The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-23
Another Contract Between King Of
France and Thirteen United
States Of North Ameri-
"a Translated.
THIS is FIRST PRINTING
Copied from French Archives at Re-
quest Of c. P. Dadant Who
Translates II for Gate
city's coIumns.

clty's Columns
How France came to the rescue of
the United States financially when
the thirteen United States of Ameri-
ca were impoverished in their In
fancy, is told precisely In the or1gi-
nal contracts signed on behalf OF the
king OF France by Gravier de Yer
genne and on behalf OF the United
States by Benjamin Franklin.
One of these was printed verbatim
in The Gate City on Thursday and
the other is printed in its entirety
today because it is the first time 1t
has ever been printed anywhere.
c. p. Dadant, the eminent bee sci
enlist, had his friend, Crepieux-
Jamin, the gralhologist OF world
wide fame, copy these two docu-
ments from the original French arch
ives, and then Mr.. Dadant translated
them into English for The Gate City.
Mr.. Dadant was requested to do this
by the Keoluk chapter OF the Sons
Of the American Revolution, which is
pushing a movement to have con-
gress forgive France her debt to the
United Stares on account OF loans
for the world war. and he in turn
requested M. Crepieux-Jamfn to OBJ
tain the documents for him and
John H. Cole, Of the chapter here.
The second contract has to do
largely with the quality of gratui-
tous assistance from the pure gener-
osity of the king" and confirms the
previous free gift to the thirteen
United States OF nine million livres
tournois, or over $4,000 900, equal in
purchasing power to about $40 ,O00,-
900 now. This contract is as fol-
lows:
Contract With King Of France. !.
Contract between the King and
the Thirteen United States OF North
America:
The peace established between the
helligerent powers. the advantages
OF a free commerce In all parts 0!
! the globe, and the Independence OF
! the Thirteen States OF North Amer1-
ca, recognized and founded ON a
solid and honorable basis. promised
to witness the said states as in posi-
| ton to henceforth supply their needs
by their own resources. without De-
ing compelled to beg for the con-
tinuance Of subsidies which the KING
has SO literally granted them pend
ing the duration of the war, but the
plenipotentiary minister OF the said
United States near his majesty, hav-
ing disclosed to him the exhaustion
to which they were reduced by a
long and disastrous war, his majesty
has been pleased to take in consid-
GRAFTON the request made by the
above mentioned minister In the
name OF the congress of the United
States for a new loan OF money TO
supply a multitude of needs and OF
urgent and indispensable expenses
during the course OF the present
year;
His majesty has resolved, in con
sequence, in spite Of the no less
pressing needs of his own service, to
| er ant to the congress new pecuni-
ary assistance, which he has fixed
ST the sum of six million of livres
tournois, on the ground of loan, and
under the joint guarantee OF the
/ Thirteen United States, which the
minister of the congress has declared
! to accept with the liveliest grateful.
ness in the name of the said United
| States.
And. as It is necessary to the good
order Of the finances Of his majesty
and even for the operation of the
finance of the United States, to as.
sign the dates of payment OF the SIX
millions of livres tournots in ques.
ton and to order the conditions and
| the terms of the reimbursing, which
is to be made to the royal treasury
OF his majesty. in Paris, in the man
ner which has been stipulated for
the preceding loans, by previous
! contract, made on the 10th of July
1882.
We. Charles Grayier, Count de
| yergenne, counsellor Of the king IN
ali his designs, commander OF his
| orders, chief of the royal council OF
finances. counsellor Of state and OF
sword, minister and secretary OF
state and of his commandments and
| finances, supplied with full powers
from his majesty to US given,
And we, Benjamin Franklin. min
lister plenipotentiary of the United
States of North America, similarly
empowered by the congress OF the
said United States to the same pur
pose of these presents, having con
ferred and mutually communicated
our respective authorities, have re
solved the articles which follow:
Article I.
] The payment of the six millions
OF livres, French money, above Sc
forth, will be made from the funds
OF the royal treasury, at the rate o.
five hundred thousand livres FOL
each of the twelve months of the
present year, against the acknowl
edgments of the minister OF the sale
United States, bearing promise in tn'
name OF the congress and Jointly fol-
the Thirteen United States, to cause
TO be reimbursed and paid back IL
ready money. at the royal treasur!