Council services, was yesterday a guest of honour at the Royal Air Force Association dinner, held at the Dome.
In his welcoming address, Mr. J. E. Badeley, president of the association, outlined M. Verdier's brilliant war service record—as artillery officer in 1914-1916 and as an air force captain detached to the observation balloon unit, from 1916 to 1918; and dwelt on the dangers of the latter post, which furnished ample opportunity, to prove his courage and resourcefulness: on numerous occasions. He then paid tribute to the guest's great organizational abilities which he displayed during his period of administration of the French Municipal Council services, and proposed a toast to M. Verdier's health and many more years of leisure and happiness.
In his reply, M. Verdier referred to the spirit of ce-operation, numerous demonstrations of which he had often had the pleasure of witnessing during the great war. The value of this ce-operation was well proved in the 1914-1918 European crisis but Since then the people of Europe, were inclined to slight the value of the Anglo-French amit Referring to the situation in the Far East, he said that Europe appears to be underestimating the seriousness of the present local situation, and its possible historical consequences, He hoped to see this outward indifference to the Eastern question, proved groundless before this year is ended.
He expressed hope that the people of Europe would realize the desirability of reviving Anglo-French cooperation, which is indispensable for preserving foreign prestige in the Far East in these troubled times.
Another speaker at this enjoyable funetiog, attended by over forty members of the Royal Air Force Association, was Mr. Tubb of the British Embassy, who availed himself of this opportunity to express his appreciation to the association for extending to him the association's visiting membership. As a token of this appreciation he presented the association with a crest of the Ist. Bu. Royal Fusiliers, This pleasant function came as- a sequel to the reception given by the United Services Association to the French Ex-Servicemen's Association, on Thursday at the Shanghai Race Club. That affair was originally planned to coincide with the state Visit to France of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, which was postponed owing tothe death of the Countess. of Strgthmore, mother of the Queen Elizabeth.
The reception' was held to symbolize the warm relationships between the British and the French peoples.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.