Mr. Cunningham reolied ae follows: J=1 fod overwhelmed to-night The Kind words of the various speak~ fers and the presence here of so many of my friends. I am led with have passed with you and impressed with the thorough port and ce-operation you have given me during the entire time, On October 31, 1919, I stated would be my endeavour, with the assistance of my well-trained staff, to maintain a business office con-Aucted on strictly business principles, avoiding as far as possible vexatious features of Government routine, also said that in the conduct of th Consular work your organizations and Individual members would be fealled upon to' ce-operate in many ways.
"You have given me that eo-operation-—all that I requested at that time or could at any time have expected, Whether I have made good with you 1s for you to determine, Have done by best, 1 have felt oftentimes very despondent and gloomy. but have been inspired to new endeavours by the loyal and unselfish assistance which has been extended to me by the American community.
American Activities may not be out, of place review in brief the activities of the American community in Shanghai Guring the sixteen years T have had the honour to be your Consul-Gen-feral but before doing so, I might say that as T look back on the past 1 perceive that my appointments in the Consular service have been particularly. fortunate. T have been ecereited to countries at especially inter= sting periods in history. I would not change a single detail. No For~ ign Service officer could have chosen more delightful appointment nor Could one find @ more desirable culmination to 8 Consular career than in Shanghe! where I have spent almost half of my Foreign Service career, The period from 1920 to date been a most fascinating one and thas furnished opportunities for constructive service second to none In \the entire world.
As I look back and compare the beginning and the conclusion of my service ere I am deeply impressed with the fact that American interests Shanghai have gone steadily forward beyond critical comparison, 1 [shall not presume to be responsible for all of this development—it is jsufficlent only to say that T have been fu party to this development, Taken from any standpoint the American community has advanced, The ume
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.