The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-04
HOUSE ROCKS WITH
ENTHUSIASM WHEN
fRENCHAtk SPEAK
yiyianf Declares France VIII Fight to-
End for Freedom and Rights of
Mankind
JOFFRE STIRS HOUSE
WITH FOUR-WORD SPEECH
Chamber Scene OF Reception Tn
paralicIed In american History.
Vive LFrancc Is Heard In Every
Possible Accent.

Washington. May 3.--Joseph Joffre.
marshal of France, set fashion in the
house OF representatives today by maxi
ing the shortest speech ever recorded
In that body A man of few words,
the gallant veteran. in the wartime
uniform OF tho army of the republic.
uttered Just four srftS. two Of them
in French, two in English, but they
provoked more enthusiasm. more APP
plause. more wild yells of approval.
more genuine cheers. than have been
their amplitude.
..ylve fAmerique. Thank YOU" That
was the extent of the Joffre speech.
Intense interest marked the visit OF
Of the commission TO the house of rep
resentatives TODAY. To bid the agent
of our Gaelic ally welcome. the house
at noon voted to stand in recess for tho
period of their visit, Promptly at 1910
the commission was escorted into the
house. AT the head of the French
party walked Rene Viviani. former
premier of France. and the sturdy
Joffre.
Enthusiasm Breaks LoOse.
Even before the commission and its
escort entered the chamber the en-
thusiasin broke loose. AS the notabies
passed under tho arch to the right of
the speakers iias the applause waxed
in intensity. Both Viviani and Joffre
were plainly moved by their reception.
The speaker permitted the applause to
continue for a minute of moro. He
said: II present the vice-premier and
minister of justice Of France. Monsieur
viviani."
Mr. yiviani then made an address.
1--WE feel that your sympathy and
your enthusiastic assistance come not
only from your hearts. but from the
jealousy which you have for your
honor" said NJ. yiviani. Eve have seen
that you fully fulfilled not only the
obligations of the national honor, but
all at once we have seen nnfolded in
it's charming intimacy the complexity
of the American soul.
when one meets an American he
meets a practical man. living for the
affairs of this life. But at the same
time one discovers In the American
soul the freshness and the vivacity of
a new life, the strength which comes
from the devotion to an ideals And 30
in that American soul we have before
us the paradox of the commission COM
bination of the practical and the ideal
There is IA parallel between your case
ana ours IL your liatAoHnt hSIus 0eOISS
washington. could rise from his grave
and behold todays war. he would HIM
SELF proclaim that after a nation has
created independence 1t is bound to de-
fcnd il before all the world. and not
only to maintain it's own independence
hut TO create also Independence for
other nations.
Will Fight to the End.
I'VE have sworn on the grave Of
washington to fight to the end But
not only has it been sworn on the
grave Of Washington. but also on the
graves OF the uncounted soldiers who
have fallen in this war. II has been
sworn on the death beds of those who
have died In the hospitals OF Europe,
and It has been sworn on the cradles
Of the newly born. II has been sworn
by every lover OF freedom from the
cradle TO the tomb
NJ. viviani was followed by Marshal
JofYre. Joffre stood blushing through
the ruddy tan as the vice-premier con-
cluded. He started to speak.
"vive l'Ameriaue," he uttered. and
tho house rocked Thank vou.y he
said with a. military salute. and the
house rocked against while "vive
France, in every accent from Beacon
street to Pike county. Missouri. roaresi
back II him in unrestrained chorus.
/ & Vo,lowinE tho ovation the membnre
q ".