The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-25
FRENCH ARRIVE
In WASHINGTON
War Commission with Jof-
fire and Viviani We'll
coined To-day
HAVE FULL POWER TO
REACH AGREEMENT
Balfour Expresses His Con-
fidence in Americas
Steadfastness

Washington, ID. c., April 25.-The
French commission, headed by Jofre
and Viviani, landed safely at the Wash.
ington navy yard to-day som after
noon, having made the trip from Hamp-
ton Roads on the presidential yacht
MayAower.
The French mission brings no written
instructions from the French govern
ment, the ministry having decided to give
its members unlimited powers to nego-
tate with the United States on all sub
! jects, military, naval, financial. 1t is
prepared to discuss the sending of an
American expeditionary force to France.
! Marshal Joffre and other military mem
! bers will indicate to the American Off
cials with whom they are to confer sew
eral important military reasons which
| they consider renders the sending of such
force advisa Bile. The most important
| of these reasons is found in the moral
effect TO be had from the presence of
American troops and the American flag
on the battle fields of France,
The French idea of an American ex-
petition calls for fighting force sup
ported by auxiliary services, such as
railway stsffs, railway material, base re-
pair shops, telegraph and telephone lines,
automobile transport and a strong avia-
tion section The French government is
ready to offer whatever may be eonsid-
cred necessary to assist in sea opera
tions, including the use for naval pur-
poses of any or all ports in France, The
ministry OF marine has worked out for
submission to the American government
a comprehensive plan for overseas trans
ports, for both army and navy purposes
and for the provisioning of the civil pop
ulation.
Financially France needs loans of
sl0O,000,O00 monthly to be spent in the
United States. Detailed official infor
nation on this subject viii be submitted
TO the American government at the con-
ferences to be held in Washington.
Mr.. Vivisni as official head of the COM
mission, gave the following statement to
staff correspondent of the Associated
Press who accompanied the mission from
France;
every American viii understand that
in Difference to the illustrious president
OF the United States, whom ! am going
TO see very soon, reserve first word for
him. ! will have occasion to see you
again and tell the American nation
through you in a more complete manner
the emotions with which the representa-
tives OF France greet in the name of
their country, the first democracy of the
world, with which France shares the
same ideals.
tSigned) "viviani."
The members of the commission got |
their first glimpse of the shores of Amer
lea at daylight yesterday morning
American naval officers aboard flotilla
of destroyers met the former French
passenger liner which brought the visit
ors over and the convoy at / o'clock
Monday night about 100 miles at sea.
The French and American vessels ex-
hanged signals and then all continued
toward the Virginia capes. Not light
was showing at any time during the ma
neuver. At dawn the flotilla and its
quests fell in with an American cruiser
which led the way to Hampton Roads.
All the members of the commission
we're on the bridge OF their boat shortly
lfter 5 o'clock to see the entrance. The
lay was magnificent. As the roads came
nto view, Marshal Joffre turned to an
American naval officer, serving as pilot,
md said:
What a wonderful scene. love this
II reminds me of my own
ountry--the south of France" (
Once inside the harbor the American {
estroyers slipped away to their anchor S
ges. Meanwhile every American ship in ,
he harbor hoisted to their msstheads /
he French tri-color, and the band of t
Tsrship played "The Star Spsngled Ban I
er." Marshal Joffre and the military I
nd naval members stood at salute UNI c
il the last note had fosted across the S
rater while the civilian members stood ,
nth barred heads. Immediately after v
anne the French national anthem, which (
'as saluted in a similar manner. Il
The ship bearing the mission dropped u
nchor off Fortress Monroe, while the
Dnvoy steamed several miles farther on. \
Gen. Niginsl, the military and naval a
ttache OF the French embassy at Wash G.
lgton, Stephane Lauzanne, -confidential b
and Col. Spencer Cosby, L
!. ;. A.. assigned as Marshal Joffres b
de. came aboard soon after with dis 4
atches and to greet the visitors. Ad p
iral Mayo. commander in chief of the a
tlantic feet, called later. There was f,
D saluting, the formality OF firing salvos e,
guns having been dispensed with by h
yreement "
"We are saving our powder for the p
remarked the commander OF ..
ie French ship. b
All of the commissioners returned Ad- y
iral AIsyo's call later. Then they al
nched on board their own vessel. Tin 81
hing just in time to receive Ambassa- fc
II Jusserand. Maj Gen. Scott. chief OF "
aft of the army, Assistant Secretary of ps
ate Long, Assistant Secretary OF the re
avy Franklin Roosevelt. and several
her officials, who arrived from Wash III
gton on board the Msyiower. r,
" fu
HIEC CONEInENT w