Foreign Office's Decision to Sell Property [Prest Oun Ows Comrstonsorr Tsinan, June 21.
Probably few but" the British) residents of Tsinan realized that, June 16 the lag at the British Consulate was raised for the last time. 'The Consul leaves to-night, but for the Fast three days there' has been no} official business carried on in his} flee.
Ag an economy measure this Consulate was shut up for a year or two, but was opened again last year when Mr, C. E. Whitamore came as H. M. (Consul to Tsinan. Not long ago it was rumoured that the Foreign Office had Jdccided to close the Consulate for }good and even to sell the house and and, Alas, the rumour has come true, and now the British flock in Htsinan have to look further afield for their Consular shepherding.
The British community here numbers about 50, but there are only two Jarge British firms and business in this area is not sume lent to make it worth while maintaining a Consulate. was in the early days of the century that a British Consular oficial {was first stationed in Tsinan. For} some time a two-storeyed Chinese house was rented to house the Consulate, During the Great War Tsinan [sprang into greater Importance in the Jeyes of Whitehall, because it wes one fof the recruiting centres for the [Chinese Labour Corps. Also about! that time Japanese influence in this jelly was growing, so to keep pace: Tsinan was promoted to a Consulate-General.
Building Cost £12,000
Then it was thought necessary to) provide the Consul with a house more worthy of the nation he represented. 4 large plot of land in the fast-growing commercial settlement was secur-Jed and a handsome building erected. The house stands on raised ground, it is built of grey limestone and has! large, airy rooms and a spacious south. verandah. The building cost about £12,000 in the days when the pound Jchanged for Mex $3 to $4. What price, tone wonders, does the British Gov. ernment expect to get now? Such 9 typically Western house is not likely fo'find a ready sale at a high Agure.
In thinking back over' the' years, old residents remember specially the days of Sir John and Lady Pratt, who, first in the old house and later: jin this nobler Consulate, dispensed. such generous hospitality. The memory of Red Cross "Working Parties" (to which the men were! allowed to contribute in the form of hard cash) organized by Lady Pratt, the beginning of the Chinese Labour: 3850 Corps, the celebration of Armistice, the opening of the new Consul all crowd into the mind. 'Then there' are thoughts of the many times British nationals have drunk the King's Birth-Jday Toast within the Consulate walls and of the happy Empire Day cele~ brations when British children played host to their young friends of other nations. "Memories only, and no hope of adding to their store!
On Friday afternoon the British Jcommunity held a small garden party to say farewell to the Consul and his wite. Many are the regrets that they have to leave us, for although their stay has been short, Mr. and 'Mrs, Whitamore have taken a very real share in the life of the Tsinan community, which wishes them good luck when' they leave.
And so the dusty old archives are packed "up. the flag is lowered for {the last time, the evening train bears our Consul away, and Tsinan becomes: 1 small part of the Tsingtao Consular district,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.