London, Dec. 22.
The China Society gave a farewell reception to the retiring Chinese Minister, Mr. Alfred Sze, and his wife at the Hotel Cecil on Monday last. The Minister, who was formally received by the King at Buckingham Palace on Friday to whom he presented his letters of recall, had been subsequently confined to bed with influenza and j managed to struggle out to be present together with his wife and three of his children, only the elder girl and the youngest boy being; absent. Everybody connected with the Far East was present at some time or other of the proceedings, owed a very deep debt of gratitude to His Excellency during the six years he had been in this country and Mr. Sze had perhaps made a wider circle of acquaintances than almost any previous Chinese Minister they had had or even any Minister of any of the neighbouring countries © represented in Great Britain. Not only had the English come to like them, but they had come ta love them, and he could assure both the Minister and his wife that they felt for them a very deep and real affection.
In replying Mr. Sze said that he was particularly glad to meet them that day although it was for the last time, but after all, Washington was not so very far away from London and he hoped ta be able from time to time to visit them (great applause), He had been very unwell the last few including Sir John Jordan and days but he was resolved to attend Lady Jordan, many members of in order to bid them not '"'good-the Foreign Office Staff; Sir John bye" but "aw revoir."
McLeavy Brown, Sir Charles Addis He appreciated very much the and Mr. F, Anderson. The actual friendly sentiments expressed by speech-making lasted only five the Chairman and he was very minutes. sorry both on behalf of his wife Sir Denison Ross of the Oriental and himself that the time had School of Languages said it was come for him to address them for his privilege as President, of the the last time; though they would Society to express their good wishes value it very greatly that they and their regrets to the Chinese could carry away with them their Minister and Madame Sze on their best. wishes and their good will. departure, The honour had—been Tt had been a great privilege 10 thrust. on''him because the only have known the Society and right he had to it was that he was have done what they could, and he President, of the China Society offered them his very best wishes which had given the entertainment; for their future 1 5 2 happiness and hat d but he felt he was at the {prosperity in return. same e spokesman of the whole, The rest of the reception was of those connected with China \this country and further, of ever, one in any way connected with China or who had come: in contact with His Excellency. They all mainly given up to dancing, there being a number of Chinese guests about equal to the British.
The Japan society entertains ithe Ambassador carly in Janua
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.