M. A. Bodard, French Consul in this port, returned from his trip to Tachienlu on June 30, in time to celebrate in his usual enthusiastic and generous way the great National Day of France.
The French Consulate was gaily decorated with flags and lanterns and at 11 o'clock in the morning' a large crowd of Chinese and foreign guests called to offer their congratulations, Unfortunately the Tuchun had left the city on the 10th and General Hsiang on the morning of the 14th, so the highest Chinese official present was Chang Ch'uin, the Chief of Police.
At noon M, Bodard in a speech, first in Chinese, then in French and finally. in English thanked his friends for calling and expressed his gratitude that the presence of so many showed the Allies still remained united and loyal in a friendship which had stood the fiery test of trials and struggle to final victory. He felt convinced that the' alliance thus formed would last for all time, and that no differences of opinion which might arise, would ever injure the friendship which now exists between France and her allies.
The Chief of Police spoke on behalf of General Hsiang, and the Administrative Secretary on behalf of the Civil Governor Yang Shi-k'an. Both emphasized the value of the friendship which existed between China and France, and) strengthened by so many Chinese students going to France to study, under the auspices of the French Government. The President of the Provincial Assembly also spoke.
H.B.M._ Consul-General Mr. W. Meyrick Hewlett, c.at.c., spoke on behalf of the British community. He told of how the gallant "old army" of England had fought in the early days of the war in France, how those men had died to save France and to-day lay at rest in thousands of graves on French soil, Thus England was} joined to France by ties of friendship too deep and real to perish' or decay, for England would always remember that France was the last resting-place of her sons who formed that "old contemptible little army" of which the British were so proud. Mr. Hewlett offered no better token than' this of the real] genuine unselfish and disinterested friendship which. Britons had for their French allies.
Speeches were also made by Mr. H. Kunshara, Japanese Consul-General, Mr, V. Smith, Postal Commissioner, Captain Wilford of the Labour Corps, on_behalf of Canada, and the Rev. H. J._Open-! shaw on behalf of the United States, the latter having worked la France during the war with the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.