Peking, May 15.
M. Boppé, the French Minister to Peking, succumbed to an attack of appendicitis last night. The date of his funeral is not yet fixed.—Eastern News Agency.
Not only the French but_ the whole foreign community in China will learn with deep and sincere regret the news of M. Boppé's death. He became ill about the 7th instant, and four days later was operated on for appendicitis. On Saturday M. Wilden, French Consul-General here, received news that he was progressing favourably. A relapse accordingly must have occurred, for by night death had supervened.
M. Boppé, who was about 55 years of age, had spent all his lifo in the French diplomatic service, of which he was a very distinguished member. In his early days he was stationed at Constantinople, and later on was appointed Minister to Servia.He was the French representative at Belgrade when war broke out, and had accordingly a most delicate situation to handle. He lived at Belgrade in those trying times until the final Servian retreat, when he left the country with the Servian army in their arduous and perilous enterprise.
About three years ago he was appointed Minister to China, and had been the able representative of his country since. He was well known not only in Peking but throughout the country, and_ his last visit to Shanghai, some three months ago, is fresh in the minds of the community. For some time he had been Dean of the Diplomatic Body in Peking.
The deepest sympathy will be felt for Mme, Boppé who is in Peking, and her three children, who are at present in France.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.