The scene then shifted to the French Consulate where a reception was given by the Ambassador to a large gathering of diplomatic, naval and military, municipal and other officials, In a short speech of welcome to the guests the Ambassador said that the last July 14 celebration he attended in Shanghai was in 1927. Then and now, even more so now, trying times were being experienced, but now, as then, one must have confidence in the.future. "The Ambassador of 1938 is no less optimistic than was the Consul of 1914 and the Consul-General of 1927," he added.
The worthy attitude of French citizens in China justified this optimism, and he thanked them all—those of Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow, Canton and the other great towns in the country, and also the French missionaries endangered. in the zones of hostilities, The calm, the dignity and the devotion of all Frenchmen in China to public interest allowed, during the past year, the settlement of all difficulties, notably in the Concessions, The Ambassador went on to express his thanks to the French Forces, who, in. close ce-operation with the municipal services and police, had ie ceeded in maintaining at a high el the prestige and honour of the uch flag.
The health of the French Republic was then drunk and was followed by the National Anthem,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.