Pere Robert, Veteran Missionary, Envisages Future of Shanghai: Was on .M.C. Fifty Years Ago IHE development of Shanghai since 1928 even has been greater than that of any other city in the world," said the Rev, Father Robert, Superior General of the Societe des Missions Etrangeres, in the course of an. interview with the "North-China Herald" on March 2, "and I see years it should not become the On the subject of the progress and development of "Shanghai, Father Robert is probably one of the great est living authorities, for he came out to China in 1888, over half a century ago, and for fifteen of those early years was a member of the French Muneipal Council, During the past decade, he hag been stationed away from "Shanghai, only calling "here during the course of brief visits, yet fon every occasion he has noticed a surprisingly great development of the ity.
Although probably in his "eighties," Pere Robert, as he is known to erally thousands of people France, Hongkong, Singapore, Bangkok, Batavia and China, might easily ken for a man of only halt his age. Tall, keen-sighted, and vigorous, nis rapid, concise. ansivers to. ques tions put to him in the course of the interview were those of a man in his prime, a' man whose clear, highly Intelligent mind had not been' dimmed by the passing of the years, Discussing the future of Shanghai, hho said that geographically speaking, this ity is in an Ideal position for developing. into one of the greatest fand largest in the world. Although further expansion northwards is. impossible owing to the Yangtze River, and possibly. improbable eastwards and westwards owing to the Whangpoo River, there Is no limit. southwards. "To use a rather Impossible comparison, he said, with a twinkle, there Is no geographical reason why it should not spread and spread until it engulfed Hangchow and' Soochow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.