"LaFayette U.S. voilà!" Conference hosted at the Sorbonne in Paris
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission
The French Society of Cincinnati and the Sorbonne University organized an international history conference in recognition of the U.S. entry into World War I, "LaFayette U.S. voilà!: The American Engagement in France, 1917-1918". The event took place in November 23-25, 2017, in Paris.
The symposium producers plan to publish the conference proceedings in the French language in October, via the Presses of the Sorbonne. The proceedings will be published a few months later in the English language, with a university in the United States.
The event was produced under the supervision of Ambassador Bernard de Montferrand, President of the French Society of Cincinnati, as well as noted French historians, Professors Olivier Chaline and Olivier Forcade.
The purpose of the conference was to discuss the significance of the U.S. entry into World War One and how the this contributed to reviving the old friendship between France and America.
The conference opened at the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée which celebrated its first centenary. Originally founded in 1918, the union allowed allied officers to meet in Paris. Two hundred and fifty people attended and were honored by President General Jonathan Woods. Hubert Védrine, former French minister of foreign affairs, and Brent Hardt, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy.
The honored guests explained the political and historical importance of the U.S. involvement in France during WWI. Prof. André Kaspi (emeritus, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne) gave a keynote speech entitled, “The Main Issues of the American Engagement in France, 1917-1918”.
The second part of the evening included Nicolas Beytout, managing editor of the daily newspaper l’Opinion, who moderated a panel of chairmen and CEO’s from large companies. French business leaders contemplated the ways in which U.S. and French shared history helps to create deeper economic ties.
The following sessions on November 24 and 25 took place at the Sorbonne University, and discussed three main topics: lack of formal alliances, U.S. military deployment logistics, and the renaissance of the US Army into its modern form including the continuing camaraderie between the American and French militaries.
This conference was endorsed and financially supported by the U.S. Embassy and many other sponsors. Additionally, the conference was one of the most important intellectual events in France regarding U.S. Military participation during WWI.
This event was endorsed by the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission and by the French Comité du centenaire de la Première guerre mondiale.