On the occasion of the national holiday of the United States yester day, Col. Samuel L. Howard, deliver. ed the following message to the local American community:
"On this 4th of July the President of the United States has called upon all Americans to re-dedicate them. selves to the basic principles entunelated in the Declaration of Independence.
"The frst basic principle of independence Is provided for in the pre-Jamble of the Constitution; what Is "To provide for the common defence." JOur "history shows that this basic principle in the past hay been too often neglected and while everything possible is being done at the present time to provide for the common de. fence, we Americans, should and must' sce that in the future this esential principle of independence and freedom, shall never again be neglect ed by ourselves or by our children."
'At the official reception held by the Consul-General, Mr. Frank P. Lockhart, yesterday' at the Columbia Country Club around noon a large gathering of 350. were present. Nearly every diplomatic and. ce sular" representative attended the function held in the loggia of the club, High-ranking officials of the 'Shanghai Municipal Council and the Volunteer Corps were present with humorous other officials' and buslness men, and the convivial gather-Sng was. completed with a large Te-Presentation of the local American Community.
Toast to the President When the reception was well under way, a bugle call silenced the hub-hub' of the conversation and Mr.
Lockhart addressed the gathering. Concluding a few words of welcome, the American Consul-General lifted his glassy and said. "I give you the President of the United States"—and Photo, Mr, Lockhart proposes the toast toy Americas leader. the toast in champagne was hearty drunk, "Immediately after, the at tending Marine Band played the "Star Spangled Banner" while the thering stood at attention.
Almost an identical ceremony took place at the American Club recep. tion for their members and guests with the American Consul-General American Association, were Judge Milton J. Helmick, Mr, Ben Watson, Commander of the American Logion, his associates, officers of the Marine Corps and "Navy and prominent American business men.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.