1 have no intention of minimizing to you the seriousness of this situa-lon, although T refuse to view the Society's future with anything but optimism. Nevertheless, it is bluntly evident that something di must be done in the imm the Society is to continue its cupation of this building and retain its museum and library, the import ance of which to the Shanghat community can hardly be underestimated in view of what has happened to cultural institutions in this part China "during the "past lghteen months, In proposing the health of H. Mf. S. Cardiff, the speaker pointed out the cruiser's close associations with the: capital of Wales, Cardiff, and also the fact that she is possibly the most famous British warship afloat, having Ted the line when the German fleet surrendered in 1918.
Mr. Price also thanked Mr. A. H.
Hopkyn_ Rees, the outgoing president of the Society, for his beautiful gift to the Society, of two silver loving cups, It-Comdr. Oliver suitable responded, thanking the Society for the entertainment and expressing the hope that there will always be a Cardiff in the British Navy.
Amongst the guests were: Captain P. H, G. James, Naval Liaison Officer, British Embassy, Commander J. D. Ham, Engineer OMcer, Yangtse Flotilla, and about 20 members of the Society. Mr. T. 8, Powell, vice-President, also made a short address earlier during the luncheon.
It would appear that there nothing for it but another appeal to the Shanghat public for funds to wipe out the Society's indebtedness, spite of the present adverse conditions. Such an appeal will, T hope, shortly be launched, and, fo make successful, it will be nceessury to have the active support and com operation of every member of the Society.
intolerable to think that on organization with the long record of achievement that the North China Branch, of the Royal Asiatic Society has to its credit, with its fine museum and valuable library, in a city in which such institutions are all too few, should be forced out of exist ence by the lack of the financial support and backing that ig deserves. Such a contingency would be an irreparable loss to this city, of which we are all justly proud, and T feel sure that a properly directed and understood appeal to this commun ity could not meet with failure, in spite of hard times.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.