Inauguration of a Virile Institution in Shanghai: The Dominions and Empire The inaugural tiffin of the Anzac society was held in the, rooms of ithe Royal Air. Force Association fon June 22. There was a very large Jattendance over whom Col, Thoms, ibe "President of the new inet: fas His d:'F. Brenan, He, Com, resided. The principal gue:
When the covers were removed, col, Thoms made an inspiring speech. He said:
It is my privilege on this import-lant occasion in the history of our [society to have the pleasant, duty fof rising to propose the health of our visitors who have graced us by their presence here to-day.
thas been written that "Of the Imaking of books there is no end." I have not been long in this city but T'have been here long enough to realize that it might be said Shanghai that "Of the creation of new societies there are many be-fernnings", and that while some of [them are based on the foundation of igh ideals and aspirations, some Jen the other hand have but' the ex-louse that they are the cause of very enjoyable tiffins.
It may therefore be of interest to cur guests who by their presence] here have done so much to put our infant society on its feet if T outline some of the principal reasons {for our coming into being.
In Australia and New Zealand Galli ind, in every hamlet, township city, ceremonies are conducted in fmeniory of the fact this day marks 1 full age of these Homage is paid to the memory of those who counted life as nothing' that the Empire might live, and it is certain that whenever ex-Service men meet on this occasion the fact! fig never forgotten that our part on Gallipoli was but a part and that} whatever measure of success we had was gue to the combined cert Jof our divisions with British and. other divisions who were with us, Jand to the Navy who covered us and Merchant Service who fed and Our part was but!
The inauguration of this society]
is due to the patient work of a faithful few Australians "who Jeach succeeding Anzac Day have met and laid wreathes on the War} [Memorial and borne silent witness lof this feeling of Empire cooperation I have described "And 0, while the idea of the formation of the Society com mainly from Australians and New Zealanders, the principle -underfying is that it shall mark the co-Joperation of all the Forces of the Empire which made what we aecomplished possible, and young] founders have felt that as the Jand-ing at Anzac marked the coming in-ito full partnership of thy respective Dominions in the Empire, Jwould be unthinkable if our partners on April 25, 1915, were not tasked to join us.
The Anzac Society therefore includes, besides all Australians and New Zealanders, representatives of the Navy, the Merchant Service, the Incomparable 29th Division and all] the other formations from the vari-lous parts of the British Empire who fought together with us in the Gallipoli, Campaign.
The post-War reaction and the frightful nightmare slogan which {was taken up at the end of the War Self determination of small _nations" has led to a policy of recklessness which is world-wide and a ftendeney to adopt the motto "Little care and no responsibility" and lof narrow parochial outlook is in, evidence everywhere.
This society realizes the terrible Jdanger of such an outlook and that ithe only hope for the World is a united and strong British Empire.
{in this world stands still. ithe various States of the Empire were as it were dependencies is a thing of the past. Now the Do-custody, while Sahes was removed to the' Blue Hospital in Route Dufour.
Here it was found that he was in a serious condition, having been shot through the liver and kidneys. First aid was applied at the Hive Hospital, while later on, at 6 pin, he was, taken to the General Hospital at the, request of his parents, minions are independent countries whose sole tie is that of devotion to the King, the anniversary of whose coronation we celebrate to-day.
As Dominions grow jetrength, as they must, the ten Jdeney will be, if the Empire is to last and to fulfil its destiny, that their influence must increase and it may well be that the centre of World influence will shift to them, They are now suffering the growling pains of adolescence, and it is for all of us to use every ounce of Jcur influence to ensure that their [growth is directed toward the ideals for which Britain has always stood.
It ig for us Australians and New Zealanders who live in such places fas Shanghai to see that the eyes Jof our countries are turned to the
of|from the narrow outlook Froblems of the Pacife and away of the party politicians, Tt is our duty that we make our Jiome folk realize that even as on Gallipoli there was no distinction of Jcountry or dominion when we were working toward the common end now we must realize that the privilege of partnership in the British Empire involves us in a share of the duties and responsibilities.
Tt will be to our everlasting disgrace if we do not take over our full share of the problems of the defence and other problems of the Empire's interest in the Far East.
Tt is not enough that we in An tralia and New Zealand defend our lown doorsteps, Our interests are the Empire's interests and the Empire's interest is the well-being lof the world. It is therefore me Jeumbent upon us that we use our political freedom to enable us to take our full share of the Empire's burden not only in war but in This we do not do at pre-
I know is the aim of the really responsible class of folk in jour Dominions and I feel that this leo-operation in Empire matters must be the first aim of this young Society.
As T have said, today is the 20th anniversary of the coronation fof our gracious King and we, in iting His Majesty's representative in Shanghai, and representa-ives of the armed forces of the [Crown to favour us by their presence here to-day, are accentuated by the desire to emphasize the aims Thave stated, We are glad to see the representatives of the Press with us. They are the sowers of seed, their influence is enormous and I beg of them that they help us in this task set ourselves to assist ina very Juumble way in the consolidation of the interest of the whole Empire, We have with us. here ropresentatives of the Royal Air Force Association and 1 would like to thank them for the very practical assist lance they have given us in starting Jour Society. I hope that when we have similar palatial and cadastral Igoarters of our own we may. reciproeate their kind hospitality, Mr, Brenan in reply expressed the pleasure he had experienced in being invited to be a guest at the luncheon. "He felt that in many respects the date that bad been chosen for this function was an suspicious one. First of all it was the Summer Solstice, but he hasten-fed to assure his hearers that his remarks would not be in keeping with the longest day of the year. Also it, should be a hot day, when Australians would be enjoying their winter sports, which should make members of the Anzac Society think longingly of their homes. It was also the anniversary coronation "of. the gracious ruler who in his own person provided the only and tangi-Tink in the great commonwealth Jwhich made the British Empire, He iwas glad to welcome the Anzac Sojeiety to the little family of British societies in Shanghai, English, Scotish, Irish and Welsh, and to know that the Anzacs had the same pur-Poses in view, and to remind them lof the great deeds which they did Jduring the Great War. Their-Anzac compatriots were a fine and virile people, and the local society under the capable leadership of Col. Thoms would undoubtedly be important factor in the life of the British community in Shanghai MI. D'AUXtON de Ruffe left on June 21 by the D, K. K. 8. Hoten Maru for Dairen en route to Paris vid Siberia on 2 combined business and pleasure trip.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.