Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-30
ALLIED ENJOYS
IN SOLEMN TRIP
TO MOUNT VERNON.
Flags of Great Britain,
France and United States
Float Together.
THREE GREAT DEMOCRAClES
PLEDGE THEMSELVES ANEW
In Name of Heroic Dead, Prom
ise to Prosecute Present War
Against Autocracy.
ELOQUENT SPEECH By, VIvLANI
Foreign Minister Balfour and Mar
shaI Joffre Also Add Their
Words OF Tribute.
THREE GREAT DEMOCRAClES
PLEDGE THEMSELVES ANEW
ELOQUENT SPEECH By v1vLANI
Try Associated Press. !

Try Associated Press.I
MOUNT VERNON. VA. April ga
The flags of Great Britain. France and
the United States floated proudly to-
Gether to-day over the tomb of George
Washington. Beneath them spokesmen
OF the three great democraces paid
homage to Americas soldier and states
man. and pledged themselves, each to
the other i'm the name of the dead to
prosecute the present mighty struggle
against autocracY on the lines he HIM
self had followed in bringing America
into being.
In groups OF twos and threes, an
eminent gathering. including tho mem-
bers of the French and British WAY
commissions. the Presidents Cabinet
and members OF Congress. had strolied
up through the slopinG grounds from
the river bank until perhaps half a
hundred people stood with barred heads
In Il scmicircle before tho tomb. The
day. which had been heavy and threat
ening as the party approached OH the
Mayfower, suddenly burst into sunlight
'whlclia piaSeds through the trees on the
uniforms and faces Of those assembled.
Without formality. Secretary Daniels
motioncd to w. Viviani, Minister OF,
who advanced slowly into the center.
Before the tomb of Washington, whose
efforts towards liberty his own ances-
tors had Eloriously aided. NJ. vivlanis
delivered an address, in which the
whole force OF his emotional power,
deepcned by the Significance OF the
occasion, fought for expression.
QUICKEN UNDER THRILL
OF HIS IMAGINATION
The spectators, though most of them
could not understand French, caught
the suppressed feeling and fire OF the
orator and followed his words spell.
bound as they quickened under tho
thrill of his imagination.
Apart from his voice not a sound
could he heard.
NJ Nivani said
we could not remain longer in
washington without accomplishing this
pious pilgrimage. In this spot lies all
that Is mortal OF a great hero. Close,
by this spot is the modest abode where
Washington rested after the tremen.
dous labor OF achieving for nation.
ITS emancipation. In this spo. meet
the admiration of the whole world and
the reneration OF the American people,
In this spot rise before US the glorious
memories left by tho soldiers or
France led by Rochambeau and La
iayettc; a descendant or the latter, my
'riehd NJ de Chambrun, accompanies
US. AND l esteem il supreme honor.
as wen as satisfaction for my con-
science, 10 be entitled 10 render this
homage TO our ancestors in the pres
ehce or my colleague and friend Mr.
1ahour' VINO so nobly represents his
great nation. BY thus coming IN I,yt
mere the respectful tribute of every
English mind he shows i'm this his,ori,
moment or communion which France
has wilied, what nations that live for
liberty can do
WILSON WORTHY HEIR
TO GREAT MEMORIES
"hen we contemplate in the dis.
tant past the luminous presepce ~
washington. i'll nearer times the ma
Jestic figure of Abraham Lincoln. whom
We respectfully salute President WI
son. the worthy heir OF these great
memories we at one glance measure
the vast career of the American peopIe
u Us because the American people pro-
c'dimcd ana won for the nation tho
r'sht 10 govern itself. II is because IL
proclaimed and Won the equality Of all
men. the the free American people at
the hour marked by fate has been en-
ablcd with commanding force to carry
It's action beyond the seas: II Is be-
cause it was resolved to extend it's
action still further that Congress was
eiiabled TO obtain within the space OF
q few days the vote OF conscription, and
to proclaim the necessity for n ma.
tional army in the full spendor OF civil
peace.
I'm the name of France ! salute tho
young army which will share in, our .
common glory. N
while paying this supreme tribute
to the memory OF Washing ton, do not j
diminish the effect of ms words when
| turn my thought TO the memory of
so many unnamed heroes. ask you K
before this tomb to how in earnest
meditation and all the fervor of ,ptety
before all the soldiers Of the allied ma. :.
tions. who for nearly three years have e
been lighting under different fags forss
the same IDEAL y
Il beg you to address the homaxA
OF your hearts and souls TO ali the Me- IS
roes, born to live in happiaess In the s