New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-07
Enthusiastic Welcome
For Russian Mission at
City Hall Reception

CITY Hall reception
"To make the world safe for democ'
racy, we are one"
Ambassador Boris A. Bakhmetef
paused in his address to unfasten the
official badge of the Mayors reception
committee to the Russian war min
sion and read that inscription on its
face. He bowed low in recognition OF
the tumultuous applause which greet
ed President Wilson's phrase and his
pledge.
This was the climax of the official
reception at the City Hall for the Wis
iting mission of Free Russia, and the
new ambassadors graceful action
touched the keynote of the whole oc'
casion and found an enthusiastic re-
spouse. There was minute or two OF
intense enthusiasm as the military and
naval members of the mission bowed
, low in unison with the ambassador
and Mayor Mitchell and Martin w
Littleton, chairman of the reception
committee, joined heartily in the APP
plause.
The historic Aldermanic chamber
was crowded with members of the citi-
zens' committee and guests. The gal
lery was filed with excited, cheering
citizens, mostly of Russian origin.
Ambassador Bakhmetetf stood alone
in the centre of the dais, with his as
sociates standing below on either side
1t was the exact spot where Marshal
Jofre stood and saluted in recognition
Of the plaudits Of the crowd. Above
the head of the mission was an
escutcheon, bearing the head of the
Goddess of Liberty. with the Russian
eagles perched on her shoulder. The
white. blue and red of the old Rus
sian flag prevailed in the decorations
both within and without the Hall. The
red flag Of the revolt ,ionists was not
in evidence.
Crowds Throng Park
The mission and its escort were an
hour late in reaching the City Hall. II
was nearly o'clock when they ar
rived. They were greeted by the cheers
of thousands of citizens who had
crowded as near to the court of honor
as the police would let them. The Rus
sian colors were flung aloft on the City
Hall, together with the Stars and
Stripes and the city and state emblems
Sailors in their white uniforms and
marines from the Brooklyn navy yard
mingled with the olive drab of the
coast artillerymen and the battalion OF
the 18th Infantry The boys of the
American Junior Naval and Marine
Scouts lined the steps of the City Hall
and stood at attention on the stairs
| inside.
Mayor Mitchell met the party as they
entered the chamber and escorted Am
bassador Bakhmeteff to the rostrum
| When the cheering had subsidized the
Mayor stepped forward and delivered
his address of welcome.
! "The democracy of America, repre-
/ sented by the greatest of her commu.
mites. the City of New York, salutes
the newborn democracy of Russia,
said the Mayor, land bids you, her rep.
resentatives, a cordial welcome"
The Mayor declared that it was with
especial warmth that this country well
coined the mission as our allies in the
war for justice and liberty and as a
free people.
Littleton Denounces Prussians
/ ut -hHNOI introduced VII. LlllleIOT
/ as the representative of the citizens
| The speakers fiery announcement OF
| Prussianism brought resounding cheers
/ from the assemblage. He predicted
/ the downfall of all royal and auto.
cratic power throughout the world lie
/ declared that America was pledged Ia
/ fight with the Allies until the last
| Kaiser of all the confederated Kaisers
U sc l. ,r -.
! lutism and assassination-until the
/ pestilential Prussian on land and the
piratical Prussian on sea shall be con-
I quered and captured or slain as pub
/ lie enemy"
1--WE shall not fail" said Mr.. Little
! ton. "The monarchy, the empire, the
| kingdom, is gone, never to return. The
/ kings, the kaisers, and the cars shall
reign in the future even as a child
reigns in the nursery, playing with
dumb images of power, brandishing n
glittering blade of tin and presiding
with mock gravity over an empire OF
empty cfigies."
As Mr.. Littleton finished the Mayor
introduced the ambassador of the new
republic. Prolonged cheering and cries
in Russian broke out The diplomat
young in comparison with some Of his
associates, stood bowling low and smil-
ing his appreciation.
Present Hour Momentous
When he was finally permitted to
speak, he said in part:
81 can scarcely express my emotion.
| can scarcely express the sincere graft
tudc for the brotherly welcome, FOR this
hearty reception which has been ac-
corded TO US by this greatest of the
worlds cities this enthusiasm, this
Joy Of America that new democracy
has been born. The deep feelings that
oycrwhelm us all here present. are the
highest expression OF the true friend
ship which has always existed between
the two great nations, and which we
have come now as messengers Of Rus
sia's freedom 20 express SO momentous
rs the present hour that our
two nations have extended to each
other their brotherly hands IN this