Middletown transcript., 1917-05-05
v|v|AN| SALuTES
j. s. AS ALLY
Expresses Deep Gratitude For
Help Extended.
SPEAKS FOR FRENCH NATION
Now All the Forces Of Freedom Are
Let Loose and Victory OF Moral
ity and Right Is AS
sured, He Says.

WdShlnStOn.-1n statement 10 Iuo
American press, Rene Viviani,
Frances Vice-Premier and head of the
war mission from that country, said
the cooperation of the United States
would mean not only a military vic
tory, which already was assured, but
a victory of morality and right Ex-
pressing deep gratitude for the en-
thusiastic reception given his mission
here, M. Viviani said he realized "it
was not to us, but to our beloved and
heroic France"
M. Vivianis statement is as fol-
lows:
81 promised to receive you after
having reserved, as elementary cour-
tesy required, my first communication
solely for the President.
Il have just had the honor, which
l shared with other members of the
mission, of being received by him. l
am indeed happy to have been chosen
to present the greetings of the
French republic to the illustrous man
whose name is in every French mouth
today, whose incompatible message is
at this very hour being read and COM
mented upon in all our schools as the
most perfect charter of human rights
and which so fully expresses the vir-
tues of your race-long-suffering patti
ence before appealing to force, and
force to avenge that long-suffering
patience when there can be no other
means.
Since you are here to listen to me,
ask you to repeat thousand fold
the expression Of our deep gratitude
for the enthusiastic reception the
American people has granted US in
Washington. 1t is not to US, but to
our beloved and heroic France that
reception was accorded.
I'VE have come to this land to salute
the American people and it's Govern
ment, to call to fresh vigor our life
long friendship, sweet and cordial IN
the ordinary course of our lives, and
which these tragic hours. have raised
10 ali the ardor of brotherly leFe-a
brotherly love which in these last
years Of suffering has multiplied its
most touching eXpressionS-yo have
given help, not only in treasure, III
every act of kindness and good Will;
for lis, your children have shed their
blood and the names Of your sacred
dead are inscribed forever in our
hearts. And it was with a full
knowledge of the meaning of what
you did that YOU acted. Your in
exhaustible generosity was not the
charity of the fortune to the distress
ed; it was an affirmation of your con
science, reasoned approval Of your
judgment.
Your fellow -countrymen knew that
under the savage assault of a nation
of prey which has made Of war, to
quote a famous saying, its national
industry, we were uphOlding with our
incompatible allies, faithful and vail
ant to the death, with all those who
are fighting shoulder to shoulder with
us on the firing line, the sons of in
domitable England, a struggle for the
democratic spirit which the forces of
autocracy were attempting to crush
throughout the world. We are ready
to carry that struggle on to the end.
"And now as President Wilson has
said the republic of the United States
rises in its strength as champion
of right and rallies to the side of
France and her allies. Only our
descendants, when time has removed
them sufficiently far from present
events, will be able to measure the
full significance, the grandeur of a
historic act which has sent thrill
through the whole world. From today
on all the forces of freedom are let
loose. And not only victory, of which
we were already assured, is certain;
the true meaning of victory is made
manifest; it cannot be merely a for
tunate military conclusion to this
struggle; it will be the victory of
morality and right, and will forever
secure the existence Of a world in
which all our children shall draw free
breath in full peace and undisturbed
pursuit of their labors.
ITO accomplish this great work,
which will be carried to completion, !
we are about to exchange views with
the men in your Government best !
qualified to help. The cooperation of
the republic of the United States in
this world conflict is now assured We |
work together as free men who are |
resolved to save the ideals OF man
kind"