The Washington times., 1917-04-28
VISIT TO MT. VERNON
AN EPOCHAL EVENT
Britain Will Pay First Public
Tribute to Memory Of
Washington.
Continued from First Page.)

! NSOnllnueQ from lTsI IaSe.D
the wreath. 1t was indicated that
1.-THE inscription would be most un-
usual"
In placing a palm leaf on the tomb,
NJ. Viviani will pay the highest honor
France accords her distinguished
dead. The bronze palm leaf is en-
blematic OF the greatest love and ad-
miration of which France is capable.
NJ. Emile HovelacQue, minister OF
public education for France, said to-
| day it was the original intention OF
The commission to stop at Mt Yer
non and pay tribute to Washington
before coming to Washington to see
the President, but the plans had been
upset by the demonstration in honor
of the commission.
.WashInEtOn's Name Inspires France.
He said the name of Washington
had been indelibly engraved upon the
hearts of the French people, and that
his memory Is an Inspiration to the
poilus in the western theater OF war
today.
Both the French and British COM
missions got down to regular knit
ting today and began performing the
tasks for which they were sent to
Washington.
In a score or more Offices in the
State, War, Navy, Treasury and Com
merce departments highly trained, |
war-experienced and seasoned envoys |
from the two nations gathered with |
officials of the United States to dis |
cuss ways and means of co-ordinating |
American resources and man power |
with those of our allies.
81 NwUvz ,fagf faR
have conferred with each other and |
with American officials and COM
pleted all the preliminaries incident |
to the conferences. For several |
weeks the personnel OF the two COM |
missions will be at the disposal of the ]
United States for conferences and any /
other service they can perform.
Face Round OF Festivities.
The French commissioners faced a
round of social festivities in their
honor today and tonight. At o'clock
this afternoon Assistant Secretary of
State Phillips entertained NJ Viviani
and other members OF the mission at
luncheon. This afternon 8 o'clock
Jusserand will entertain
the distinguished visitors At . tea
Three oInneIs will Ue given tonight
to different members of the commits
sion. Secretary of War Baker will
have Marshal Joffre as his guest. All
miral Chocheprat will go to the home
of Secretary Daniels, while NJ, Viviani
will dine with Attorney General Greg
ory. Following the dinners the en-
tire French mission will be welcomed
by high army and navy officers at the
Army and Navy Club. h
n. HovelHcque and Godfrey Butler, {
spokesmen for the two missions, had
little to make public today concern
ing the activities of the ENJOYS, fur
ther than that they had gotten
down TO business and are doing the
work they were sent here to do" 1t
was pointed out that the task OF lay
ing before American officials all the
data, reports, and other information
which our allies belieAd this Gov
ernment should have upon entering
the war was a big one, and would
consume several weeks
On behalf OF the British mission,
Mr.. Butler summed up the Impressions
the Britons had gotten of America,
and reiterated that Mr.. Balfour and
his associates had been most deeply
moved by the reception accorded them
by the Government and people OF the
United States.
England has not always been a
popuIa- nation" no said. 1--WE are
profoundly grateful for the open
p rms you have reached out to us.
You have been mighty good"
Inspired by Visit to u. =.
He said the Britishers had been i'm
pressed with the vastness. the free
dom, the democracy, and the re-
sources of America, and that their
visit had been inspirational.
NJ. Hovelacque told the newspaper.
men of the two missions he was sent
here to perform, in addition TO being
general advisor and counsellor to the
party headed by NJ. Viviani.
To him has been assigned the task
Of organizing a Franco-American war
on Teutonic kulture and OF co-ordi-
mating the agencies at work in this
for the relief OF French or
phans. NJ. Hovelacque will remain in
the United States long after VI. Vivi-
ami and Marshal Joffre have returned
TO France.
He Is thoroughly at home here.
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