Stevens (Tsinanfw), Mr. Douala Jenkins, jun, (Nanking), Mr. J.
idwell (Tientsin), Mr. B. R. Josselyn (Hankow), Mr, W. Hinke (Swatow), Mr. J. Paxton Hall (Chefoo), Mr. J. Ballantine (hfukden), Omer. Richard-which the Council was particularly Interested were under discussion.
Frequently at those meetings the most divergent. views and opinions twere expressed without any apparent Prospect of reaching unanimity but almost invariably at some stage of the discussion to my secret amusement 1 heard Mr. Cunningham say, "Well, gentlemen, I think that we agree upon this point." No dissenting voice was raised and to this Jday it is incomprehensible to me how such a maze of conflicting views could" be reduced to a unanimous agreement with apparently.s0 little effort. mingled feelings of genuine sadness jand supreme happiness—sadness cause this is the Anal gathering together of this family of Americans which Iwill be present officially.
Your friendship has made me more than a millionaire, I have not been lable to invest in the stocks which pay ancial dividends but the friendship which you have shown by such facts as to-night's are far above par fand appreciated by me more than larly financial dividends that might be declared upon valuable stocks.
'You have done me conspicuous honour on many former, occasions, notably "among them being your reception to my. wife and, myself sixteen years ago October 31, last, JOn that evening we formally' met the American community at a fare-Jwell reception to. my predecessor, IM. Sammons, Consul-General and Jweicome to us. I fully realized that tthe occasion was a momentous one jin our lives, as we were on the verge lof & new undertaking in a new community concerning which he knew but little, but the sincere welcome did much to relieve the anxiety that jselzed us as_we came down from Hankow to Shanghai.
Again in 1923 you did us the, very arent honour of observing the 25th anniversary of my entry into the American Foreign Service at a dinner attended not only by members of four own community but by many of jmy.colleagues and Chinese officials. (This was conspicuous honour which 1 always looked back upon as 'a. manifestation of confidence, friendship and. affection, "fen years later, October 31, 1933, you climaxed your honours by the presentation to. the United States Government of a portrait of your (Consul-General, This portrait was accepted by the Secretary of State fin a very cordial letter to the chalrman of the American Chamber of This honour was foreign service the fourteenth anniversary of my incumbency In Shenghai as Consul~ "General. In commemoration of this evening you have "had my buat moulded and have requested permission to instal It In the new. government building.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.