File No. 811.415 C35/45.
The French Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, April 6, 1912.
Mr. Secretary of State: A delegation presided over by Monsieur Hanotaux, member of the French Academy, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, and composed of some twenty persons, will soon arrive in America to offer to the Champlain Committee a bust by Rodin with which to ornament the monument now building at Crown Point.
This delegation, which comprises several members of the French Academy, two Generals, a Senator, the President of the Academy of Fine Arts, several members of the Institut, etc., will come to New York on board the S. S. La France arriving about the 26th instant.
I should be very grateful to your excellency if you would request the competent authorities to expedite the landing and examination [Page 441] of the baggage of the delegation as much as compatible with the regulations.
The stay of the delegation in the United States must be very brief, as they expect to depart after about ten days.
Accept [etc.].