The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-10
- HE France-America Committee
Of New York feels a lively
pleasure in salutine in you the

delegates OF the French re-
public. Thu committee desires to bear
testimony to the friendship Of Ameri-
cans for France, our admiration Of the
heroism Which the French people OF
all classes have exhibited during the
frighjful wear which has just ended.
our heartfelt sympathy In your suffer
inss and our good wishes for your
future.
Our hospitality is unfortunately
touched with a poignant sadness. for
IN ever present care will not permit
10 to forget the brutal and ferocious
war which has devastated a large part
ot France and almost all OF Belgium.
which threatens not only the liberties
Of the French and the Belgian people
hu, the civilization OF all Europe. 1t
= true that our rational Government.
for reasons Of state. finds itself obliged
20 maintain a legal neutrality. a diffi-
cut and complex task. but The Ameri-
can people cannot be Indifferent to the
misfortunes ard distress Of the French.
\ great American has we'll said that
Il j.. in learning tae history OF his
country that the American child learns
To love France. We shall never be
abe To forget the generous aid. the
sympathy. the devotion and the disin-
jertestedness which the French people
bestowed on us at the beginning OF our
history. This memory. gentlemen, is
inefaceG6ie. Beyond number are my
compair.ots w"o pray with all their
heart that a new battle Of Poitiers
against the Saracens may soon deliver
the beautiful and holy land of France
from its invaders.
The service which Frarce rendered
tie United States IL often unacknowi-
edged and sometimes forgotten. The
hour has come TO refute disparaging
statements ard prejudices. The
France America Committee desires to
take advantage of this occasion TO re-
cal what we owe to France and to en-
press the profound gratitude which the
people Of America feel for the French
people.
The majority of historians seeking
their materials In government archives
and in the notes OF Kings and their
Minister'S see too often only calcula-
ton or an interested motive in the aid
which France gave us and in the
friendship which she showed for us
during oar war OF independence. But
those who consc!entiously endeavor to
penetrate to tie soul OF the French
people during the years from 1916 To
l1bi, a. has been one by the Ameri-
IAN historian James Breck Perkins.
!ornerlr chairman Of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House OF
representatives. bear witness thai
this a'd. wh'ch Wa so efficacious and
which alone made our success possible,
was d.S.Aterested and was inspired
MY 10y sympathy for a weak people
and by owe of liberty and political
justice.
La Fdyette, the intimate and de-
voted friend Of Washington and Of
Franklin, was in truth tie incarnation
" the sentiments Of high enthusiasm
ana ardent sympathy felt at that time
among F'renchmen of every class for
people who wanted to he freed.
Doubtless Louis XVI. and V%ergennes
saw Incidental advantages and reasons
OF state in his situation, but it was
IA reality the eager people and the en-
'huslasm and public feeling of the
whole nation that finally forced the
Government of the King to send us a
dsc'piined army under Rochambeau
ana a war fleet under D'Estaing and
po GraSsc. The incalculable impor-
tane" of the service rendered by the
French may he estimated by the recol-
lection that two-thirds and the best
equipped Of the allied troops at York
Town were French me that It was to
FocAamh"au that the English COM
mahder deemed ii r..sht to surrender
lis sword.
I'D taxing part in our war OF inde-
V'hdehc" the trench people knew per-
''llIN We'll that their aid would cost
'"em an enormous price and that the
'aAe'' already too heavy, would have
10 ne s'l, more augmented. The his
''rah Perkins declares that the total
'Npe3ditures of France to free Amer
!'a amounted to $772, 600. 900: that is
70 say more than three milliards. eight
hundred million francs. In those days
money Has probably twice az valuable
as u l. To-day.
~ this rn rmous expenditure. which
ruined tho royal treasury. not a cent
mas been given back TO France. She
never asked reimbursement and she
would refuse proudly to-day to accept
''''"N u us tlat sne stipulated
NJ 'h" treaty Of a.liance with the
hurh states ~ America OF February
l"N mat she would accept no in
commit. for her cooperation and for
"' sacrifices, and that even IL Canada |
were conquered that country would be
annexed to the United States and not
taken by France.
ms treaty, unprecedented in
generosity in the history OF the world,
was the first Of all the treaties which |
Inc United States has made and the |
oh.y treaty OF alliance in our history.
Would i not he an act supremely |
Jnat II the American people 1874 years
a'er the battle Of Yorktown recog-
mzed this service--I refuse TO call it a
uept-by Offering to the French people
4 commercial credit Of the principa.,
mat IL to say, $772, 00O. 900. to he re- |
pah when France was able to do so?
ms would be merely the equivalent
" a contribution Of $3.50 by every
eIuzen Of :he United States. very |
much less than the tax which was
paic voluntarily and with a Joyful |
near by the French people OF tho
eighteenth century 10 aid us.