File No. 24199/11.
Chargé Bailly-Blanchard to the Secretary
of State.
American Embassy,
Paris, July 8,
1910.
Sir: Referring to the instruction of the
department of April 18, 1910 (serial No. 58), in regard to the
presentation by the people of Virginia to the people of France of a
reproduction in bronze of the statue of George Washington, made by Jean
Antoine Houdon, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and
translation of the reply of M. Pichon, minister of foreign affairs, to
the note I addressed to mm on the subject.
As you will observe, M. Pichon informs me that the statute is to be
placed at Versailles, and that the date for the inauguration has been
fixed for the 18th of August next, and further that this date will
enable M. Jusserand to be present at the ceremony.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé Bailly-Blanchard.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Paris, July 4, 1910.
Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: In response to your
communication of June 15 last I hasten to advise you that I had
already been informed by our charge in Washington of the desire of
the people of Virginia to present to France a bronze replica of the
statue of Washington by Houdon, which adorns their capitol,
Richmond.
The Government of the Republic has gratefully accepted the gift of
that statue, and M. Lefèvre-Pontalis has been directed to express
our high appreciation of this manifestation of the traditional
friendship which unites the two countries.
I take pleasure in repeating that expression and in letting you know
how highly we esteem this new token of the sentiments of mutual
sympathy that bind the two nations.
In regard to the realization of the project I make haste to advise
you that, by agreement with the department of fine arts, it has been
decided to place the statue at Versailles and that the date for its
unveiling has been set for August 18 next.
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This date, which has been chosen to accord with the desire of the
American delegation which is to come to France for the occasion,
will make it possible for Mr. Jusserand to be present at the
ceremony.
I have, etc.,
