Li Lich-chun's Speech on China's Debt to France for 1911
'The Count de Barrel who has been making a trip.up river arrived at! Nanking, from Hankow on February '5, and. was entertained to luncheon at the Government Council' Building where more than sixty members of the Party and Government ware present; according to the Kuo Min report.
In a short speech of welcome, General Li Hoh-chun called his colleagues' attention to the fact that, Franco has always been the great, champion of democracy in Europe, and that the success achieved by th United States of America for dependence was in a large measure due to the support and encourage ment of France. General Li fur ther pointed out that China aleo owes much to the French nation for the success of the Revolution. of 1011. The Nationalist Government, concluded General Li, therefore,' is more than happy to have the honour to receive the represent ative of a great democratic power, and expressed the hope that the Minister would convey for the formation of France and Europe in general the sincerity and friendly int of the Nationalist Government and the Kuomintang.
The French Minister in the speech which he read at the linchoon and which has since been supplied to us
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.