"My very distinguished successor, Dr. Yen, is still unable to start his Journey to England owing to the fact that he is attending the Tariff Conference in Peking, and _also taking charge of the task of reorganization of our national finances. However, I have obtained permission to proceed to my new. Post without waiting for the arrival of Dr. Yen. I take pleasure in announcing that our Dr. W. C. Chen has been promoted as First Secretary of this Legation, and eventually he will be able to release, me by becoming Charge d'Affaires. So I am leaving for Rome in about, I still, however, look forward to coming back from time to time, and I will certainly do my best to pay you all occasional visits, the- good train will enable me to return to my old, London where I have lived for five years and where I have acquired an affection for this country only second to my-own. I shall long! remember my close connexion with Great Britain and shall never cease to cherish a deep interest in its welfare.
We have with us to-day also two distinguished Chinese visitors, General Lu Yoh and Mr. Ly Si lion. They come to this country to study finance and administration. Their mission is to learn and they! will acquire such knowledge and experience as to benefit China upon their return home to work for the improvement of the country. I take this opportunity to offer them. a heartfelt welcome, and of introducing them to you.
"L am sure that at a luncheon I not supposed to speak at greater length. In concluding I should ike once again to lay stress on the reason why we are meeting to-day. This is the way to express our collective good wishes to the two British delegates who are shortly leaving for China, where we hope their Mission will be crowned with the greatest success. In the second Place this occasion affords me an opportunity of welcoming the two Chinese visitors to whom I have alluded, and in the third place bound personally to raga 'a farewell luncheon, which T can meet my English friends who taking and have taken such keen interest in the fortunes of my native land, "You sce I use one stone to kil fat least three birds, and I only. hope that my aim has' veen accurate and will be approved by you all.' (Applause,)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.