M, Wilden, who is one of the veteran representatives of his Gov~ ernment in the Far Fast, came to China as a youth of 18." He was forced to flee inland during the Boxer Robellioit and his entire career as" interpreter, consular coficor, and Minister, successively,
incidents, Bean replete with interesting Tu the course of M. and Mme. Wilden's last few. weeks in China, numerous, banquets and receptions in their honour have, been given, both in Peking and tu Shanghai. Hho last of these affairs was a Sino-'Prench dinner given here last week sand attended bY 200 persons.
'M. Wilden was able on Friday to give a splendid send-off to the new-formed Association Amicale Sino-'Frangaise, an association which hax been inaugurated bj Chinese and French resi navy hai to consolidate Sino-French friend 'The big dining room at the was crowded to. its Jends and supporters now institution Wilden was, accompanied 'Honnorat' who will act ay minister after M, Wilden's departure, Wilden and a number of the officials fof the French Legation and Coun:
'Mr, Wang King-ki presided over the gathering and explained. the purposes and objects of the new 'Organisation of which the lunch provided inaugural ceremony. Mr. Wang paid a great tribute to the cultural work' which France had 'a long period of years encouraged in her relationships with China. The link which" bound Chinese students returned from France to the country of their education, was strong and dri this regard tribute vas paid to the personal influence Wilden, whose long service {n China had commended him great: ly to his own countrymen and Chinese, for whom Mr. Wang King-ki Bpoke. He asked the assembly to rink the health of M. Wil to wish him a pleasant hol '8 safe return to China, humour, Me "Wilden deprecated inn yeply full of feeling and Rurignie too definite a note of Sefekence to his return. "After all, he had arrived in Shanghai, many years before several of that com: Pany had" been born and he had Teached a time of life when it was unuse, to Took too far ahead. Nevertheless, he felt it appropriate that he should be called upon to Be present at that association and the with M. Honnorat and other French and Chinese gentlemen, wore pleased to become patrons of The ade avocado Admiren Chinese Cultufe Ai, Wilden expressed hit great admiration for the culture of China pointed surely to the fact that pointe dia to' produce auch. eat was worthy Gf consideration fora orang and that "fact had The, "Fasrentingly ecommised in peso came te great merit of Fee adltttion wast that ould tne, am ette prniple. SI. Wilden that Intimate" persond pope which was geisha
smoothing, uch personal convert' SShsthing. out" misunderstanding ery ft ae per cee crankly at atte tu ele out fA he' to sole problems 'Which' were beyontl the capacity of FRS pers of negotinine seen an Bisister four of Ermuction, 3 Wilden six Pate Terne the. abet of fated ae mention for as one who was well in; touch:,.with one who fe and therefore, tier latin with which so many Chi hose present were familiar, Honnorat could probably solve many of their problems although BIN. Wilden, with a dry-cut of warning, his own official opinion should also be taken.
Humble Student of Affairs eloquent speech, M. Hon norat declared his pleasure being present on that happy ceeasion. He was firmly of the opinion that the difficulties of the work could not be overcome with: out resorting to the counsels of Feasonable men and that _association was eminently intended give reason its proper scope. M. Honnorat modestly demurred to the Minister's suggestion that he carried any special authority. He was a very humble student of affairs but any assistance which he could give would be only too readily forth coming. The general sense of the gathering was enthusiastically ap: predative of the success achieved in thus launching another. move: ment for establishing sound cultural relations between Chinese and the foreign community here.
Later in the day, M. Wilden was the guest of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs largely attended gathering at the offices of the Minister in the French Concession.
There were several social functions in Nanking in honour of the departing Minister, among which were a dinner given by Mr. Wang Ching-wei, President of the Executive Yuan "and con: jeurrently officiating Foreign Minister, and a reception on Friday afternoon at the French Legation Office M, Wilden's absence will be keen: ly felt by his many Chinese and foreign friends here. His genuine friendship for China and his. sym: pathy towards Chinese. aspirations ire well appreciated by high Chi nese officials who. have "had the ppertunity of being' close con 2 oth hi, oe who Rave fom questions. affecting, Sino-French rated in negotiations - with. him NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.