The French Government, at the time when the general commission to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was appointed, appropriated a sum of 600,000 francs for its expenses and a sum of 600,000 francs for the participation of the fine arts.  Later on an appropriation of 350,000 francs was made for the educational exhibit and several other exhibits over which the Government had immediate and direct control.  The entire charge of putting up the French commercial exhibits in the various palaces, except Fine Arts and Education and National Pavilion, had been granted, in April, 1902, to a permanent committee on foreign expositions, which worked under the supervision of the French general commission.  The committee raised from private sources a sum of 5,000,000 francs.

Aside from the above sums, an appropriation of 100,000 francs was made by the department of the colonies for the participation of the different colonies at the exposition.

Another appropriation of the same amount was made for the social economy exhibit.

The approximate amount of money spent by France for its participation in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was 7,750,000 francs.  The contract for building the French Government Pavilion was let to a general contractor in Paris, who undertook to build it for the sum of 500,000 francs.

In addition to the above sum, an appropriation of 100,000 francs was made for the painting of the building; 10,000 francs for the statuary over the roof.  An appropriation of 150,000 was made for the gardens.

The commission appointed by the Government of France was as follows: 

Mr. Alfred Picard, special envoy of the French Republic; Mr. Georges Gerald, commissioner-general; Mr. Jules Boeufve, assistant commissioner-general; Mr. Felix Lamy, secretary of the French commission; Mr. Robert Delaunay-Belleville, private secretary to the special envoy; Mr. Max Ferlaud, private secretary to the commissioner-general; Mr. Emile Heurteau, private secretary to the special envoy; Mr. Marcel Estieu, attache; Mr. Andre Artoine, attache.  French commercial section:  Mr. Ancelot, president; Mr. Gustav Kester, vice-president; Mr. Perdoux; Mr. Maurice Estieu, treasurer.  Fine arts section:  Mr. Andre Saglio, commissioner; Mr. Horteloup; Mr. Delestre, attache.

The National Palace of France, as erected at the St. Louis World’s Fair, was a reproduction of the Grand Trianon, at Versailles.  It was located at the west end of the Louisiana way, one of the main avenues on the fair grounds; at the other end of the avenue was located the United States Government Building.

The French Pavilion consisted of three rectangular buildings bordering on a main state court.  Large pilasters of white and pink marble were arranged as the frame work for high windows, topped with decorative arches.  An outside flight of stairs and porphyrolite sills of imitation marble gave that impression of luxury and good taste which is characteristic of all productions of the Louis XIV period.