Ambassador McCormick to the Secretary of State.

No. 131.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that in spite of the fall of Rouvier’s government, almost immediately after my return to Paris, which made it necessary for me to await the formation of a new cabinet to complete arrangements for the participation of the French Government in the Franklin celebration; in spite of the excitement and political agitation accompanying the execution of the law with reference to the inventories of church property, and the Courrieres mines disaster, culminating in widespread, although unwarranted apprehension of serious disturbances on May 1, and, added to these untoward events, the San Francisco catastrophe, the celebration turned out to be a great success. A large audience, between 3,500 and 4,500, assembled in the palace of the Trocadero and listened with sympathetic and unflagging interest to addresses delivered by Prof. Albert Henry Smyth and Mr. Barthou, minister of public works, post and telegraph, representing the French Government.

The interest taken in the celebration all over France, the warm expressions of good will it drew forth in the provincial as well as in the Parisian press, the pleasure manifested by Government and municipal officials in a “joint celebration” fully confirmed my judgment in taking the initiative in this matter.

The character of Professor Smyth’s address was in full keeping with the occasion, and its genuine merits received full recognition from the press. More than this, at the closing of the unveiling ceremonies of the statue of Franklin given by Mr. Harjes to the city of Paris, Mr. Barthou, in the name of the French Government, conferred on Professor Smyth the Gross of the Legion of Honor, “as the representative of the Government of the United States for the Franklyn fete, as an American scholar and author, and in recognition of his services to history and literature in giving to the world the ‘Life and writings of Benjamin Franklyn.’”

I inclose clippingsb from leading newspapers which will show the interest taken in the event, as above indicated.

I have, etc.,

Robert S. McCormick.
  1. Not printed.