New-York tribune., 1917-05-03
Jofre to Unveil
Lafayette Statue
Here Next Week
Elaborate Plans Made for
Reception of French and
British Missions
Exercises at City Hall
Degrees To Be Conferred on
Visitors-Wreath for
Grants Tomb

Tentative plans for New York's re-
ception of the British and French war
commissions were announced Yesterday
b. Theodore Rousseau, Mayor Mitchel's
secretary. VI. Viviani, Marshal Jofre
and other members Of the French COM
mission are expected the middle Of
next week probably Wednesday and
will remain until after the official ban
quet at the Waldorf-Astoria Friday
night. Mr.. Balfour and the members
OF the British commission are expected
next Friday and will probably remain
in the city until Saturday night or Sun
day.
The French commission will occupy
the home of Henry c. Frick, at Seven
tieth Street and Fifth Avenue. Mr..
Frick and his family will move out
temporarily and place the whole estab-
lishment-servants, art gallery and
gardens-at the disposal of the French
men. The British commission will oc-
cupy the home Of Vincent Astor, at $40
Fifth Avenue.
Secretary Rousseau remained in
Washington Tuesday night, after
Mayor Mitchell and members of the
Citizens Reception Committee re-
turned TO New YORK, to discuss plans
for the entertainment of the commits
sions. The programme now provides
for the arrival of the French ccmmis-
sioners by a special train somewhere
in New Jersey. Either a destroyer or
converted yacht will meet the guests
somewhere on the Jersey shore and
carry them to the Battery, where they
will be met by Mayor Mitchell and mem
bers OF the reception committee.
Reception at City Hall
They will be escorted to the City
Hall by squad Of mounted police and
detachment of the National Guard,
where a formal reception will be held
on behalf of the city. Only city Of
fcials and members of the Citizens Re-
ception Committee will attend the re-
ception. The welcome will be extended
by Mayor Mitchell.
The public will have an opportunity
TO greet the visitors after the City Hall
reception, when the guests will be cs-
corted to Grants Tomb, on which Gen
eral Joffre will place a wreath. 1t is
planned TO have the automobiles pass
Union Square. where the statue of La
fayette stands, with the statue of
Washington facing it. The detailed
route followed to the tomb will be an
nounced later. Plans for Wednesday
evening have not yet been made.
Thursday, probably in the morning.
degrees will be conferred on the guests
by DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler. at Co
lumbia University. In the afternoon
the party will go to Prospect Park,
Brooklyn, where Marshal JoFre will
unyeil the new statute of Lafayette.
Thursday evening there will probably
be reception rendered the commission
by French residents of the city at the
Public Library, Fifth Avenue and For
tiCth Street.
Friday. Marshal Joffre will 90 to
West Point as the guest OF Secretary
OF War Baker. If VI. Viviani does not
accompany the party, he will be the
guest of the lawyers of the city at
luncheon, the place to be announced
later. Friday evening the official ban
quet will be held at the Waldorf, at
which both commissions will be pres
ent. Mayor Mitchell will preside. The
banquet will probably close the recep-
tiOn.
Similar Plans for British
Similar plans have been made for the
British guests. They will be met at
the Battery, given reception at the
City Hall and then make a trip uptown.
Saturday they will be escorted from
the Astor residence to the Chamber of
Commerce, where they will be. the
guests of that body at luncheon. Moth
ing has yet been planned for the en-
tertainment of the British guests for
Saturday afternoon or evening. The
State Department has suggested that
they be permitted TO spend that time
in conference and in visiting personal
friends.
While an enthusiastic public recep-
tion is expected for the members of
both commissions, il is the desire of
the guests, as well as of the Mayors
committee, to emphasize the solemnity
Of their visit TO this country. There
will be no public handshaking by Mar
shall Joffre nor any other member Of
the commissions.