The chairman of the business subcommittee of the orchestra, Comm. Luigi de Luca, suggested a petition to the Italian Government for funds to buy new Italian music and to permit the helping of a few young Chinese musicians by engaging them as additional instrumentalists. As Maestro Paci himself was going to Italy with. official letters of introduction, it was decided he was to present himself to che Ministry of Culture to put forward "our case" in person.
"Well, I did not have to wait until my arrival in Europe to know the result of Comm. de Luca's move," he continued. "When we arrived in Hongkong, the Italian Consul there came on board to inform me that Rome's answer on the subject had already reached that office. According to the cabled information, the Minisiry of Popular Culture had granted a donation of 50,000 lire, to be apportioned in a sum of 20000 lire to; be spent in purchasing new Italian music and the remaining 30,000 lire to be used for the realization of the plan of the chairman and the conductor of ihe orchestra. You can easily imagine how happy I was at the promptness and the generosity of the answer of my government!"
On his arrival in Port Said, more good news was awaiting bim. The official radio station, operated by the ELA.R, informed him that the orchestra of Turin was at his disposal for a symphony concert at the end of August when, his cure being finished, his health would permit him io conduct again.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.