REPORT OF THE FRANCE CONVENTION COMMITTEE

BOWMAN ELDER, Chairman, Indiana

John J. Wicker, jr., travel director, Virginia; George Hatfield, California; Albert Greenlaw, Maine; Phil W. Collins, Illinois; Samuel Renolds, Nebraska; Wade H. Phillyips, North Carolina; B. W. Wall, Rhode Island; and J. Monroe Johnson, South Carolina.

The eighth annual national convention of the American Legion at Philadelphia, October 11 to 15, 1926, received a complete, detailed report of the France convention committee and by a vote that was practically unanimous approved the report, as presented through the convention committee on "Time and place of next convention and decided to hold the ninth annual national convention of the American Legion at Paris, France, September 19 to 23, and at New York City, October 18, 1927. The Philadelphia convention further authorized and directed the France convention committee, hereinafter referred to as "the committee," to proceed with all arrangements for the Paris convention with the concurrence and subject to the approval of the national commander. The committee proceeded with its work and the work has proceeded successfully.

INVITATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE

At the Philadelphia convention, the American Legion had as distinguished guests Col. Jacques Picot, of the French Chamber of Deputies, and Monsieur Truelle, of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both of whom had come to Philadelphia as the official emissaries of the Government of France and of the French veterans' organizations to reassure the Legion of the desire of the French Government, French people, and especially French veterans, to have the Legion hold its next convention in Paris as had been planned for some years theretofore. These emissaries presented beautifully engrossed messages to the Legion from the President of France, the Premier of France, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France—all of which reaffirmed the cordial invitations previously extended by the French Government for the Legion to make a sacred pilgrimage to France in 1927 and there to hold its ninth annual national convention. Furthermore, similar messages were read to the convention from representative French veteran organizations and from Marshal Ferdinand Foch.

As a mute but eloquent corroboration of the cordial sentiment of friendship, there appeared at the Philadelphia convention the sole remaining "Taxi of the Marne which was sent over from Paris through the efforts of Paris posts of the American Legion. Its appearance was everywhere greeted with great enthusiasm.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The committee met several times at the Philadelphia convention and shortly thereafter; met again in January, 1927, and again in May, 1927. In all of the deliberations of the committee, the active participation of the national commander was sought and received and the actions of the committee since the Philadelphia convention have uniformly been based on the approval of the national commander, who has rightly made the success of the Paris convention the principal national objective of the Legion during the current year. Too much praise can not be given to National Commander Howard P. Savage, National Adjutant James F. Barton, and to the secretary of the national commander, Mr. W. B. Williams, for their invaluable service and cooperation in bringing about the success which has been achieved.

CHANGE OF COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

Shortly after the Philadelphia convention, Mr. Alton T. Roberts, of Michigan, was compelled by pressure of private business to resign from the committee. His resignation was accepted with regret and the vacancy was filled by the appointment of Mr. Phil J. Collins, of Illinois.

CONTACTS WITH FRANCE

In December, 1926, Mr. Albert Greenlaw, of Maine, went to France on behalf of the committee to supervise the work of the Paris office during the period when it was engaged upon securing the necessary thousands of hotel accommodations. He returned to the January meeting of the national executive committee and made his report and then returned to France, where he remained until the following April, when his duties were completed, and he returned home.

In March, 1927, the national adjutant, accompanied by the national chairman, national travel director, and national publicity director, made a short final inspection trip to France, during which all arrangements theretofore made were carefully examined and all necessary plans completed for the work following thereafter. Detailed report of the results of this visit were made to the May meeting of the national executive committee.

Early in July, 1927, the national adjutant went to France to take charge of all arrangements on behalf of the national organization, and to remain with headquarters in Paris until the completion of the convention.

On August 1, 1927, the national chairman, Mr. Greenlaw, and the national publicity director went to France for duty there at Paris headquarters until the completion of the convention.

The national travel director, and other members of the committee, remained at headquarters in America until all sailings had been completed, and sailed on the last official steamer, the steamship Leviathan, September 10.

RESERVATIONS

While it had been hoped that all reservations could be gotten into headquarters by May 15, thereby allowing sufficient time for the completion of the tremendous detail work upon them in ample time before the official sailing; nevertheless, the tardiness with which the majority sent in their applications and the insistent pressure from all over the country required that reservations be held open two months longer, until July 15, 1927. Even after this last date, nearly 1,000 additional reservations had to be accepted.

The thousands of applications that came in after May 15, greatly increased the entire task and handicapped arrangements for completing the work upon all the reservations.

As this report is written, over 15,000 applications have been received, and a large additional number are en route.

When it is considered that the largest similar movement heretofore numbered only approximately 3,000, it will be seen that the Legion has more than made good its prediction that the Second A. E. F. would be-by several timesthe largest peace-time trans-Atlantic movement in all history.

That the movement is highly representative of the American Legion will be seen from the schedule of reservations by departments, annexed at the end of this report. In addition to the departments of the Legion in the United States, reservations have been received from Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, and Panama, to say nothing of the large number of legionnaires residing abroad who will attend the convention from various countries of Europe.

STEAMSHIP ARRANGEMENTS

As was to be expected in any movement of this size, there were a number of changes in the list of official steamships first announced. The schedule hereto annexed shows the official Legion steamers, both eastbound and westbound, and in addition to these a very substantial number of legionnaires made the trip, either going or returning, on unofficial steamers.

Negotiations with the various official steamship companies were carried on throughout the year by a series of "Legion steamship conferences,” usually held at national headquarters. To those who are acquainted with previous transAtlantic travel movements, it is a recognized fact that the Legion secured for its members the very best possible steamship arrangements in every way.

PARIS HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS

Due to the efforts of the Paris office, sufficient hotel accommodations were obtained in Paris for the entire movement and for the most part the arrangements provided housing at an average of only two in a room, which is in marked,