Jo text of Dr, ©. T. Wang's
Gentlemen:—We are here to-delivered on the occasion night to celebrate, not so much the happy conclusion of a somewhat protracted diplomatic neg: the auspicious beginning of a new era of enhanced ce-operation and cordiality between two friendly nations, You will agree with me, Indies and gentlemen, that the veal value of diplomacy lies not in making petty and sordid gains, but in smoothing over differences and promoting international peace and goodwill and, in this function, 1 must say that too high a tribute cannot be paid to the broad-mindedness and liberal outlook of the great statesmen who control and conduct Belgium's foreign relations, "The history of Sino-Belgian relations is, you Will recall, one of unmarred friendship and mutual cooperation, On July 25, 1845, China granted to Belgium the privilege of trade by an Imperial letter. Twenty years later, the first Sino-Belgian treaty was signed which accorded to the Belgian nationals equal rights and privileges of trade and com-
countries. Again, during the great meres with the nations of other World Catastrophe of 19141918, which had made fair Belgium into nrry shambles, China was equally ready to contribute her share of the Allies' victory of Right over Might, If these were manifestations on the art of China of her friendliness towards Belgium, the latter, I am happy to note, is now repaying in full measure, She agreed in 1925 to her share of the Boxer Indemnity to be used for industrial, jeultural, and philanthropic purposes in China; she renounced the old and obsolete treaty of 1865 and concluded in its place a new one based upon the principles of equality and reciprocity; and now she surrenders, [voluntarily and for no consideration, her only concession in China—the Belgian Concession in Tientsin, the formal retrocession of which" we have just witnessed. Such a gracie ous act can emanate only from a ighted and unselfish people who observe the Chri lo unto others as you would others do unto you," who cherish the fullest sympathy for the rightful aspire tions of thei neighbours to equality and freedom, who are quick to perceive the trend of the times and who are not afraid to initiate new polic-and measures to meet new situa tions and emergencies. It has won for Belgium, Ladies and Gentlemen, the deep gratitude and the profound goodwill of the Chinese people; it has set an inspiring precedent which, let us hope, other Powers professing friendship for the Chinese people not fail to emulate.
"The World is out to-day looking for markets in the Far East, and during the last seven months, no than three different economic and industrial missions have visited China for this specific purpose, But lot it be reiterated that where leads China's goodwill there goes the Chinese market, and China's goodwill, 1 venture to add, can be gained only jby concrete friendly acts. such the present noble deed of our Belgfan friends in retroceding their former Tientsin Concession to China, "As to the future of this conces-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.