Mr. Thiebaut to Mr.
Hay.
Embassy
of the French Republic in the United States,
Washington, July
17, 1900.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor, in
pursuance of instructions received from my Government, herewith to
transmit to your excellency, in the name of the President of the Senate
and of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, an extract from the
minutes of the session in which each of those bodies unanimously adopted
a resolution thanking the American nation for the gift which it has just
made to France of a monument to the name of Lafayette.
In transmitting these papers to you I am happy to send to the American
Government a renewed expression of the sentiments of gratitude of the
President and of the Government of the Republic.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
resolution concerning the gift, by the
american nation, of a monument to the memory of
lafayette.
[Chamber of Deputies, seventh term, session of
1900.]
The Chamber of Deputies has adopted the following resolution:
“Sole article.—The Chamber of Deputies
expresses to the American Nation the gratitude of France for the
gift of a monument which will perpetuate between the two Republics
the memories which are equally dear to them.”
Done in public session at
Paris, July 2, 1900.
Deschanel, President.
(Seal of the Chamber of Deputies.)
[Page 467]
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Extract from the minutes of the session of
Monday, July 2, 1900.
[Senate; year 1900; ordinary session.]
* * * * * * *
M. Chaumié, on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument erected
to the memory of Lafayette and of the Frenchmen who fought for
American independence, read a draft of a resolution expressing to
the American nation the gratitude of France for the gift of a
monument designed to perpetuate between the two Republics the
memories which are equally dear to them.
The keeper of the seals, in the name of the Government, announced his
adhesion to the sentiments of gratitude of the Senate.
The President put to vote the following draft of a resolution:
“Sole article.—The Senate expresses to the
American nation the gratitude of France for the gift of a monument
which will perpetuate between the two Republics the memories which
are equally dear to them.”
The resolution was adopted.
The President is happy to state that this evidence of regard was
unanimously given by the French Senate to the great American
nation.
* * * * * * *
A correct extract.
[
l. s.]
A. Fallieres, President.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Extract from the minutes of the session of
Monday, July 2, 1900.
[Chamber of Deputies.—Office of the secretary-general
of the President, Chamber of Deputies, seventh term, session of
1900.]
* * * * * * *
M. Leon Bourgeois read a draft of a resolution, which he asked might
be declared urgent, and which is as follows:
“Sole article.—The Chamber of Deputies
expresses to the American nation the gratitude of France for the
gift of a monument which will perpetuate between the two Republics
the memories which are equally dear to them.”
M. Delcassé, minister of foreign affairs, said that the Government,
which had already sent an expression of its gratitude to Washington,
desired to adhere to the draft of a resolution which had been
submitted to the chamber.
He was most happy to see the representatives of the nation manifest
their conviction that this monument, which will recall memories
equally dear and glorious to the people of France and the United
States, will in future be the pledge of an understanding that will
promote the reciprocal interests of the two nations, which, while
they are in perfect harmony on so many points, are happily in
irreconcilable disagreement on none.
The resolution was declared urgent, and, having been put to the vote,
was unanimously adopted.
The president said that he was happy to observe the unanimity of
sentiment which the chamber had just shown by its vote.
He said that he would hasten to transmit, diplomatically, to the
United States Government this resolution, in which the secular
friendship that unites the two Republics is once more
manifested.
A correct extract.
[
l. s.]
Paul Deschanel,
President of the Chamber of
Deputies.
