Evening star., 1923-02-15
BE[LEAU WOOD BILL
NOW BEFORE HOUSE
Favorable Report Given
Measure for U. S. Charter
for Association.
WOULD AID IN PURCHASE
French Laws Make Acquiring of
Land by Foreign individuals
Difficult.
WOULD AID IN PURCHASE

FEDERAL incorporation to the Belleau
Wood Memorial Association. indors-
ing its purpose to purchase $50 acres
In Belleau Wood. where the bitterest
nshting occurred, apd to erect there
suitable memorials.
This action was taken after Repre-
sentative rockingham and Mrs.
Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, Frazer had
appeared before the committee. ex-
planning the objects Of the lesisla-
tion.
Belleau Wood Mem6rial Association,
Incorporated in the District OF Co.
iumbia two years ago, told the COM
mittee that she has in hand 1900.
contributed by seventeen persons. for
the purchase Of the land and for the
land as perpetual sanctuary for the
nero dead who fought there.
Ne Graves On Ground.
She explained. in reply TO questions.
that while there are no graves OF
American dead on this property, it
touches the American buryinE ground.
mrs. Frazer pointed out that this
battle ground IL the nearest to Paris
be most visited. For this reason she
believes it should be in reverent
American hands.
Mrs. Frazer emphasized that units
OF the American overseas force. which
participated in the fighting at Belleau
wood, are anxious to set up memorial
tablets ana that her association de-
sires TO erect a more pretentitious
memorial.
No Csst to U. 8.
GhA told fhA sAox
had been guaranteed for these
memorials and for the perpetual
maintenance of Belleau Wood. go that
IT VIII never be a cent OF cost to the
United states government
Mrs. Frazer's plea for q federal in
tlonal courtesy the complicated laws Of
France could be met, allowing Ameri-
cans to own this property. was supported
by Representative Montague Of Virginia,
a member Of the judiciary committee,
the desired legislation.
In reply to . question from Repre-
sentative Good ykoontx OF West VirRinia,
a member Of the judiciary committee.
Mra Fraser said that any time the
take over this property her association
will be pleased to relinquish all claims.
Before reporting the bill slight amend
ments were made By the committee,
which were agreeable to Mrs. Frazer
and Representative Frothingham.
French laws are complicated in re-
gard to foreigners holding title to
land, Representative FrothinKham ex-
planned, and for that reason this
legislation is necessary giving char
ter to the Belleau Wood Memorial
Association. which was incorporated
in April. 1891. A similar charter was
granted by the Canadian government
to Canadian memorial association
to acquire land at vimy ridge
Option On LaAa secured.
An option on the land has bean
obtained from the French owner. who
had been negotiating with q syndicate
which had intended to erect q tourist
Motel and amusement park.
"As 1t would have been q national
disgrace to allow 90 sacred q spot to
De turned into an amusement mark
the present legislation is sought
Representative FrothinGham contends
TO preserve 1t to thte memory OF
preme sarcifice. and to enable com
memoratfve tablets to be placed a,
points whore the terrible lighting took
place"
Backed BY Preninent Persoas.
Cnde- the terms Of the charter the
association would be authorized to &C.
Quire all or any part of Belleau wood
where American marines and infan-
try stopped the German rush on
Paris in 1918. and to erect therein
suitable buildings and monuments a,
memorial to the Americans who fell
In that battle.
Among the incorporators named In
the bill are Maj. Gen. Tasker III. Bliss
Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune. Frank 3
Noyes. John Barton Payne and Mrs
Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, Frazer.
Mrs. Frazer. who is president Of the
association. today made the following
statement regarding the association and
the legislation sought from Congress:
Mrs. Fraser's Statement.
"The Belleau Wood Memorial Asso.
citation was incorporated in April. 1921
village q suitable monument to those
Of our men who had fallen In the greaj
war in that sector. The work is 70.
ing on satisfactorily:
that the French owner Of the $50 acre.
known as Belleau Wood, had been an.
preached by an English syndicate tina,
wished to buy the wood for the pur.
quasi amusement parh The ides
seemed to me very distressing one
and that it would be q national dts
grace II we allowed so sacred . spot
IN the annals of our history to bs
turned into an amusement park and
the circumstances Of our boys deaths
to be exploited commercially. There
seemed no question in my mind bu,
that that spot should be forever in
reverent American hands.
Funds All Ready.
st therefore wrote to Judge Waite,
Berry, living in Paris and then pres.
ident OF the American Chamber oi
Commerce in France, to see the own.
er of the woods and secure, II posi-
Bile, an option from him, giving me
time to raise the money for the pur.
chase Of this property.
"This have done. and the money 1,
ready to be paid over and take title
The option expires the middle ot
wood sufiiciently to enable people te
walk through it. and put commemo.
ratiye tablets ut the different point.
where the very terrible fighting tool
place. The money for these tablets
has also been contributed. Ultimate.
lv We hope to be able to erect q very
haautifui monument in memory Of al
the men who fell, and do other memo.
rial work.
Charter wo1ll Clear Yssue.
when this society was incorpo.
rated in April. 1891, We had no ides
Of holding property, and merely in.
corporated for the purpose of doins
some memorial reconstruction work
in france. In order to hold this prop.
erty we therefore would have, in any
event, to amend our charter. Tht
French laws ESQ Judge Berry, who Il
An international lawyer in Paris, tells
msl are somewhat complicated in re-.
rard to foreign corporations holdina
land. His opinion 10. however. that 4