friendship between the two
| republics. The affair was devoid of for
| mality, however, and no formal addresses
| We're delivered. The reception lasted about
half an hour, when the French officials
| withdrew TO make a round Of calls on
! members OF the Cabinet, the general OF the
| army, the admiral of the navy and on the
ambassadors Of foreign countries.
| This afternoon the United States naval
| yacht Sylph took the party 10 Mount YER
/ non where there were two interesting
ceremonies-the planting of tree from the
] ~
/ ton, Rochambeau and Lafayette were COM
/ panions In arms. and the placing Of beau
1 tiful wreath OF laurel. entwined with the
| French colors, on the tomb OF Washington.
| In the party were Ambassador and Nine.
Cambon and Secretary Pierce, represent
ing the President as hosts. and the entire
French party with their ladies.
At Mount Vernon the party proceeded
first to the tomb OF Washington, where the
! heavy iron bars were removed In order 10
admit NJ. Cambon. General Brugere. Vice
Admiral Fournier and a few other distin-
guished officers. General Brugere replaced
the wreath on the tomb which was COM
pletely covered by the great sheaves %
laurel Just across from the tomb a vigor-
Gus young maple, taken from the Yorktown
battlefield was planted by Count be
! Rochambeau. As he laid down the spade
/ General Brugere and all the other officers
took turns in casting earth upon the newly
planted tree. Later the party visited the
! old mansion and the many relics with
which the names OF Washington Lafayette
| and ROchambeau are identified
| A state dinner tonight was given by
| President and Miss Roosevelt in honor OF
/ the distinguished visitors. The guests IN
! vited included the members OF the Cabinet.
| senators and representative in Congress
| and high officials Of the army and navy.
/ Owing 10 the large number OF guests the
/ table was set In the historic East room.
| which was appropriately decorated with
| the French and American flags and with
/ palms and cut flowers. An interesting
| event OF the evening the presentation
| 10 Mrs. Roosevelt of a rare collection OF
| sketches and engravings. a gift from the
I premier OF the French Cabinet. NJ Wall
deck Rousseau. The sketches are by the
distinguished Partisan artist NJ Renouard.
who IS one OF the members OF the mission
now here, and who personally made the
! presentation tonight. The sketches are
forty in number. showing glimpses Of Paris
/ during the exposition. Beside the fact that
/ only 100 copies were engraved. the collec-
/ ton IS considered a most unique and beau
| tiful representation OF modern French art
During the dinner President Roosevelt
| proposed the toast ''to the President OF
the French republic and 10 the people OF
| France. Ambassador CamhOn gave as
! toast The President Of the United States
and made a short graceful speech. Secre-
tary Hay proposed a toast The Mem
bers OF the Rochambeau Mission" Gen.
eral Brugere responded The toasts all
were drunk standing.