The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-14
Tells Audience He Was Never Alarmed at Neu- trality of United
 States
SPEAKS FROM STAIRS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
 TO A LARGE CROWD
Knew in His Heart That Our Great Country Could Not Help But Join the Allies in Their Fight.
 Governor Mccall Ex-
 tends Welcome


 warm greeting today to Rene Ni-
 viani, former premier of France,
 and head of the French war com
 mission to the United States. The
 tinguished visitor. coming a day
 after the city had outstretched its
 arms to Marshal Joffre, was feast
 ed, toasted and cheered by thou-
 sands
 Notwithstanding cold. drizzlins rain that fell all day. M yivianl and his party were taken through streets decorated with the colors of France, Great Britain and the United States and were applauded enthusiastically wherever they went Crowds braved the clements to get only glimpse of the guest as his automobile dashed from place to place in the busy days programme.
 Accorded a gracious welcome by ether state and city officials, the French statesman later was the center of a unique reception in the Bosto,, public library. A visit to the home ci 1 A. Lawrence sIsoweii president of Har5 yard university, and to the Widener Memorial library of that institution. together with another reception anu dinner at the Boston City club, made Up days entertainment such as sell dom has been provided here for for eign visitor
 REFERS TO FRIENDSHIP
 M. Viviani spoke from the grand stairway in the public library to an audience that filled every available foot of space At one point in his ad- dress. when he referred with much emotion to the traditional friendship between France and the United States, he placed his hand on the shoulder of the Marquis De Chambrun, a descend ant of Lafayette. and then said that he was happy to have been able to bring to this country a relative of the man who took such a prominent part in the formative period of this cour- try's history.
 M Yiviani asserted that he was rever alarmed at the neutrality of the United States.
 KNEW IN HIS HEART q knew in my heart" he said with emphasis, that your great country could not contemplate the slaughter of innocents, the burning of cathe- drals and other outrages without throwing in your lot with France aad her allies.r
 M. Viviahi and his party arrived here from Ottawa shortly after a. m. The French statesman appeared deeply touched when Charles H. Leland, grand son of Samuel Carr. one of the public library trustees, presented him with a memorial, stating that more than s17O,Wv had been raised in this state for the fatherless children of France
 After leaving the library members of the mission paid short visit to the To- cal headquarters of the American fund for French wounded, where women work CTS explained what had been done in the way of providing hospital supplies and warm clothing for the French soldiers. RECEPTION AND DINNER The day for the visitors closed with a reception and dinner at the city club and an address In the great auditorium py NJ Viviani which evoked a demonstration that the Frenchman declared would be one of the pleasantest memories of his mission to America. Encouraged evil dently by the realization that a very large percentage of his 20o0 auditors fol- 1 lowed his French without difficulty, the 1 statesman spoke for nearly an hour l The City club established two prece- dents. It dined a guest on Sunday, and 1 the audience stood throughout his ad- dress. The only smile that frightened the fac of ha 1 the conclusion of his address the pre- siding officer called for a rising vote of thanks. When the laughter had ceased | a show of hands was substituted.