Mr. Gull said in part:—I suppose there is nobody in Shanghai who has mancuvred #0 many people into the position of having to make a: speech as I have. Indeed, there are -present here today more than one of my' many victims. I confess that I had hoped to get away from China without being caught out. Alas! There is American saying—I think it is excellent American saying—that you can deceive some of the people all the time, and all the people some: of the' time, but you can' deceive all the people all the time. No, gentlemen, that you cannot do, not even if you operate under the name of, Gull! (applause!)
Well, as I have been caught out, as T have got to make a speech, I heartily congratulate myself on having to, make it in such a friendly atmosphere as that of the Union Club, I know of no society in Shanghai where the atmosphere is friendlier, and I doubt whether I could pay a higher tribute to the success; of the club. TI have my own theory as to what has made its a success and presently, if I am not doring' you, I should like to put the theory to you. For the moment, however, I will content myself with congratulating the club on the success. which it has achieved, On Company Law Of course, before achieving this success a club of this kind has to pass through various vicissitudes. Some of, them are known to' all of you. Some have hitherto been locked up in the breasts of a very few members.
I refer to the untold early days, when Tacted as secretary. It is extremely indiscreet of me to talk about it but I'm going to do all the same. I refer, especially, to the Union (Club Proprietary, Ld, I knew nothing whatever about the formation of companies, but thought that the committee would (knew all the technical side of the business. They, I said to myself, are accustomed to it: they do it before breakfast. Well, gentlemen, tell it not in Gath, but I found they were not quite the masters of company law that I had supposed.
In fact, I was often reminded during those days, of an incident came within my experience in France, when I was at Dunkirk with the Chinese Labour Corps. Tt was necessary, naturally, to provide the coolies with enormous quantities of rice and, one fine day, there arrived for that purpose. some very splendid looking cookers. They were great big, shining, tub-like looking things: the very emblems of plenty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.