New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-02
TOASTS
SEAL FRIENDSHIP
OF 3 NATIONS
Cheers for Allies Mark
Luncheon to Anglo
French Commission.
debt OF AMERICA
TO FRANCE is PAID"
Aid In Revolution Returned, Says
Nj. Homberg-We Owe More
than Money, Says Reading.


than Money, Says Reading.
Hands from across the sea gripped
those Of citizens OF this country in
friendship and sympathy. and expires
sions OF mutual good will were freely
exchanged yesterday afternoon at the
Hotel Knickerbocker. where the mem.
bers of the Anglo-French Credit and
Finance Commission were guests at q
luncheon and reception given by the
France America committee. The fact
tha: the demand for the bonds Is sc
great that the books could have been
closed last night, did not detract from
the gayety OF the occasion.
The debt which Americans declare
they owe France for aid in the Revolu'
tion has been paid and the French Re
public is now indebted 10 the United
States, declared Octave Homberg, OF
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs OF
France, one Of the commissioners who
negotiated here the loan Of half bill
ion dollars.
you have done US great service,
he said, addressing in French the two
/ hundred of New York's leaders In
finance and commerce who attended thu
luncheon, "and you have permitted us
who do not wear a uniform, to accom-
plish a great service to our country"
Draped about the walls of the ban
quet hall were countless American
flags, mingled with the colors of each
of the allied nations. The flag of Bel
gium hung conspicuo1sly from the
north wall OF the room, and the eyes ol
the guests turned toward it frequently
pa. ticularly when William d. Guthrie
of the France-America committee, the
toastmaster, declared that the mos'
glorious page of British history wal
written by Sir Edward Grey when, tc
avoid breaking the plighted faith o.
England. that country entered wal
for which it was not prepared ant
which threatened and might involve th'
ruin of the British Empire.
Toasts to the Rulers.
Seated at a circular table in the cen
ire Of the room were the members o.
the Anglo-French committee, lncludlns
NJ. Homberg, Ernest Mallet, regent o.
the Bank of France; Baron Reading
Lord Chief Justice of England; Sir I'd
ward II. Holden, Sir Henry Babingto-
Smith and Basil p Blackett, and fiftesi
other guests of honor.
ITO His Excellency the President ol
tho United States: TO His Excellency
the President of the Republic of France
and 10 His Majesty the King OF Eng
land" was the first toast proposed ol
Mr.. Guthrie. It was followed by one
70 the King Of Belgium, His Majesty
the Gar of all the Russias, and 70 He
Majesty the King of Italy and hl'
courageous army and navy, whose hell
may yet be decisive
The object Of the France-Amerlcs
committee, the toastmaster said. was tc
perpetuate the traditions and the bonds
of friendship which bind the govern
ments and peoples of both countries TO
qether. Then, launching into the
French tongue, he prefaced MS intro
duction of NJ. Homberg.
"Not for a moment are we allowed tc
forget the brutal and ferocious wal
which has devastated great part OF
France and Belgium and which threat
ens the civilization of all Europe" he
declared. at is truethat our nationa
government, for reasons OF state. hnd'
itself forced 10 maintain neutrality
difficult and complex task-but the
American people are not indifferent tc
the miseries and distress OF the frencf
people. Innumerable are my country,
men who pray that new battle OF
Poitiers against the Saracens may 500,
free the soil of France OF her invaders'
Tells of Americas Debt to France.
Mr.. Guthrie. who is an attorney at a.
Wall Street and an Instructor OF la"
referred TO the services OF France II
sending LAFAYETTE 20 this country
british commissioners studying th'
tablecloth assiduously and added tha'
France gave S772, 100000 TO free Amer
ica. none of which was ever paid.
N. Homberg. speaking for NJ. Maile'
"a well as himself, referred 70 the am
ner given for the commission on tht
nrevious evening at Sherry's. the Pill
rr;ms of America being hosts. and de.
Jared that it afforded him eGual
pleasure 20 attend the luncheon where
here were Americans in whose eyes ne
,ould read sympathy for France.
"France." he said. "is the champion
n freedom and rights, and | am
nleased 20 be in country where you
say you owe US something so mat
r,av declare that We are now your
debtors"
The mission Of the forei gn financial
commission was a success. he said. and
re expressed the gratitude OF all the
financial representatives of the allied
rations for the sympathy OF the
American people which had helped
them in their task of arranging the
loan. lie praised the soldiers OF
France and those OF England.
In presenting Baron Reading the
Copsinued on page 9, column