New Minister of France Greeted By Guard of Honour M. Auguste Wilden, the successor Count de Martel as French Minister to China, arrived in Shanghai on June 20 by the str, Chenonceaux, und was" greeted" byw number} of the local French community. He was met at the China Merchants Wharf by M. Koechlin, Consul-General for France, Admiral Mouget and Choy. 8. K. Chen, the latter representing the Chinese Government.
The party proceeded to the French Bund, where a guard of honour from the French forces in Shanghai was drawn in a long line extending from Avenue Edward VII to Rue clu Consulat. Here the guard presented Jarms, while the band played—the "Marseillaise," the new Minister taking the salute and subsequently inspecting the guard.
Parties from the various branches of the French Police, the various battalions of the troops in Shanghai, together with mounted police in spotless white uniforms and gleaming silver white helmets and the French Police Band, comprised the guard of honour, under the command of Commandant Marfaing.
Following the inspection a reception was held at the French Con-new Minister and welcomed him in M. Wilden is an old friend and very popular in Shanghai, as he served as Consul-General here from 1047 to 1925 and made himself well liked by all nationalities. He first came to China in 1899 to join the Peking-Hankow Railway, but after serving_as an interpreter in. the Boxer Rebellion he decided to join the diplomatic service and went back to France to take his degree of doctor of law. He received the decoration of a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour for his services during the rebellion.
He returned to China in 1905 and served as student-interpreter and agent in. various towne in the interior. Just before the Great Wor broke out he was in France, and soon afterwards became an English-[French interpreter with the forces, for which he received the Croix de Guerre. From 1917 to 1925 he was \Consil-General in Shanghai, then Minister in Bangkok until October, 1927, and from that date Minister to" Persia. After two years in Persia he was granted home Teave, and then appointed to the position which he is now taking example of how work intended solely for the benefit of needy Chinese suffers from the unfortunate civil commotions which persist China, It is much to be hoped that peacofil conditions may soon be brought about, for the good of all.
Meanwhile this deserving work goes steadily on, @nd the workers, foreign and Chinese are unsparing:
their efforts to help those who are committed to their care. We would like to encourage them by assuring them that their labours are by no means unappreciated in our community. The Door of Hope Vhas many well-wishers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.